Star. — London, England, 1820-01-06 00:00:00

. `"~~~"~' ANCIENT AMERICA. TEE LOST TEN TRIBES. In proportion as discoveries and investigationi of the northern districts of the terrestrial globe into the they furnish new excitements for inq uir y the origin of the people of America. Captain Cook was the father of the modern system, and opened the - way to solve all the difficulties, by stating the breadth of Behring's Straits, its shallows and coasts; and what afforded a corroborating testimony to his con clusion that this was the true channel, he proved from visual evidence, that the animals, or many of them, were similar or. both sides of those Straits. Cap tain Burney, in his chronological history of north-east ern voyages, has adopted the same basis, and another Gentleman, who has written-on the subject of ancient America, has referred to the same probable source ; but very judiciously proposes a doubt whether there can have been time, " agreeably to the most received theories, for the various distinctions el national cha racter that are found among the aborigines, as well in manners as in language." This di ffi culty is not new, and has been the cause of the reception of those theories, by many learned men, as injurious specula tions. The discoveries of Columbus, Cabot, Raleigh, and Cook, are all of very modern date, and do not furnish a sufficient explanation to the question of the origin of those ruins of ancient buildings, as well as of the root of some of the words in common use. among the hordes of natives, and of some of the cus toms found by subsequent travellers to be rimiliar among them ; and each carry back, to very high an tiquity, the tradition of their having been planted in America by a very remote ancestry. The writer to whom I have last adverted, has, by a short all usion, the conjecture to which I would more particularly lead' Sour inquiries, nan.eiy, to an Hebrew origin; and finds the names of David, Jacob, Joel, and others, on the banks of the Rio Negro: but as these names have become more fAmiliar amongst Christian nations since the period of Columbus and Cortes in South America, these do not furnish the exact evidence re quired ; for even if he found them among the tribes • of Quito and Peru, it is at this time not very diffi cult to imagine the probability of their having found their way in consequence of the conquest and com munications of the Spaniards, Portuguese, and Eng lish amongst them ; but there is a far more probable mode of accounting for nut only the similarity of names, customs, and buildings, but for the peopling' also of the Western Continent from the northern parts of Asia, to which I shall 17riefly refer you. In a very curious and elaborate work by Dr. Bou dinot, eh:hied, A Star in the West, for which he spared no pains in acquiring and arranging all the requisite information, he conceives that he has dis covered the lost ten tribes :—he traces them from their separation under llehoboam, before Christ, 971, through their march and subsequent establish ment on the borders of the Caspian Sea ; where their continuance, at least for a time, is marked by the Hebraic names of places of their residence, dissimi lar from the language of any of the .neighbouring districts; that thence they proceeded on their jour ney northward, dui lag a period of five hundred years, to Behring's Straits—a hich having crossed, they first planted their tents in the wildernesses of North Arne. ica. Now, if the Babylonian captivity by Nebuchodonosor is coi reedy dated at 606 years before Christ, it must be allowed that a space of 2123 years will have been sufficient to embrace the period of this extraordinary emigration, journey, and latter settlement; and this period will be greatly in creased, if we add to it the space of time which elapsed from the reign of Bel:oho:on, 971 years be fore Cla lit, When this emigration began, to the cap tivity 606, when the entire loss of the ten tribes was ascertained—a period cf 365 years. This will also attl.rd time fOr their removal, by tribes, into other dis tricts of the Western Continent, and thus enable us to form a correct conclusion whereby to account for their traces, by ruins, by names, and by traditionary history, and by customs in several parts which mo dern travellers have visited ; and it will also serve to account for there being still, in some remote parts, and in several of the nations both north and south, companies of Jews, in whom a travelling spirit is to be discovered in their earliest history. It is also well known, that a large congregation of Jews are settled in the northern Thibet, who may very probably have originally formed a part of the lost ten tribes, and who preferred remaining in what may be deemed the vicinity of their promised land, to pursuing, as it were, another journey through the wilderness of Asia, with their more enterpt izing brethren. Other writers, and especially Mr. Elphihstone, have, with the same laudable effort at ditcovery, ascribed to the modern Affghans this ancient origin, but the truth of • that speculation seems to require specific proof. Dr. Boudinot has had more opportunity of observation of those in America; he states, they are known to be Jews by their countenances, their names, and many words in their language, although they are not de. nominated Jews, either by themselves or others: but if this be really so, it must be conceded that this tends to question the correctness of his discovery, be cause the dispersion of that ancient and misguided people was a punishment ; and it would cease to be seep, if they could at any time become unconscious of their origin, and national offeacel Dr. Boudiaot, on the other hand, remarks, that as these ten tribes were absent from the crucifixion of the Messiah, they were free from the guilt of it, and will probably be saved from its penal consequences. He likewise states some of their traditions, as convincing evi dences of their Hebrew origin. They believe that their ancestors were all destroyed by a flood, except a few, who built a large canoe, in which they were saved ;—in their worship, they retain a rude copy of the tabernacle in the wilderness,with the ark, the priest's the holy of holies, into which the people never enter, and the priest only once a-year ;—a peace offering—a sinoffering,&c.—they pronounce the name -of DEITY only once a-year—Jah-0 wy hee yaw! This is their Tetragrammaton: they believe in Goo as invisible, and Rot to be resembled by any image or picture—maintain theocracy—a future state—a SAvtoun—a Great Spirit—a good and evil Spirit— a world of spirits, who have received judgment, &c. They use sacred feasts and dances—bury the bones of the victim, ordering that none of them be broken; they use the words Alielujah, Shilo, &c. but without knowing their meaning, or original application. James Midair, who lived twenty years amongst them, related that some of these tribes are called by the names of the cherubimical figures of the four standards of Israel—maintain theocracy, but have no idol—believe themselves to be the Ammi, or bb- loved, or chosen people—many of their words and letters are similar or synonimous with the•Hebrew— they divide their year as Moses did—have a prophet and a pontiff, whose office descends to his children— and an ark, which in their journies is never suffered to touch the ground, or to be touched: and they , state, that when their ancestors arrived at Behring's Straits, since so named, they found the sea, that they dug to the depth of a man's stature, and found there a bed of copper, over which they passed dry-shod, as at the Red Sea. In this point there is a remarkable coincidence, that Captain Cook measured those Straits at thirty nine miles in breadth, and being filled with small islands, his people easily passed from one to the other—the copper islands were within sight. These suggestions are offered for the sake of ex citing further inquiry and satisfaction on a subject so materially connected with biblical history, as to afford continual interest; and will no doubt attract the notice of your Correspondents. December, 1819. [From the New Monthly Maga-ine]. A. H. FRENCH PAPERS. PARIS, JANUARY 2. Yesterday, being the first day of the new year, the King received the respectful congratulations of the Municipal Body of Paris; when the Prefect of the Seine having expressed to his Majesty the wish that it would please HEAVEN to grant him long life, the' King replied in these terms :••‘‘ I am sensible to the sentiments v.hieh the Municipal Corps of my good 'city of Paris express towards me. I wish to live to old age, but not longer than my life may be useful to my People." His Majesty, accompanied by the Ambassadors of Spain and Naples, heard Mass in the Chapel of the Palace. _ _ _ ..... Last night, at ten o'clock, her Royal Highness Ma dame, the Duchess of Orleans, was delivered of a Prince, who will bear the name of Panthievie. The Ghent Journal announces, that General Van damme, one of the French exiles permitted to return to their country, set out on the 29th ultimo from Ghent, on his way to Paris. The celebrated painter, Sir Thomas Lawrence, whom the amateurs have denominated " the English. Titian," has finished the portrait of Pope Pius VII. which he had been requested to draw for the Prince Regent of England. The artier, before setting out for his own country, obtained an audience of his Ho liness, who received him in the kindest manner, and requested a copy of the portrait of the Prince Re -,ent executed by the same painter at London, some years ago. His Majesty Frederick VI. King of Denmark, has ordered a sum of 2,000 francs to be subscribed in his name towards erecting a Monument to M. de Male shcrbes, " whose memory ought to be honoured, as that of a virtuous magistrate, a faithful servant of his King, a courageous defender of the Throne, and the model of the public and private virtues of great citizens." His Majesty replied- nearly in the following terms, to the con .;ratulations of the Members of the Cham ber of Deputies; —" We a. e in peace with all Eu rope; but we have an ene ny to contend with—that is, Anarchy. Our position can present no danger, while I can rely upon you, as you can upon me.' It will be recollected, that, in the Sitting of the 28th of December, the Chamber of Peers rejected, with indignation, the petition of a Sieur Vincent, who denounced, as unconstitutional, the law passed against the Regicides. On the formal proposition of the Prince d'Eckinuhl, the Chamber decreed, that no report Should afterwards be made on a petition of the same kind. This frank and loyal conduct received its first recompense in the approbation of all good men, and in the outrages of faction. What more certain gua rantee for the future, what more auspicious pledge of the stability of our institutions, than to see a cele brated warrior shelving, on the cut ule chair, and in favour of his legitimate King, the same intrepidity and resolution wine h opened for him, successively, the wad to all military honours? A recompense more special was reserved for the Prince d'Eckmuhl:' yes terday the Chamber of Peers were admitted to pay their respects to Monsieur; the Prince was present. After replying to the Address of the Chamber, Mon sieur complimented the Prince d'Eckmuhl " for being the organ of the sentiments of the Chamber on the above occasion."—" Monseigneur,' said the Marshal, l " 1 only expressed what all these Members felt." —t, " But, Marshal," rejoined his Royal Highness, "I am particularly happy that it was you mho spoke on the, occasion."—The..lournal des Debuts, a Royalist Pa per, which recites this anecdote, concludes its state 'pent with a strong eulogium on the Mai shal. We are assured that the Commission of Petitions of the Chamber of Deputies has decided, that no Re port will be made on collective Petitions, asbeing dis countenanced by the Charter. A Petition of M. Vincent, similar to that which was rejected with indignation by the Chamber of, Peers, has been addressed to the Chamber of Deputies. Count Buol-Schauenstein, the President of the Diet at Frankfort, had passed through Ratisbon,,,on his way to Vienna. The Congress in. the latter city is said to have been occupied, at its last Sitting, in dis cussing the genuine interpretation US be given of the 13th Article of the Confederation, relating to the Constitutions of the different States. The subject was to be resumed on the 19th ultimo. A number of Bankers having arrived at Vienna, it was reported that a loan to the Austrian Government wai in con templation; one of them, however, M. Rothschild, of' Frankfort, is said to have gone thither. for the pur pose of endeavouring to obtain a decision of the Con gress in favour of the Jews resident in Frankfort. The following anecdote is cited by M. BENJAMIN CONSTANT, in an Historical Account of the Event which attended NAPoLEotes Return from Elba. The author's object is to prove, that a positive and laconic assertion, made by any person who wished to con vince the EMPEROR of his error, if attended with an apparent conviction of its validity, and a perfect silence afterwards, produced an impression which NAPOLEON vainly endeavoured to remove:—" In one of the many interviews we had, previous to his quit ting Paris to join the army," says M. de Constant, " the Emperor particularly dwelt on the various plots meditated against him subsequent to his landing at Cannes, adding, that M. de Vitrolles ought to be made answerable for them ; the latter was then, as he now is, a perfect stranger to me; he only interested me; as any ether individual would have done, who 'happened to be imprisoned and in chains. But I took this opportunity of telling Napoleon, that a single drop of blood shed by his order, under exist ing circumstances, woula place it out of the power of every honourable and independent man to him. To this he opposed the circumstance of the false ltfoniteurs which had been published at Thou loose, of assassins hired to take his own life, &c.— Without making any reply to his statements on these points, I merely repeated my first observation. —Having for some time continued to combat my opinion by reasons drawn from the inequality of his position, and legitimacy of repelling such attempts to destroy him, while I maintained a profound silence, it was easy to perceive the agitation of his mind, as if he felt that any measures of political rigour would deprive him of some necessary support ; thus throw ing a portion of the odium attached to his former reign on the present system. After a species of mo nologue, which lasted nearly twenty minutes, lam no longer thinking of M. de Vitrolles,' said he, nor do I know whether I shall send him before the Tri bunals or not. I am thinking of the Duke de Angou leme, and have already given orders to prevent his incurring any dangers. But I dread the fury of the peasants and soldiery. They do not„like the capitu lation that has been made; I will therefore dispatch another courier this very night. I entertain no ha tred, and have no de s ire to be revenged ; all is changed ; it is necessary that Europe should know the fact, and be convinced of it. French Funds, Dec. 31.—Five per Cents. 71 francs. Bank Stock, 1,380. MALTA, NOVEMBER 20. PRIVATE LETTER. We are now without Admiral, Governor, or Lieu tenant-Governor. General Layard was superseded, in the beginning of October, by Sir Manley Power, who immediately got leave of absence and went to France to fetch his Lady, and is not yet returned.— Sir Thomas Maitland arrived here early list month, after an absence of a year. Alarming accounts of an insurrection at Santa Maura occasioned him to leave this almost immediately for the lonian Islands, where he seems fixed, and by all accounts from that quarter there is no likelihood of his return for some time.— Indeed, it is thought that he will have his hands full there ; but it is very distressing for this Island, many causes in the High Court of Appeal having been pending for years. When he was here he could not find time to hear them, and there are now many pri soners waiting for trial in the Admiralty Court, par ticularly the Pirates, of whom yon doubtless have heard. There is no question as to their guilt, as I understand they have all confessed ; the Captain and Mate throwing the blame on the seamen, and they on thei:. Officers. Two have been admitted King's evidence. Their trial had been ordered for the 26th ult. but Sir Thomas's absence has hitherto prevented it.—When Sir Manley Power returns, they do say a Court of Piracy will be held, at which he will preside, instead of Sir Thomas Maitland ; yet I hardly think this will.be the case, as, according to the tenour of the commission originally given to Sir Thomas, he, and he only, must preside ; but as it seems now quite uncertain when he will be here, the attempt to dele gaoe his judicial powers for this purpose is intended to be made : it the prisoners object to it, as I have no doubt they will, 1 should not be surprised if they were sent to England. Tile Crown Advocate is said to have strong doubts about it, and I hardly think they will venture to execute eight or ten people un der such circumstances. Thus you see how things are managed here, and all for want of a permanent Governor. But what do people here say, and what do they not suffer? I will give one trait, and you may judge by that, of others. From the great and increasing distress here (nothing having been done to benefit the trade of this island), the Government found a great falling off in the consumption of wheat, of which, you know, they have the monopoly, and there was a very great quantity on hand. This de• crease in the consumption they rightly attributed to the substitution of barley and Indian corn for wheat, by the distressed people. To remedy this, what, in their wisdom and humanity, do you think they did ? They laid a fresh duty on the importation of barley and Indian corn; by which means, as any man in his senses must see, the poor people, instead of being relieved, were forced a step lower in misery, and compelled to substitute 'something worse or less in quantity. The -event has proved this ; and as the above plan has not increased the consumption of wheat, the Government have accordingly increased, a second time, the duties on barley and Indian corn, which can only make the people more wretched.—. Mean time, the wheat is very bad, and our bread horrid. Surely we cannot expect that this kind of policy will tend to make us more respected or be loved here ? unfortunately, every Englishman, whe. ther favouring or censuring the present system, shares alike the aversion of the natives ; but those who in fluente these measures seem not to care much for public . opinion. Every thing is kept very secret here respecting the insurrection: Santa Maura, I hear, is full of troops, and ttey say all is quiet at present 1--Let us hope that there is no smothered fire under the em bers. Several executions have taken place ; among the sufferers were two Priests. Many.have fled for the Continent, to seek refuge under Ali Pacha. The Bishop is in custody, with several other people. The insurrection has been caused by overbearing taxes. Every inhabitant hal been disarmed ; guns, swords, dirks, daggers, all taken.; and it is supposed that similar measures will take place in the other islands. Sir Thomas Maitland went off to Santa Maura, but I did not land.—[The Times.J RICHARDSON; GOODLUCK, and Co. respectfully acquaint the Public, that the State Lottery of 10,000 Tickets, with Four Prizes of £20,000 Money and Consols, will begin drawing NEXT WEDNRSDAYe.-- Second and Last Day the 29th instant. Tickets and Shares are'selling by RlcHAzunow, GOODLUCE, and Co. at their Offices, Bank-buildings, Cornhill, • and Charing-Cross, who sold, last August, No. 710, a Poize of £36,000 Consols. THE EVENING rt it, LONDON. THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 1820. THE FUNDS. • - PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONK O'CLCCK I 3 per Cent. Reduced 68.1 67f 3 per Cent:Consols shut 3 per Cent. 76H • 5 per Cent. Navy shut Bank Long AHnuities 171 Imperial S per Cent. Anus. 66; India Stock shut—lndia Bonds 9s. Bs. pr. Exchequer Bills (2d.) ls. dis. par Cnmmercial 16 discount Consols for Acct. 631 69; 681. The Paris Papers of Saturday and Sunday arrived yesterday afternoon ; and, in a preceding part, we have given some extracts horn them. We have also, to-day, received those of Monday. On Sunday the Duke of ORLEA ms had an audience of the KING, to announce the happy delivery of the DucitEss, his spouse, of a son. His MAJESTY has ordered that the young Prince shall take the name of CHARLES FERDINAND Louis PHILIPPE EMMA-. NUEL, Duke of PENTHIEVRE. • Accounts, dated the al of October, have be , n re ceived from Dagana, the chief place of the French Colony of Senegal, which give some interesting de• tails on the situation of that Establishment. It ap pears that the usual autumnal maladies are com mitting great ravages; and to add to the misfortunes of the Colony, the war continues with fury between the French and the Moors of the tribes of OMAR and TRARZAS.. The tribe of ONALO alone have entered into alliance with the French, and have ever since been exposed to the continual attacks of other negroes, who lay the territory waste. " The English," add these accounts, " are renew• ing their attempts to establish themselves on the Niger. It appears that they Intend to construct a well armed galliot, which may enable them to clear the River of the Negro canoes, and to ascend and descend it at pleasure." The Rhine has broken through one of its embank ments below Neckarau, and oVerflown a great ex tent of level country around Manheim, Seckenheim, &c. The City of Manheim itself remains free from water, the great dyke which surrounds it, having happily stood firm. The bridge over the Rhine also remains, although the flood is greater than has been remembered for a long time. The damage occa sioned by this inundation is vet) , great. It appears, by accounts from Switzerland, that the Aar too has overflowed its banks, and done harm. So great was the apprehension for the country be tween the Lakes of Morat, Bienac, and Neufchatel, that it was in contemplation to throw up woi ks, to check the progress of the floods. The design, how ever, from the backwardness of some of the Cantons, has not been carried into effect. The river Eltz has done great damage in the Brisgau. It broke the great ditch at the foot of the bridge of Theningen, and the whole country, as far as Kaisorsteehl, is one lake of water. It is, however, diminishing. Letters from Cadiz confirm the pleasing intelli gence of the pestilential fever having quite subsided in the province of Andalusia. On the Bth of .De cember there was only one person in Xeres affected with the malady. The Madrid Gazette announies, that the Tar on Articles of Luxury, suggested by M. de Garay, the Ex-Finance Minister, and approved of by the King, in 1818, would take effect from the commencement of the present month. No information had been re ceived as to the authors of the fabricated Circular for calling out the Militia, notwithstanding the very tempting rewards offered. The organization of the Police is said to be very incomplete, and the mal• contents are hence better enabled to conceal their manceuv res. The Congress of German Ministers now assembled at Vienna is said to have been recently occupied with the discussion of the particular Constitutions of the German States, and the authentic interpretation of the 13th Article of the Federal Act respecting Re presentative Governments.. If common report may be credited, they have agreed to recognize the Constitu tions already existing, and to confine the application of the thirteenth Article alluded to, to States not yet provided with any popular system of Government. The Saxon Government has officially published the Convention entered into with Prussia, relative to the territories ceded to that Power. Notwithstanding its being extremely voluminous, it is said that there are still a number of minute points of detail in the rela. dons between the two countries, left to be adjusted by future negociations. Saxony having lost all her salt mines, it is stipulated in the Convention, that she shall annually receive, at a moderate price, from the mines of Burrenberg and koesen 170,000 quintals of salt, until the year 1829, when another arrangement will take place. The Saxon Government strenuously supports the propositions submitted to the Germanic Diet, for establishing a free commerce in the interior of Germany. The organization of the Prussian Army, will, it is said, probably undergo some changes. The forces of Prussia consist at present of the following Corps : Ist. The Army of the Line; 2d. Militia of the lint C I 1 t 1 1 1 1 6 6 1 a 1 a 1 1 Le 1 e- ir Ll 4 it th be of be u- on ret he he its ire la, ed ter :he :he of ant sly nic for : it c es ps : first