30 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



its purchase was made by the Joint Committee on the Library of Con- 

 gress, but, owing to the absorption of public attention by the Mexican 

 war, no appropriation was made for the purpose. Mr. Catlin made no 

 further efforts at the time, but exhibited his pictures in Europe, where, 

 on account of an unfortunate speculation into which he was led in Lon- 

 don, claims were brought against them which he had not the means to 

 satisfy. At this crisis, fortunately, Mr. Joseph Harrison, of Philadel- 

 phia, a gentleman of wealth and patriotism, desiring to save the collec- 

 tion for our country, advanced the means for paying off the claims 

 against the pictures, and shipped them to Philadelphia, where they have 

 since remained unredeemed. Mr. Catlin, however, retained possession 

 of the cartoons, and has since enriched them with a large number of 

 illustrations of the ethnology of South America. Whatever may be 

 thought of these paintings from an artistic point of view, they are cer- 

 tainly of great value as faithful representations of the person, features, 

 manners, customs, implements, superstitions, festivals, and everything 

 which relates to the ethnological characteristics of the primitive inhabit- 

 ants of our country. We think that there is a general public sentiment 

 in favor of granting the moderate appropriation asked for by Mr. Catlin, 

 and we trust that Congress will not fail to act in accordance with this 

 feeling." It is the only general collection of the kind in existence, and 

 any one who has given thought to the subject could scarcely fail to sym- 

 pathize with the last anxious feelings of Mr. Catlin that, after a life of 

 devotion to Indian ethnology, these results of his labors might be pur- 

 chased by the Government. To insure the permanent preservation of the 

 collection, Mr. Catlin would have gladly presented the pictures to the 

 Government as a gift had he not expended all his worldly possessions in 

 the formation of the collection, and therefore had nothing wherewith to 

 redeem the portion of the general collection pledged for debt or to be- 

 stow upon his three orphan daughters. 



NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Until the year 1870 the support of the National Museum princi- 

 pally devolved on the Smithson fund, only $4,000 having been annually 

 appropriated by Congress for this purpose. Since that date, however, 

 Congress has indicated an intention of providing for the full support of 

 the museum. In 1870 and 1871 it appropriated $10,000, and in 1872, 

 $15,000. This last sum, however, is scarcely yet sufficient to defray the 

 expenses. 



The cost of the reconstruction of the building, exclusive of furniture, 

 after the fire of 1865, was $136,000, the whole of which was paid from 

 the Smithson income. This expenditure was for restoring the main 

 building and not for fitting up rooms wanted for the further extension 

 of the museum. For the latter purpose, Congress has made appro- 

 priations, since 1870, amounting in all to $35,000. Of these appropria- 

 tions $20,000 have been expended in ceiling, flooring, plastering, and 



