THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN' GALLERY. 713 



Humboldt and Bunsen. While at Berlin, in 1855, lie received the fol- 

 lowing letter from Humboldt : 



My pear sir : The bearer of these lines, Mr. Mollhausen, whom I recommend to 

 your kindness, is a man of talent, for whom I have much regard. He has been a long . 

 time among the Indians ; first alone, on the Upper Missouri, and afterward in the em- 

 ploy of the United States Government as topographer and draughtsman, in the expe- 

 dition of Lieutenant Whipple to California, across New Mexico (lat. 36°), and back 

 via Panama. He has married the daughter of Mr. Seifert, the hunter and valet de 

 chambre, who accompanied me to Siberia. He brings you a few lines for my friend, 

 M. Bonpland. A thousand kind regards. 



A. v. HUMBOLDT, 

 At Potsdam, the 12th of September, 1855. 



The person with whom you employed yesterday the sign-language in the picture- 

 gallery was the doorkeeper of the chateau of Sanssouci, Mr. Woytasch. Mr. von 

 Olfers, the director-general of the Royal Museums, has returned this morning to Ber- 

 lin. He will repeat to you how much interest and pleasure the King manifested while 

 admiring your pictures, so remarkable for the objects they represent and the ideas 

 which they engender in a mind habituated to serious meditation, and likewise dis- 

 playing your admirable talent to seize upon the characteristic features of the human 

 races. 



Wherever located or residing, Mr. Catlings society was considered in- 

 teresting and desirable by men of ability and of culture. 



His Itinerary for 1829 to 1871, herein, gives, under notes of each year, 

 many incidents of his social life in various countries. 



In Paris, especially from 1845 to 1848, Mr. Catlin found much conge- 

 nial society. The American art colony, while not large, was composed 

 of men then and subsequently noted in the art world — among them 

 was John Yanderlyn; Thomas P. Eossiter, William M. Hunt, Thomas 

 Hicks, and John F. Kensett. These and their colleagues appreciated 

 Mr. Catlin and his works. Their friendly petition to the Congress of 

 the United States, in 1846 — an unsolicited one — asking the purchase and 

 preservation of the Catlin gallery and museum, was an evidence of their 

 friendship and interest in his work. He was made a corresponding 

 member of the Ethnological Society of Paris on June 27, 1846. 



MR. CATLIN'S FRIENDS. 



Mr. Catlin impressed himself upon men of mind. He was not merely 

 a writer and painter, he was a man of acquirement, observation, and 

 keen analytical powers. Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, William H. 

 Seward, William M. Evarts, John A. Dix, Joseph Henry, and Benja- 

 min Silliman, in America, were early his friends. 

 Note from Hon. William H. Seward. 



Mr. Seward wrote to him October 7, 1839, from Albany : 



I had the pleasure to examine these (your) paintings a year or two since during 

 your exhibition in this city, but had cause to regret that your illness at that time de- 

 prived me of the pleasure of meeting you. It would give me great pleasure now to 

 accept your invitation for some day during my next hurried visit to New York, and 

 if I could do anything to contribute to your success in your visit to Europe it would 

 make me very happy. I have the highest respect for your talents and acquirements. 



When Mr. Catlin contemplated his European trip of 1839 many let- 

 ters of introduction were sent him. 



