Communications from Lewis H. Morgan, Esq. cf Rocliester. 



I. 



EXTRACT OF A LETTER DATED OCTOBER 31, 1848. 



" The vestiges of our Indian predecessors are very limited, and the utmost 

 efforts of a single person would accumulate but a small cabinet. Numerous 

 individuals in the State, however, have fug'itive specimens, which singly have 

 no particular interest, but which if accumulated would become valuable. 

 There is every reason to believe that most of these would be cheerfully sur- 

 rendered to a general cabinet, such as the Board of Hegents propose to found 

 under the patronage of the State, as an adjunct to that of Natural History. 

 Such a collection, in the course of time, would enlarge into a respectable and 

 interesting cabinet, and in after years would assume a deeply attractive cha- 

 racter. If the specimens in our museums and private cabinets were at once 

 brought into one collection, they would excite universal surprise by their 

 variety and singularity. Such a cabinet would, it is true, contain but little to 

 instruct; would seem to enlarge but slightly the bounds of human knowledge, 

 yet it would be all it pretended — a memento of the Red Race who preceded 

 us. If the scholar of after years should ask of our age an account of our 

 predecessors, such a collection would be the most acceptable answer it could 

 render. It would enable the Red Race to speak for itself through these silent 

 memorials. As a private citizen, I feel personally indebted to the Board for 

 taking this enterprise under their protection and patronage, and will not only 

 willingly contribute what little I have, to promote the object, but will aid, so 

 far as I may be able, in other ways. 



"Allow me to suggest that W. H. C. Hosmer, of Avon, Livingston county, 

 has a small collection. Perhaps, if applied to, he would be willing to place it 

 at the disposal of the Regents. J. V. H. Clark, Esq. of Manlius, Onondaga 

 county, has devoted considerable attention to Indian matters, and I presume 

 has some specimens. Charles P. Avery, of Owego, Judge of the county, 

 has some Indian relics. Mr. Atwell, of Lima, Livingston county, has a 

 pipe of black pottery, very large and perfect. It is the most perfect specimen 

 of Indian pottery I have ever seen. Dr. Francis Moore, of Livingston 

 county, now a resident of this city, has a stone or marble pipe of singular 

 workmanship. I enclose drawings of these two pipes, which I made when I 

 saw them in 1846. Dr. Sprague, of Pavilion, Genesee county, has also a 

 stone vessel of singular design." 



[Senate, No. 20.] 6 



