The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-07-20
From the Journal de L'Empire.

40 nearly unanimous, that it has almost become
useless to repeat the eulogies which the publ
cation ofeach new book Cor number) obges us
To bestow on this great work. The public
no longer demands OF us what we think but what
we know OF II +; their only anxiet, is to know
whether a new part IT this suberb monument of
science has been finished and delivered to the
greedy eyes OK thnse whom their good fortune
has enabled to enjoy it. The Historic Narrative
anu the Picturesque Atlas have been long expcc-
ted with an inpaiience proportional to the in,
terest which these parts inspired In all classes of
readers |; hut the editors, on their part, imposed
a wise dehberation on the Typography and engrs
V''g OF one part of the work which, in order to
speak by the senses 10 the imagination, requires
the minutest care and most correct execution
1t rs now some weeks since the first book of the
Picturesque Atlas was published, under the Ii.
tie oiViews of the CodiIleras and of the monu-
1nents of tue people of America by Alexander
&c Humboldt.
mtwo ways those OF highly polished nations
delight the eye by their elegant or msieslic
forms: those OF savage people are like mute tes-
dmonisis oi events which are lost in the night of
ages they sfford an inc xhaustibie fund Of mat
ter to the reflection of the philosopher who seeks
aor the origin of nations The enormous pyra.
rn'ds OF Egypt, the sculptured rocks of Persia
ihe Runic stones of Scandinavia, the Celtic
tombs, Tie idols of Tartary, and every thing
which preserves the traces of past & nerations,
alike interest the learned who endeavor to re-
trace history TO its source 1t is in this point of
view that we must reflect on the singular mon
uments ofthe Mexicans and Peruvians, monu
ments almost unknown ont of America, with
which Mr. Humboldt is about 10 make us nc
quainted by very curious series of prints -
The bust OF an Asteque or Mexican pries,ess
wal strike the most MISUNDERSTANDING eye by the
resemblance which it's headdress Couture pre-
SCENTS to the GALANT1cA of the heads Of Isis of
Sphynx, OF Antinous and of diteren, Egg, ptian
statues ; string ofpearls, unknown IN Egyptian
monuments, proves the communication which
she mexicans had with California, where this
TIch marine production is found. The pyramid
which is found at Ckolula, in Mexico, recalls to
the recollection those of Feyoum in Egyp,-
There are other traits Of resemblance between
the Mexicans and the inhabitants of the Banks
OF the Nile Nevertheless NJ de Humboldt is
FAR from making this resemblance the subject Of
hulil hypothesis on the contrary he is eager
as frankly to point out the dissimilitudes between
the people of these two regions The Mexican
year, tor example, which at first sight appears to
be The same with that OF the Egyptians, differs
essentially IN its duration, which, according to
M de Lap'sce, is exactly that of the Arabic
year fixed by the astronomers of the Calf AL
mamoun
The engraving of the pyramid of Cholula is &C
companed by very interesting notice upon the |
ieocas or religious edifces of the Mexicans,
the resemblance OF which to the Temple of Ju. |
Gret that we are not able to enter into the de |
tails which even very concise notice Of this mo-
nument would require. We regret still more
not TO be able to give an idea of The sculpture OF
OaXaca nor the monument of Xochacaco.-l
These two pieces attest the talents of the Mexi-
cars, and seem 10 prove that it these people, in. |
stead ofhavinG been subjugsted and oppressed,
had had peaceful intercourse with Europe, they
would have made rapid progress in the fine arts
Ihe patience and address with which they wor
ked the hardest stones, proves that they have
wanted nothing but examples ofa refined taste
TO produce master pieces OF art.
One knows not, however, no " to deny that the
conquest OF America produced real advantages TO
humanity in aboiishing many horrible super
stitions, accompanied by human sacrifices and a.
trocities which the pen refuses to depict This
is point the discussion Of which we leave to
M de Loboulinere, who proposes to publish
work entitled q" On the Spirit of Conguests and
their influence upon Civilization" /
The paper which the ancient Mexicans made
with the fbres ofthe alOes agsre, served them for
designing hieroglyphic figures, which with them
were asubstitute for writing. The first conquer
Ors found an enormous quantity of this sort of
manuscript. An Italian M Bothurini, under |
took, eighty years ago, to collect these treasures,
which Spanish ignorance knew not how TO
appreciate; but the researches of this travel
Her not having obtained, like those OF Mr. Hum
boldt, the protection of the government. his col.
lections taken from him, were buried in tie ar.
chives OF tue vice royalty of Mexico. where they
are IN grea, degree become the prey OF dsmps
and destructive insects and animals. We find
IN the Atlas of VI de Humboldt two iiert CIV
piiic pictures of this kind, the one representing
a genealogy and the other process In both If
fhc sc designs, tongues placet' at the side of 4
parsonage, signify that he is living and powerful
IN The print of the process, the tongues are very
unequay divided; the native has but one, will
which he dsre scarcely defend his cause. whilst
the strangers with the long beard are fortified
each with three organs of speech, inasnuch as,
in the qualify of descendants Of u conquerng
people, they speak in . loud voice and with bold
ness.
The part of this Atlas most likely to interest
all classes of readers is without doubt that which
traces the imposing scenes Of nature /; bit it is
also that which IS most difficult to describe -
Words can give but feeble idea of the cascade
OF leq lendama, the most picturesque on the
globe, because, with less volume than Niagara
and less elevation than Staubbach in Switzerland,
1T untes in just proportions all that constitutes
the particular beauty Of other falls of water -
How shat paint TO my readers the natural Bird.
ges of Icononzo, suspended at great height a.
bove torrent, AID formed, one by hollow bank
of sand, under which softer beds have been
thrown up by the water, the other by three mas.
SEES ofrock, which, IN turDblng down, have met in
such manner rs TO form p solid arch
We may judge, from this feeble extract, what
the historic relation of NJ. de Humboldt displays {
90 the eyes Of bis readers. This narrative will s
lily crown an enterprise which would have
A. =.