The Sun.
London, England, 1845-08-01 00:00:00

MEXICAN AND CENTRAL
AMERICAN ANTIQUITIES.
Some travellers accidentally discovered, in the pro-
vince of Chiapas, the ruins of a large city, whose
monuments attested the existence of a people far ad-
vanced in civilisation, at a period too remote to fix its
epoch in history.
Several attempts have been made to explore this
interesting country, and already, through individual
exertions almost unaided, the most striking facts have
been collected, which prove, beyond doubt, that civilisa-
tion and the arts were known and practised in a country
once crowded with human beings and now but a fruitless
wilderness in appearance to the common eye.
In 1803, Colonel Dupaix headed an expedition dis-
patched by the Mexican Viceroy, and the designs made
by Castaneda were at a later period transported to Paris.
These drawings, including the designs of bridges,
pyramids, tumuli of various forms, subterranean sculp-
tures, majestic and extraordinary edifices, idols in
porphyry and granite, statues in marble, stone, and
stucco. fragments of the zodiac in hieroglyphics, though
different from those of Egypt, yet announcing their
common origin with them.
Curiosity thus excited, resulted in the devotion to the
cause of science of the Comte Ange de Saint Priest,
who has spent several years in the deserts of Central
America, exploring its antiquities ; and who has added
largely to the collections of his co-labourers and pre-
decessors, amongst whom may be named the illustrious
Chateaubriand, de Humboldt, and Warden.
We understand that a Committee is about to b formed
in London, in conjunction with that of Paris, for the
purpose of aiding in a more extended exploration of
a subject so interesting to science, and so full of curious
speculation.
M. St. Priest has dedicated to this object the proceeds
of the sale of his work, in two large folio volumes, ac-
companied by an Atlas, comprising 300 magnificent
designs.
We quote the following from the Jourlal des
Debats " A year ago we mentioned a scientific cern-
mission formed here with the object of preparing for the
provinces of Mexico and of Central America, an explor-
ing expedition which should extend and complete the
discoveries, so wonderful already, of the first expedi-
tion. This transatlantic exploring scheme, which at
first was but the yearning of some spirits devoted to sci-
ence, is now a matter of certain success, after the efforts
made during the past year.
" Never, it must be acknowledged, has there existed
so great a disposition to form such societies for enter-
prises of this kind. At the present day arehological
expeditions are treated and undertaken in a manner
very different from the time when Champollion deci-
p;weeti the hieroglyphics of Longsor and of Medinet-
.Abon, and when Volney sat in the Temple of the Sun,
in the shade of the columns of Palmyra.
" Persepolis and Babylona have exhausted neither the
ardour nor the enthusiasm of savans and poets. Egypt
has been searched in every corner, but much more still
remains to be examined in the archaeological world. Be-
tween Egypt and Persia, on the one side, and Central
America on the ether, there are regions at present al-
most. deserted, formerly peopled and flourishing., where
must be found sumptuous palaces, majestic sculptures,
everything, in a word, that constitutes the necessary mag-
nificence of an advanced eivilieation.
" What has already been discovered at Palenquce
which has been celled the Thebes of America, will give
an idea of the vacuum thati , -till to be filled in the his-
tory of art. It JS this vae:esin which it is the object of
the exp.oring commission to fill. It has no other object.
It will be carried out by the simultaneous efforts of the
French end English savans, according to the plan ex-
pressed by M. de Chateaubriand in that importer t work
the 'Mexican Antiquities.' This transatlantic explora-
tion, which will excite a lively interest in all enlightened
minds, deserves the support necessary for realising all
the hope: that are attached to it by spreading some rays
of light over the ancient destinies of the American
continent."