The Letter of Mr. Robert Patterson Referred to AboveAuthor(s): Robert PattersonSource: Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Vol. 14, No. 95 (Jun. - Dec., 1875),p. 650Published by: American Philosophical SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/981955 .

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650

The Letter of Mr. Robert Patterson referred to above. 329 Chestnut Street, ?

Philadelphia, October 30, 1875. j Dear Sir:?I beg leave to communicate through you to the American

Philosophical Society the following extract from the will of the late Mrs. Caroline E. G. Peale, viz :

"I give to the American Philosophical Society held at Philadelphia for Promoting Useful Knowledge, the collection of relics illustrative of the Stone Age, with the descriptive catalogue thereof made by my beloved husband Franklin Peale, in trust to preserve the same as a separate collection within the Hall Building of the Society, or in some suitable place, and open to the inspection of all visitors, under such regulations as may be proper for the security thereof ; the collection to be designated so as to distinguish the object and the name of the Collector as follows :

" Implements of the Stone Age from various parts of America, Europe, Great Britain, and the British Isles, collected and arranged as impres- sively confirming the unity of the Human Race, by Franklin Peale.''

"Provided that said collection shall not be placed within the building of said Society until the same shall be fire-proof, and until then or there- after, if deemed expedient by said Society, the collection shall be deposited in such fire-proof building, public or private, as they may designate. And if said Society shall decline or neglect the trust imposed on them, I direct my Executor to see to the execution thereof in such manner as to provide a place of secure deposit for the collection, open to the inspection of visitors ; and in case of his death or disability, I request that the proper court will direct and take care of the due execution of this trust.''

The character and value of this collection are known to some of the members of the Society, and were fairly exhibited in the " Memorial Volume," embracing photographs and descriptive matter, which was some two years since submitted for inspection.

The collection at present is deposited in the building of the Philadel- phia Saving Fund Society, and I presume can remain there awaiting the orders of the Society and myself. The specimens are carefully packed, and at the proper time can readily be arranged in the cases. The Society, if accepting the trust, will be put to no expense in the arrangement or labelling of the collection, or for the collateral inheritance tax on the same.

As the conditions of the bequest require, among other things, that the collection shall be only placed in a fire-proof building, with which at this time the Society is not provided, the designation of a suitable place will have to be determined by the Society at its convenience.

Very respectfully yours, [Signed.] ROBERT PATTERSON,

Executor of Gar oline ?. O. Peale. Dr. Geo. ?. Wood, President of the American Philosophical Society,

Philadelphia.

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