Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-06-19
The Swenson Gift.

Special to the Gazette.
AUSTIN. Tex, June 1S.-Following is the
letter of 5. NJ. Swenson of New York, ac
companying and explaining the valuable
gift of coins and antique implements and
ornaments presented by him through Gov
error Hogg TO the university yesterday:
NEW YORK, June 9, 1891.
DEAR SIR-Considering myself an old
Texan, as it is now more than ffty-four
years since moved to and identified my
self with the then republic-now your great
state-and having always felt the iyeliest
interest in her progress and prosperity, l
now heartily rejoice in the attainment of
the greatest blessings state can aspire to,
among which are your great institutions of
learning and charities, which mark the
highest civilization of an enlightened COM
munity, ana for the attainment of which l
feel as great gratitude to an overruling
Providence as to the wisdom of its creators,
the executives and representatives of its
people, and TO testify my admiration of the
attainment of these great blessings eS-
pecially redounding to the growing genera
ton OF the state, desire TO present through
you to the University of Texas, at Austin. a
collection. consisting of 2217 ancient bronze
coins, 1112 silver and 81 gold coins, many of
which were in use before the Christian era,
and, with few exceptions, none of which
are of a more recent date than the sixth
century, to which add two specimens of
Swedish coin, now very scarce, which were
struck at period when that country was
destitute of precious metals. They are me-
mentoes alike of the impoveriShment of a
nation by long and disastrous wars, as well
rs of the honesty of its rulers, who chose
rather TO impose very inconvenient cur
rency than to delude its subjects by prom
lseS of which at the time there was no pros
pect of redemption.
The largest of said specimens represented
the value of about Is cents of our currency,
and it is said the strongest man could not
carry the price of an OK.
! also desire to present the said univer-
sity collection of 200 to 800 q do not re-
member the exact number) specimens of
implements and ornaments from the stone
age. All of these relics from prehistoric
time were found during the past three
centuries in Sweden. mostly in the Crom-
lech mounds and sepulchral chambers of
the race then inhabiting that country, but
now supposed to be extinct, unless repre-
scented by the present race in Lapland.
These antiquities, the coins contained in
an iron safe and the stones in a box, have
shipped, charges prepaid as per bill of lad
ing inclosed, which l beg you will cause to
be committed to the care of proper custo-
dian.
Such collections are now considered rare,
and it would be almost impossible to dupli-
cate them at this or future time l hope,
therefore, they may be preserved carefully
as of growing interest to future genera
lions.
a catalogue of the coins contained in the
safe l send to your excellency By mail, de-
string it may be deposited in the state
library. The keys to the iron safe are in
the box.
With my best wishes for the continued
prosperity of your state and the happiness
Of its people, beg to assure YOU personally
of my highest esteem and admiration of
your efforts to perpetuate its honor. justice
and dignity. Very respectfully, your obe-
dent servant, S. NJ. SwENsoN
To His EXcellency, Governor ]. S. Hogg,
Texas.