566 THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 



« 



rotary motion, endeavoring to fix upon the representative of that nearly related 



country on whom the next responsibility was to fall. His grace proceeded : 



"Gentlemen, the' term parent and child I have used to express the endearments of 

 one stage of domestic relations ; but there is another, which lessens not the tie, but 

 carries with it the respect that children do not win ; I would call it father and son. 

 (Immense cheering.) I perceive, gentlemen, that you all understand me, and are pre- 

 paring for the sentiment I am to offer ; but I would remark, that when a distinguished 

 individual from one of those nearly-related countries pays a visit to the other, com- 

 mon courtesy demands that he should be treated with kindness and respect. If that 

 individual, gentlemen, be one who, by the force and energy of his own mind, has 

 struck out and accomplished any great undertaking for the advancement of science 

 or the benefit of mankind, he is a ijhilanthropist, a public benefactor, and entitled to 

 our highest admiration. (Cheering.) 



"Gentlemen, I have the satisfaction of informing you that there is at our table an 

 individual whose name when I mention it will be familiar to most of you; who, con- 

 templating several millions of human beings in his own country sinking into oblivion 

 before the destructive influences of civilzation, had the energy of character, the 

 courage, and xihilanthropy, to throw himself, unprotected and unaided, into the midst 

 of them, with his brushes and his pen endeavoring to preserve for future ages their 

 familiar looks, and all that appertained to their native modes and history. In this 

 noble enterprise, gentlemen, this individual labored eight years of his life ; and hav- 

 ing with incessant toil and hazard visited most of the native tribes of North America, 

 he has brought home and to our city a collection (which I trust you have all seen) of 

 vast interest and value, which does great honor to his name, and entitles him to our 

 highest admiration and esteem. I now propose, gentlemen, the health of Mr. Catlin, 

 and success to the great country that gave him birth." 



Whilst these compliments were applying to my country only, I was fully confident 

 there was some one of my countrymen present better able than myself to respond to 

 them, but when they became personal, and all eyes were fixed upon me, I saw there 

 was no alternative, and that I must reply as well as I could to the unexpected com- 

 pliment thus paid me and answered to with a bumper and many rounds of applause, 

 every guest at the table, as before, with one foot on his chair and the other on the 

 edge of the table. An awful pause for a moment, while my name was echoed from 

 every part of the room, brought me upon my feet, and I replied; but I never shall 

 recollect exactly how. I believe, however, that I explained the views with which I 

 had visited the Indian tribes, and what I had done, and put in a few words, as well 

 as I could, for my country. 



Mr. Catlin was seated by the side of Sir David Wilkie, the artist, by 

 whom he was toasted. This incident is given in full herein, in the 

 chapter on the artistic and scientific value of Mr. Catlin's work. Mr. 

 Catlin concludes : 



The pipers played, the wine flowed, many good songs were sung, a Highland dance 

 was spiritedly flung by M'lan, M'Donald, and several others, in Highland costume. 

 An Indian song and the war-whoop were called for and given, and with other good- 

 fellowship and fun this splendid affair was finished.— Pages 66-69, vol. 1, Catlin's 

 Notes in England. 



WITH C. A. MURRAY AT A BALL. 



Mr. Charles Augustus Murray, in the fall of 1842, conceived the idea of 

 a surprise for his friends who would be in attendance at the Caledonian 

 Ball (Almacks). He enlisted Mr. Catlin and his nephew, Burr. The 

 three were dressed in costumes at the Indian Gallery, Egyptian Hall. 

 Mr. Murray acted as interpreter. The Caledonian Ball was then the 



