The Genesis of tJie United States National Museu})i. 1-^5 



Bints. — ist, 1368 separate specimens; 2d. nine large boxes, one of which contains 

 27 dozen skins of rare birds from Brazil. 



Quadrupeds. — Between 4 and 500 specimens. Insects 74100 specimens, and more 

 than a dozen boxes besides not opened. Most of these in a deplorable condition for 

 want of fnnds to preserve & arrange them. 



S/udts. — 162,8 specimens, & more than 20 boxes and one barrel. 



An immense number of fishes, reptiles mollusca, et cetera. One donor, Lt. Ged- 

 ney, U. vS. N., gave upwards of 600 specimens & a large & rare collection of reptiles, 

 fishes &c. which composed a part of the munificent gift of Prince Momfanoi, of 

 Spain. 



Coins, medals & medallions, antique & modern, embracing very many extremely 

 rare & valuable series, gold, silver & copper &c. ist. 573 specimens; 2d. seven boxes. 



Maps and atlasses in great numbers; books & pamphlets, between 4 & 5000, many 

 very rare, sent by the Russian, French, Belgian, Brazilian & other governments, & 

 from Societies in various countries. About 1000 engravings, many extremely choice, 

 by the first Artists in the world, and several large boxes of books & engravings not 

 opened. 



vSpecimens of woods, marbles, domestic manufactures, fossil teeth, megatherium 

 l)ones, Ancient vases & vessels, electrotyjDe pictures, mosaics, Egyptian & vSouth Sea 

 idols, large collections of liiunan quadruped & bird crania, antique masks, rare col- 

 lection of Indian dresses &c., daguerreotype pictures, corals & coralines, large col- 

 lection of dried plants from all parts of the world. Specimens of art implements 

 &c., and an infinite diversity of contributions of every description too complicated 

 6c various to enumerate. 



The Columbian Institute's collection consisting of a large munber of books, works 

 of art, specimens of Nat. Hist., all which are now the property of the Nat. In.sti- 

 tute. Models of monuments, & of works of art etc. etc. Several hundred Indian 

 Portraits, and other paintings, many very rare & valuable & some the production of 

 the best masters. 



vSkeletons, Antlers, Horns, Teeth, Bones & casts of various quadrupeds & other 

 animals. 



Indian Musical & other Instruments & implements & Lithographic portraits & 

 drawings in great numbers. 



Large collection of objects of Natural History, idols, fal)rics, anticjue works of art 

 (S:c. from Egypt and Africa, manyof great curiosity & rarity, from various persons, &c. 



Collection of Statuary, busts & casts. 



I^arge collection of trilobites & rare fo.ssils. 



Dr. Franklin's printing press. 



A collection of Bedouine war instruments, & a variety of oriental curiosities. 



A series of fine Electrotype medals, embracing the British & French Sovereigns, 

 from William the Conqueror to Victoria, and from Pharamond to Louis Philippe. 



It is scarcely possible, in reply to your note wh. calls for an innnediate answer to 

 enumerate further, but we don't depend on .so scant a list, given in terms necessarily 

 somewhat vague. We call special attention to the minute & exact detail given in 

 the abstract of the proceedings of the Inst, prepared by Mr. ]\Iarkoe, & wh. accom- 

 panies the memorial to Congress, where every thing will be found exhibited & 

 described. We believe that if the collections of the Inst, are not already as great in 

 value as those brought home by the Exploring P)xpedition, they will become far 

 more .so in a very short time. In American interest the Institute's collections far 

 transcend the other. 



In aii.swer, apparetitlj' to a stibsequent inqtiiry from Mr. Marsh, as to 

 the amount of the subsidy desired by the Institute, the following sched- 

 ule seems to have been prepared. There is nothing, however, to indicate 



