Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1832-07-25

AANDiaIN Liz Ohf nc sullOlIGu ieLteI Is from
the pen OF distinguished gentleman, whose name
were we permitted to use it, would add great
weight to the opinions which it expresses ON
opinion would be of little comparative value; bu,
we have for days sought for an opportunity to
speak of the undertaking of Mr.. MCKINNEY as
we think it deserves, in the light of great ma
tional memorial. The engraved and colored de
ineation of the features of individual Indians are
fit ornaments of the work, and beautifully as well
as accurately executed.-Not Int
HISTORY OF THE NORTH AMERICAN IN
DIhNG.
Within few days, there has been placed in
The congressional library, the first number of a
History of the North American Indians. The
design of the very respecta BILE author is honora-
BILE to himself, his country, and the age. He
proposes to give general historical view of the
numerous bands of North American Indians
from the discovery of this continent by Columbus
to the present period, and particular account OF
nineteen tribes which reside within the bounds Of
the United States, with copious vocabularies Of
their languages, and biograp hlcal sketches of one
hundred and twenty distinguished chiefs, warrl-
ors and females, who have visited the seat Of
government, and whose portraits, painted in a
mastery style, by King, are suspended in the In
dian department of the war office.
This most instructive, valuable, and splendid
work, was long since announced as being in pre-
paration, and it can be confidently asserted that
public expectation will be fully realized
For many years Col. McKenney was at the
head of the bereau of Indian affairs, and made
frequent excursions among the different tribes,
as commissioner for negotiating treaties, which
enabled him to become intimately acquainted
with the extraordinary character, habits, man.
ners, governments, and religions, of The primitive
lords OF this immense region he is therefore emf
nently qualified to execute in an able and salts
factory manner, the arduous and responsible la
Dor which he has so fortunately assumed
The work will consist of twenty large folio
Hrraisons, each embellished with six coiored por-
traits but as it is intended that it shall be sim
ultaneously published in this country and Europe,
there will necessarily be some delay in its APP
pearance, to enable him to make the requisite
arrangements for accomplishing that object
The specimen which has been given of this
superb addition to our historical and biographical
collections of the natives of the western hemis
phere, is from the celebrated press OF Messrs
Child g. lnman, Of Philadelphia. 1t is worthy
of all praise, for the beauty and faithful execu.
lion of the Typography and engravings. The
latter are exact copies of the original paintings
and have been Autographed with such consum.
mate skill, and colored with such exquisite taste
and elegance, as to render them splendid monu-
'nents Of the rapid progress and elevated charac.
ter of this branch of the fine arts, in that seat Of
science, genius, intelligence, and enterprise
tha. magnificent emporium of commemorative
Furnishing city of the iliustrous Penn
The citizens of the United States, as well as
the disciples of letters throughout the world, are
under the greatest obligations to the accomplished
author, for adventurously undertaking this great
national work. The aborisines Of America are
rapidly disappearing; and the period is not dis
taat when that ill-starred race must become ak.