CHAPTER VII.

CHARLES F. GUNTHER.

"Shall we go see the relics of this town?"

-Shakspeare.

Chicago has many things in the superlative degree. She can boast not only of the greatest area, the largest and highest buildings, and the finest auditorium in the world, but, also, of the most remarkable private collection of historical relics on public exhibition.

For many years Mr. Gunther has been accumulating this rare and costly collection of treasures. It contains relics of historical value, from nearly all countries, and of all periods; from the golden age of Egypt to the close of our civil war, and is rich in mementos concerning our own country's history.

The growth of wealth and of literary taste has increased the number of collectors, but it is seldom that a collector's choice is as varied as represented in this interesting museum the renowned author of Sylva, John Evelyn, lived now in Chicago, he might gratify his

If

intellectual curiosity to his heart's content, for the collection is distinguished in its original letters and manuscripts of famous authors and illustrious personages. Antiquarian specimens, arms and armors, autographs, portraits and books of the most ancient manufacture, are exhibited here. Original letters, manuscripts and historical papers number over seventeen thousand.

Original letters from Plymouth Colony in 1621 to 1623; letters of the first bishops, White and Seabury; letters of Nathan Hale, John Andre, Kosciusko, Pulaski, De Kalb, Steuben, and of a great number of the generals and other officers of the French and Revolutionary wars are on exhibition. Students in history may find a magnificent opportunity for examining original documents regarding the War for Independence. Among them are, the original report of the proceedings of the Commissioners of the Colonies at Cambridge for the organization of the Continental army, and orderly books of the army; William Tudor's manuscript report of the Battle of Bunker Hill; a letter of Aid-de-camp Robert Orhm to the Governor of Pennsylvania,

relating Braddock's defeat; the report of the Committee of the Continental Congress on its visit to Valley Forge, on the distress of the army, and the original report of the Hessians captured at Princeton. There are also letters of Lafitte, the pirate, Paul Jones, Captain Lawrence, Bainbridge, and others. ·

The mementos of the Washington family are abundant, showing that the collector spared neither effort nor expense, in his research. Among the number are, the original will of Lawrence Washington bequeathing Mount Vernon to his son George, letters of Martha Washington, of Mary the mother of George, of Betty Lewis, his sister, and of all his step and grand children of the Custis family, also the will of John Custis, Martha's first husband. There are three portraits of Washington, painted by Stuart, Peale and Polk. His first Thanksgiving proclamation in its original manuscript, is also among them.

Other original documents, calling our attention backwards to the early stage of America's development, are, the first printed accounts of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia. Early