THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 775 



the whole interior life and customs of a people singular and striking beyond the specu- 

 lations of romance, and so separated by position, by distrust, and enmity, that no one 

 has ever before seen what this man has sketched. To the philosopher, the philan- 

 thropist, the moralist, and the man of science, it presents matter equally attractive 

 and important, in those higher regards with which they are conversant, with that 

 which amuses the fancy of the rude. By all it will be found a store-house of wonders, 

 which will surprise the mind in present observation, and gratify the thoughts in all 

 future recollection. 



ENGLISH ESTIMATE OF THE VALUE OF MR. CATLIN'S GALLERY. 



When Mr. Catlin opened his gallery at Egyptian Hall, London, in 

 1840, the Times gave the following : 



Mr. Catlin's North American Indian Gallery.— A very curious exhibition is 

 opened in the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly. It consists of above 500 portraits, land- 

 scapes, views of combats, religious ceremonies, costumes, and many other things il- 

 lustrative of the manners and cnstoms and modes of living and of battle, &c, of the 

 different tribes of North American Indians. Some of these pictures are exceedingly 

 interesting, and form a vast field for the researches of the antiquary, the naturalist, 

 and the philosopher. The numerous portraits are full of character ; they exhibit an 

 almost endless variety of feature, though all bearing a generical resemblance to each 

 other. The views of combats are very full of spirit, and exhibit modes of warfare and 

 destruction horribly illustrative of savage life. The method of attacking buffaloes 

 and other monsters of the plains and forests are all interesting ; the puny process of a 

 fox-chase sinks into insignificance when compared with the tremendous excitement 

 occasioned by the grappling of a bear or the butting of a bison. These scenes are all 

 accurately depicted, not in the finished style of modern art, but with a vigor and 

 fidelity of outline, which arise from the painter having actually beheld what he 

 transmits to canvas. The most curious portion of this exhibition is, however, the 

 representations of the horrible religious ceremonies of several of the Indian tribes, 

 and the probationary trials of those who aspire to be the leaders amongst them. 

 These representations disclose the most abhorrent and execrable cruelties. They 

 show to what atrocities human nature can arrive where the presence of religious know- 

 ledge is not interposed to prevent its career. The exhibition also contains tents, 

 weapons, dresses, &c, of the various tribes visited by Mr. Catlin. These are curious 

 but of secondary importance. The catalogue, which is to be had at the exhibition- 

 room, is a very interesting brochure, and will afford a great deal of novel but impor- 

 tant information. 



[From the Art-TJnion.] 



Mr. Catlin's Indian Gallery.— Circumstances have hitherto prevented our notic- 

 ing this most admirable exhibition ; but we have examined it in all its parts with 

 very minute attention, and have been highly gratified, as well as much informed, by 

 doing so. Mr. Catlin's collection is by no means to be classed among the ephemeral 

 amusements of the day ; it is a work of deep and permanent interest. Perceiving 

 that the rapid destruction of the aboriginal tribes by war, disease, and the baneful 

 influence of spirituous liquors would soon cause all traces of the red men to be lost, 

 Mr.' Catlin determined on proceeding through their still untrodden wildernesses, for 

 the purpose of gaining an intimate acquaintance with their manners and customs, 

 and of procuring an exact delineation of their persons, features, ceremonies, &c, all 

 which he has faithfully and perfectly accomplished at no small hazard of life and 

 limb. It was not a common mind that could have conceived so bold a project, nor is 

 he a common man who has so thoroughly accomplished it. 



The arms, dresses, domestic implements, &c, collected by the industry of this 

 most energetic of explorers are precisely as they have been manufactured and used 



