New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-08
TREASURES FROM CYPRUS.
HOW NEw.YORK SECURED THEM.

HISTORY OF GFN. DI CEsNoLAs ExCAvArIoNs-THE
WAY IN WHICH THF METROPOLITAN MUSEUM
OBTAINED THE COLLECTIONS.
With all that has been said and written
respecting the Cesnoa collections now at the Metropo
tan Museum the exact circumstances under when the
!Kurum treasures secured TO this country nave
never been publicly narrated Gen. di Cesuols, who
arrived from Europe on Saturday with his wife ana
daughters made an interesting statement yesterday oil
the manner Of the purchase, which was as foloWs III
1868 Gen. oh CesnOla appointed American OohS
the Island Cyprus. He became eNcccdn y hterc7'o"
N the search for and his efforts were ey TO-
vsrded In 1872 he obtained a six months leave OF
absence and with the result Of his explorations Weh
had been extended over nearly the en;ire period OF ms
residence on the island ne returned to TINS country
John TAYLOR Johnston and other uuetees OF the heto
poI.tan Museum Of Art inspected part OF TINS hst
collection and became DESTROYS OF securing H. MY
Johnston advanced the money for its purchase ana wa"
afierward reimbursed fund for the purpose having
beru obtained by subscription
Tie trustees or the museum were very anxious tla'
Gen. III Ccsuoa should return 10 Cyprus and continue
his excavations. and contract was made Out uhuer
which he was to receive $4,000 year for two years
he succeeded in making second collection as vaiu'-
Bile as the 6rst, the museum paying all ms OK
1euses This CONTRACT was signed by Mr.. Johnston, hui
not by the other and therefore not DhdnE
though II was made in perfect good fan ecu al Oas-
nola had reached COnstanduOple on his way BACK ~
Cyprus wucn the panic OF 1873 deTdhged inc
busness affairs OF this country He soon AFTER
ward received a Letter from Mr. Johnston e&-
pressing his great regret that the contract could
not be carried ou bnt stating that, owing to the com
rercal condition of this city, IL would DC lnp"ssi'e 10
cars ntee Cen di Cesnola the sum named The explorer
was At what course to pursue; when ne re'In1u
10 this country on the leave OF absence from the Govern
ment Il was his intention not TO 20 back to cyprus ana
he would not have gone back except for the purpose Of
continuing the work in which he had become 50 GeepS
interested lie determined however 70 continue lis
searches since he on the field ana hau areauS l
Cured large expense, and the k0rum treasures oPehod
10 the public week represent in part ms laoos from
1873 10 1876.
Having made the collection he started to return to
this country uncertain where the fruits of his toll were
10 be preserved This country was his nome ana n'"'I
he sent 100 cases articles similar in character 10 oo
of the first collection. The Kurium treasures coS''u-
Of gold articles found beneath tae temple, he took Wh
him He remained in Paris for a time ana thcIe MS
Kru collection was viewed by the authorities OF the
Louvre 70 whom he could have sold them VINE
TIE General was in Paris, Robert Hoe IT, learn
inc that there danger that the treasures
might be lost TO this country called on Gen
di Cesnola and expressed the hope that the museum
,ould be in condition 10 purchase them letter TO the
trustees bucht back the answer that the money c0ull
not be obtained at time After time the collector
vent to London. taking with him his collection ll"re
MI Gladstone the Earl OF Bcaconsed, and other drcc
coming satisfied Of Its great Importance anu
,alue entered into negotiations for its pur
chase Offering $4,000 for it, and giving Cen
dl Cesnoa three days 10 consider the matter. CAL
inEon Mr. Morgan, the London banker that afternoon
bo mentioned tho subject 10 him. whereup0n Mr. Morgan
EXPRESSED ms concern the loss TO this country of the
Kurium treasures and at once sent a cable dispatch
10 New-York urging that S5OOOJ-the sum for which
they had been offered TO tie metropolitan Museum
should bc obtained at once. AT inc end OF three DAYS
gen di Ccsnoa called the British Museum no response
having been received from New York, and was asounded
70 find the directors in They showed MIN
copy Of London paper oil lhat mVIIiu- Ti't t
GSn'ag Fi, , cane q R5d noaotaed for the sale
of the Kuu collection in ihi> country, ana th3i i
land wuud .os il after all The directors uauIly felt
Thai there had been double dealing the matter, ana
laid IL NJ the Generals door. He sdid TO mem Utl-
are sincere, to pgovc which am now ready To ACCEPT
your offer oi 10000 MAKE me out NH OF se @HG
cannot DO that IL requires act Of Parliament 10 Gis
e S ,IS iSS e; 1 the non.y in Marcel The General an
swcrcd that De would give them three days ~ Wl'n 30
March. hut wished q guarantee of the Sic on the ioi
lowing morning ds'ntci was received rom tIlS t'."
Try stating that $4,000 had been collected ia TWO days
tlt the resi-, WAS hoped could DC "nianed
AMI urging that De- should wait Wait he could moi ioi
definite proposition had been made ny Inc b1tlSh
Museum aud cpuj touaiiF accepted by MN Hotc was
addressed IN II iicacon,ttld Who replied through his
seer FAM, thai il was not the custom in England for an
individual 10 impose conditions upon tEe Governments
ana that n a rcply were demanded within three days
there must needs be negative one returned
III. reuy was communicated To the General a. The
Erstiql A.ukcum and he thcrcupOu formal! Withdrew
his ofier ANA took order for the removal OF tne
treasures from the museum, where they bad bccH on cN
llf.I1u and hence ever expected 70 see lhtH
carried away. Tine $4,000 was raised IN MS country
ana the entire second CORRECTION including the kUiluh
treasures. for which aous DC was 20 nave received
atOOOp ia England. and also thc 100 cases previously
set 90 ibis cy passed into the possession or thc Metro
lo tam Museum. -u
Il. 100 cascA containing Statutry, &c, rs wen
~ two ~.ICJuAaG-thc value ot one Oh "hc" was 'sI
mated I'd $50 % iu ENGLAND from an inspection OF
p..,o.aun mtIcly-havc not yet been uupacke', ana
iDo mus. uiu authoit do not know from personal
examination is Ia item. Gen. G lSsHul" ItVIC,'Vu
TIA they suG q not De uupdcAcd until me Itdt.t N'N
Yo,l. as tuvIC Place in which 10 pGt tHtI CON
tents I'm thcy viii uot Dee opened at present. lie be-
l,y.. ,:at ttc treasures they cont IN WOuih
lui:.r $4,000 easily IN Paris at lublc d't-
tou You s-c,' hc SAID, 81 have not ihu'c
u,,,v from uy explorations. The expense
q, i1 .Iu Xix. second Geo lection was Fj00JU, just what
Sold +; r. but uy and honor aH1 reputation are
Norlh far more 80 than any Sum oI money! lie
yI I'd t,gl u. had uu.u treated with the utmost courtesy
AMI consideration by tine officers OF ithc MctiOpolth
t,Y.ifi BAD ,f tn. results co. iS long i.nuTs M luthN
had examined Tie KuriUm treasures aud dd SAT- lIty
wee enough 10 make any Que crazy. Inc Wo!hhidi
fup was beyo nd inc ut OF ode!h jewelers. VINO couu
only Eupci. SLY wonder UtlL , -, ~
Cen al to-uJa said IN conclusion that he o'u no. SUP
ut.. iue treasures Ui tie two collections coud ''JE
prtctt.d 90 present IN tins country ht tA.rr',' 9
satisfaction been able 10 DIuS iti "ht mus
island of Cyprus doubtless contained further ron tr
Isl but 10 us dnclt and expensive tas6 10 collect
them, They iay Jar beneath the surface ana tht WORK
w., slow and uncertain The cCuSulsh!p W cyprus was
l. . over returned, there we many denvall.n
fl lie there There 10 schools aio II Hc toA WIS
i4lGly Vith lin hs two daughters must DC pi4'"',ly
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