New-York tribune., 1878-02-18
NETWORK DAILY TRIBUNE,
AN APPEAL TO ART-LOVERS.


pen to the City OF NewYork-a serious misfortune 10
our whole country-for are not all bound up together
in a common destiny We are about 10 lose II we ha'c
not already lost the Castelani Collection OF aah ma
olica and OF Eruscan and other antiquities Ihey are
now packed and awaiting shipment; and whhe the truS
tees are to tonight and make na eHort 10 save
at least part of tho treasure, there is but little reason
IN hone that they will succeed in doing so Certainly
they will not succeed If they show no more ability IN
the management OF the matter than they nave thus a
o,snlaved A few feeble and unbeeving appeals TO the
men OF money; systematic appeal OF any hhu 10 tne
general public contrast i'll their way OF bringing Tue
collection to the notice of their eowcitizens and their
countrymen large marked as IL cod posspy pc 'o
what vas Gone IN the case OF the Dl CesnOa treasure
such have been the obvious features OF tho trustees
management OF this important rust-a trusr' ne IL IT,
membered, that they assumed of their own motion'
against the Judgment Of Mr. Caseilan himself ana Win
assurances which they have made but little practical el
fort 10 Justify Nav, | believe, and have reason 10
believe that VIC havo lost this collection through the
fault OF the trustees themselves one or two of them
have been active and earnest in their efforts to purchase
the collection Mr.. Robert Hoe, jr, has done all that
one man can do to persuade others To give The means
and Mr. X T. Avery has done yeomans service to the
same end these efforts have availed almost moth
ing against the supneness OF the trustees as body
against the of faith OF others, aid worst OF all
against active opposition, partly ignorant and partly
SELFISH OF one of the members, the most influential o
them ALL Mr.. VIM. c. Prime.
SOME PLAIS WORDS.
While f. s without he.iiatlon-sincc, believe, am
doing right by Mr.. Casellan and The public III saving
is-it yet with sincere regret that speak 40 plainly
am acquainted with VI Prime and am under obiga-
ons to him for kindness several occasions In toe gen
erons freedom with which he has permitted mo to use
and consult his invaluable collection. Moreover, my
knowledge of the attitude lie has assumed toward the
Casielani Collection is derived in the first place. from
his own lips and in such way that should nave no
right Whatever make Of it II had not found that
he has honestly made secret OF IT, and that he has
said 10 dozens o other people all that he has said 10
Tic facts therefore, public property, and ~ they
affect a important public interest II becomes
duty 20 discuss tGem aud do what can to break
their force with who have been 80 fatally influenced
by them.
MI William c. Prime Is well known in this city and
goodly portion OF our country IA an authority III
what may called the science OF ceramics Possessed
Of two most desirable things for collector and stu
dent large fortune and abundant iesre-he has Deeh
abe TO do much practical service In extending the pub
lie knowledge aud the history Of pottery ana
porcelain, partly by his pen and partly by the generous
way which he makes the pupIic and individuals
slarers IN his collections. He has travelled widely, he
has read widely and his travelling has been FIJI oi on
servation. and his reading close and acute Al the same
time hr is not rccusc, nor shy man he likes To taK'
aud write spread the results Of his study and III
veslIgation; 20 that there Is man could name
who is often quoted authority In certain circles
and IN the dealers shops a. Mr.. Prime.
But Mr. Prime has the collectors weai 20 nts as well
as his strong Ones and IL 10 be wondered al that
when ne saw I'm Philadelphia the collection OF Italian
maiolica belonging 10 Mr. Cascllln lie coveted IL. aud
determined il possible, 10 mako IL hs own lie went
over the whole culecton car-fay with pencil ana eat
aogue, and pn; down against every piece tho price for
which he believed il could be bought ia the market He
VII he
,ld not make hs acquaintance; he acted with entire in
d,pcudcuce and carefully Kept clear Of all eniangns
alliances. Having made up ais mind that 70 make such
q collection wonld cost, udiug with the price oi tho
objects themselves the expenses Of travel. packing.
and transportation, certain sum, much less than
thru Of the price demanded Il am speaking
now Of tie mgjolica aloncl, he about
TO make an offer of that sum- when he learned accident
wu.i fi h"A ~o"ghi the information In the first
place AT headquarters, would have OIL hia
tuuble-;hat the pncc asked or the collection was faI
IN advance his largest calculation. THIS knowledge
put an end to his hopes the time and is only TO be
regretted that havgg found 1t impossible the
treasure himself lie dld not bend all his chcrsc,
and all hs Influence TO secure II ior the public No
doubt aided as he would have been By oil The other
trusteesby more. 10y others Leslie conld have
accomplished the desired resu aud had he dong no
name would nave deserved bttleF oI inc cohlnuHl'!
tnan he.
Unfortrna Gig or 81 Ofus. he chose another course
and for many months 10 one has dOnenOre to make
the acquisito treasure impossible than MI Prime
In fact 10 one else has done anything actively. to bring
about that result frr n can learn The whole c0u"e
OF hr trustees has been do-notuing and wanting IN juds
mcnt the public hns been kept away from the colce
tion rather than made acquainted with 1t people have
cen asked for money In halhcartcd way, and no aI-
peal of any furce backed by any names has been
made 10 the general public No ono besides Mr. Prime
has zone about di-paragiug the collection, dculing IT.
prire and Gucstoninc the character Of is owner II
MAJ not be fair to charge M Prime W,t the whole re-
euon,,biify tor t.s loss do not how he d.
released fiom the largest part Of 1t.
said IN the beginning oi this letter t1i no. only was
Mr. Prime acfiated Dy sclhh motive ia what lac has
done, but that he was ignorant In his opposition. lie
showed this Ignorance In fixing small price hc d
upon the collection whole. No one who has not kept
his knowledge uf the market for antiquities up t. high
water mark by frequent visits 10 the headquarters OF this
market In Europe be c0mpeten; to tndge In such
matter; yet Air. Prime did Judge, and Judge dogmatl
cay and declare positively aud with iteration that the
vaiuc was such and such and that since Mr. C!stclani
asked great advance upon this valuation tna therefore
he was ext0rtotc he trying to take advantage OF
greenness, he jew in his dcang', ana he Tor
one did recommend the purchase 10 the trustees.
MIR. CAsTELLANI'S FIGURES.
Now must be remembered that Mr.. Casteanl. Ike
bis father before him. man known 10 all Europe
collector and an arcnrologi and that his character has
been questioned Tor knowledge OF hs business or
for honesty In i dealiugs He made the present coec
ton in the avowcd expectation Of selling IL. and with
he perfectly iustlable intention OF selling his
personal advantage. He has offered it always and every
where he price that he Offers IL 10 All the
schoars antq and artists who nave 1t admit,
some cOOy, some enthusiastically. that II is ~ I'M
equalled beauty, completeness and rarity. Onccrs
eonuccted with the British Museum say OF Mr.. Casel-
ani that III al their dealings with hn they have found
him straightforward and honorable, any easy
10 deal with than they are themselves, but fully
aware OF the value OF what he had 10 sell,
"A they we're OF the value OF what they
want 10 buy. Mr. G. 7. Newton, wellinOwn an