New-York tribune., 1884-10-12
BiRON ron HUMBOLDTS DIPLOMiS.

now ruE AMrniCAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL ms
roKy COR IIiEN-RARE BuohS ~ H. LIBRARY.
Uaron Alexander Won Humboldt. the ccc-
hratcl traveller and scientist nad sous and upon his
death hs effects fri into the possession of nephew
Among these were the diplomas given hm by the
scientific anl literary socctic. Of the old and new
worlds. Becoming pressed for money, the laron's
rnhrw cntricd into speculation with hN uucc. and.
failing to pay either principal ~ interest the uuclc
,rrlosc the mortgage an pu, tho diplomas ur at pub
llc sale. Gcnrml Fremont happened to hc IN Germany
~, tho tmc aud fortunately heard or the proposed sale
lie nitrnld it, Aud bought the diplomas. In the course
of time General frVmout found II necessary 10 dispose "
,hc and they we're purchased ~ "n" OF the trustees OF
the American Mu,cum OF Natural History, IN this city,
There ihuy are ~ ound.to ia, tnd lew persons
of their presence leave the library of the innscn with
out having. had NJ least peep at them Thcy arc over
A hundIcd IA number aud alo wonder ully well pre-
served Each diploma Is given II page ot huge scrap
book There are three OF these books, and they la
,cd in wooden boycs which resemble immense tonnes.
Nearly every Nation ot Importance II represented among
them one was conferred by the Geological Society of
pcuus yaua in 1888. IL Is signed by Andrew del Rio
AS sideut aud Richard Harlan as corresponding sec
ctary. III other signatures are intended more Tor or
granted in 1855 is from the Rhode Island Historical
society. of which John Rowland was president and
rhu,nIs H. Webb secretary. To a Russian diploma
attached two immense seals nclosct In round brass
boxes. which attached TO the parchment by parti-
are kept locked and placed IN ease whcn Is also
locked the key being carefully retained by A. Wood
ward the br II proposed to enlarge the museum
from time time until 1t equals III size and Importance
the British Museum When this point is reached the
ldn, will he seventeen times large IL is at pres
emf. 10 now contains twenty thousand books Seven
thousand these belong Ia the Academy Of Sciences and
five thousand To the museum. Among them many
rare and valuable volumes. Tho oldest book IN the
library il quoted In Quaritchs Catalogue very Ii
is LIIistolre Nauiclle des Etranger Poissous Marin
avec In yra peincturc The little page Is stamped with
the seal of Cardinal Richclcu without whose consent
nothing published AT that time
Another old book published IN l55s IL devoted 10 nat
ura history IL Is O immense size when compared WIN
works OF kindred nature published at the present Gay
and Is bound IN vcluu. An exceedingly quaint 'ooanS
Is devoted To Bible animals Tne cuts are euiios
tiles and Of the people who have ia tue Pi'eso
of examining II have evidently Thought So as nuhova
of have been stolen. TIE book was Puoiisn.' w
1880 Both editions of Says Entomology are not 10 o
found outside of the library IL also contains ssn VI
Fabrius on the same subject from $50 10 80 inis
ret IL highly priced. Another rare Dook Is AcAhiao.
Wilson's American Ornilhology. The library eopsins
three thousand pamphlets on fishes Inc "ther SCHEMES
represented nre entomology, geology conchology eth-
noosy. paleontobgy and zoology iho library 's opvn
to scientific people and students The gcncfdi Iupiu
seldom troubles IT, This is not the case however MIN
the museum FMS contains hundreds ot thous'hVs" "i
specimens of beasts birds and fishes ~ wen rs shcis
and fossils Tho animals handsomely mounted aau
vrc arranged IN glass cases