376 THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 



that gentleman." Page 254, vol. 3, " Indian Tribes of the United 

 States." 



Colonel Mitchell does not say that he ever witnessed the Mandans 7 

 religious ceremonies ; neither does he mention any one else that had, 

 who denied Mr. Catlings statements. 



Mr. Schoolcraft, through the six volumes of his work, frequently 

 mentions and quotes Mr. James Kipp with approval. Mr. Kipp, the 

 agent of the Fur Company at the Mandan village in 1832, certified at 

 the time to the correctness of Mr. Catlin's account of the religious cere- 

 monies, and in 1872 (as shown herein) bore full testimony to their cor- 

 rectness. 



The following extracts from a letter from Rev. E. E. Gurley, of Wash- 

 ington, to Mr. Catlin, in London, in 1853, in this connection, is of value : 



Washington, D. C, January 27, 1853. 



My Dear Friend : My interest in all that concerns you, and especially my inter- 

 est in your efforts for the Indian race and in your unequalled and invaluable repre- 

 sentations of that race. But I have been greatly depressed myself, and have hardly 

 known how I could serve you effectually. I communicated all your wishes to your 

 friends in the Senate, and Governor Seward did all in his power to secure the pur- 

 chase of your collection, and he wrote me that the bill in your favor was defeated by 

 the friends of a rival artist (Stanley) ; and Captain Eastman, who is associated with 

 Mr. Schoolcraft in the publication of the Indian History, gave his opinion against 

 your productions to Senator Borland (Arkansas), who has long been an opponent to 

 the purchase. Governor Seward was discouraged by the result, but I am of the 

 opinion, long ago expressed, that if you will come to this city you may secure the pur- 

 chase of your collection, which I rejoice to know from Mr. Gregory is now in Philadel- 

 phia (brought there by Mr. Joseph Harrison, jr., from London in 1852). I believe 

 it will yet become the property of our Government, and be preserved as among the 

 great works of American genius. Congress have just rewarded the work of a young 

 untaught American sculptor (Mills), and voted $50,000 to enable him to cast a bronze 

 equestrian statue of Washington. Our Treasury is overflowing, and I think there is 

 an increasing disposition to encourage the arts. 



When your last memorial, viz, the one of 1852 from London, and your note desiring 

 me to put a question to Mr. Schoolcraft arrived, I was absent from the city, but I com- 

 municated your wishes to our Mayor (Mr. Maury), and on my return to Washington 

 wrote to Mr. Schoolcraft in Philadelphia, (where he was engaged with his publica- 

 tions), asking him whether he intended to call ycur statements in regard to the Man- 

 dans in question. I inclose to you his reply to my note.* 



Your friend and servant, 



R. R. GURLEY. 



Mr. Catlin had visited Baron Humboldt at Berlin in 1855, and ad- 

 vised with him as to his contemplated journey to Uruguay. Baron 

 Humboldt wrote Mr. Catlin the following letter in regard to the Man- 

 dans, calling his attention to Mr. Schoolcraft's work and charges : 



Potsdam, Berlin, June 9, 1856. 

 To George Catlin, Esq., care Aim6 Bonpland, in Uruguay, South America. 



My Dear Friend: * * * An immense scrap-booh on the North American Indians, 

 written by Schoolcraft for the Government of the United States, in three huge vol- 



*Not found amongst Mr. Catlin's papers.— T. D. 



