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a caterer for the public； mentioning his amusement ventures in Vauxhall Garden； the circus； and in the exhibitions he had managed at the South and West。
〃Who are your references？〃 Olmsted inquired。
〃Any man in my line；〃 Barnum replied； 〃from Edmund Simpson； manager of the Park Theatre； or William Niblo； to Messrs。 Welch； June； Titus； Turner； Angevine； or other circus or menagerie proprietors； also Moses Y。 Beach； of the New York Sun。〃
〃Can you get any of them to call on me？〃
Barnum told him that he could； and the next day Mr。 Niblo rode down and had an interview with Mr。 Olmsted； while Mr。 Beach and several other gentlemen also called。 The following morning Barnum waited upon him for his decision。
〃I don't like your references； Mr。 Barnum；〃 said Mr。 Olmsted； abruptly； as soon as he entered the room。
Barnum was confused； and said； 〃he regretted to hear it。〃
〃They all speak too well of you；〃 Olmsted added； laughing； 〃in fact； they all talk as if they were partners of yours； and intended to share the profits。〃
〃Nothing could have pleased me better；〃 says Barnum。 〃He then asked me what security I could offer in case he concluded to make the purchase for me； and it was finally agreed that； if he should do so； he should retain the property till it was entirely paid for； and should also appoint a ticket…taker and accountant （at my expense）； who should render him a weekly statement。 I was further to take an apartment hitherto used as a billiard…room in his adjoining building； allowing therefor 500 a year； making a total rental of 3；000 per annum； on a lease of ten years。 He then told me to see the administrator and heirs of the estate； to get their best terms； and to meet him on his return to town a week from that time。
〃I at once saw Mr。 John Heath； the administrator； and his price was 15；000。 I offered 10；000； payable in seven annual installments； with good security。 After several interviews； it was finally agreed that I should have it for 12；000； payable as above possession to be given on the 15th of November。 Mr。 Olmsted assented to this； and a morning was appointed to draw and sign the writings。 Mr。 Heath appeared； but said he must decline proceeding any further in my case； as he had sold the collection to the directors of Peale's Museum （an incorporated institution） for 15；000； and had received 1；000 in advance。
〃I was shocked； and appealed to Mr。 Heath's honor。 He said that he had signed no writing with me； was in no way legally bound； and that it was his duty to do the best he could for the heirs。 Mr。 Olmsted was sorry but could not help me； the new tenants would not require him to incur any risk； and my matter was at an end。
〃Of course I immediately informed myself as to the character of Peale's Museum Company。 It proved to be a band of speculators who had bought Peale's collection for a few thousand dollars； expecting to unite the American Museum with it； issue and sell stock to the amount of 50；000； pocket 30；000 profits； and permit the stockholders to look out for themselves。
〃I went immediately to several of the editors； including Major M。 M。 Noah； M。 Y。 Beach； my good friends West； Herrick； and Ropes； of the Atlas； and others； and stated my grievances。 'Now；' said I； 'if you will grant me the use of your columns； I'll blow that speculation sky…high。' They all consented； and I wrote a large number of squibs； cautioning the public against buying the Museum stock； ridiculing the idea of a board of broken…down bank directors engaging in the exhibition of stuffed monkeys and gander…skins； appealing to the case of the Zoological Institute； which had failed by adopting such a plan as the one now proposed； and finally； I told the public that such a speculation would be infinitely more ridiculous than Dickens's 'Grand United Metropolitan Hot Muffin and Crumpit…baking and Punctual Delivery Company。'
〃The stock was 'as dead as a herring！' I then went to Mr。 Heath and asked him when the directors were to pay the other 14；000。' On the 26th day of December； or forfeit the 1；000 already paid；' was the reply。 I assured him that they would never pay it； that they could not raise it； and that he would ultimately find himself with the Museum collection on his hands； and if once I started off with an exhibition for the South； I could not touch the Museum at ANY price。 'Now；' said I； 'if you will agree with me confidentially； that in case these gentlemen do not pay you on the 26th of December I may have it on the 27th for 12；000； I will run the risk； and wait in this city until that date。' He readily agreed to the proposition； but said he was sure they would not forfeit their 1；000。
〃 'Very well；' said I； 'all I ask of you is； that this arrangement shall not be mentioned。' He assented。 'On the 27th day of December； at ten o'clock A。 M。； I wish you to meet me in Mr。 Olmsted's apartments； prepared to sign the writings； provided this incorporated company do not pay you 14；000 on the 26th。 He agreed to this； and by my request put it in writing。
〃From that moment I felt that the Museum was mine。 I saw Mr。 Olmsted； and told him so。 He promised secrecy； and agreed to sign the document if the other parties did not meet their engagement。 This was about November 15th； and I continued my shower of newspaper squibs at the new company； which could not sell a dollar's worth of its stock。 Meanwhile； if any one spoke to me about the Museum； I simply replied that I had lost it。〃
This newspaper war against the Peales was kept up unceasingly until one morning in December； 〃I received a letter from the secretary of that company （now calling itself the 'New York Museum Company'）； requesting me to meet the directors at the Museum on the following Monday morning。 I went； and found the directors in session。 The venerable president of the board； who was also the ex…president of a broken bank； blandly proposed to hire me to manage the united museums； and though I saw that he merely meant to buy my silence； I professed to entertain the proposition； and in reply to an inquiry as to what salary I should expect； I specified the sum of 3；000 a year。 This was at once acceded to； the salary to begin January 1st； 1842； and after complimenting me on my ability； the president remarked： 'Of course； Mr。 Barnum； we shall have no more of your squibs through the newspapers。' To which I replied that I should 'ever try to serve the interests of my employers；' and I took my leave。
〃It was as clear to me as noonday that； after buying my silence so as to appreciate their stock； these directors meant to sell out to whom they could； leaving me to look to future stockholders for my salary。 They thought； no doubt； that they had nicely entrapped me； but I knew I had caught them。
〃For； supposing me to be out of the way； and having no other rival purchaser； these directors postponed the advertisement of their stock to give people time to forget the attacks I had made on it； and they also took their own time for paying the money promised to Mr Heath； December 26thindeed； they did not even call on him at the appointed time。 But on the following morning； as agreed； I was promptly and hopefully at Mr。 Olmsted's apartments with my leg