Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-07-16
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES DIS
COVERIES.

The New York Express has received let
'er from Central America, under the date of
@oth May, which furnishes information of
more than ordinary interest. After mcntion-
ing that the internal broils which had so lon,
distracted that country have been at lenrth
happily terminated, the letter states that the
restoration Of tranquility has enabled our
Charge DIES Affairs, John l.. Stephens, ESQ.
and his Intelligent travelling companion, Mr..
Catherwood, to carry out the primary object
OF their visit to that countryside examination
oil the remarkable architectural ruins which
are known to exist in several places in the in
terlor.-They had already visited Quiragua,
and intended to passto Quiche, and thence
to the splendid ruins of Palenque, in the pro-
vince of Chiapas, Mexico. OF their discov-
cries at Quiragua we have the following me-
moranda:
One statute of 10 feet high, lying upon the
ground. One ditto 10! feet upon the ground .
face looking toward the heavens. One ditto
70 feet high, lnclining similar to the steeple
or tower at Pisa. A monument 90 feet hiGh.
perpendicular, IN the form of an obelisk full of
hlerogiyphics, with human statue cut m
on Its top, and has some figures i'm its hands.
Another statue feet high, representing \
woman. One other statue 10 feet high. re-
presenting on one side the figure of a Woman
ON the other man, in good preservation
Another, the head of giant, 6 feet in dame
ter. Two affairs, most elegantly sculptured.
One obellsk, IL feet i'll height. Four other
monuments in distinct places, one of which is
OF circular form, and upon small eminence
formed OF stones, apparently brought from the
river. In the centre between these four mon
uments, there is hugh round stone, which is
wholly covered with hieroglyphics and in
scriptlons; beneath the stone are two human
nedus' covered nearly with vegetation, upon
which the stone rests.
Inc above monuments are found about
5000 feet from theriver Montague. The time
OF Messrs. Catherwood and Stephens being
snort, they were unable TO make more discoy-
erles In that place but they are satisfied that
tilese monuments, &c. can be removed and
taken to the United States of America, which
is their intention: while those of Palennue
are so lar In the interior, IL would be impossi-
bic to remove them. We also learn that the
human figures, and the ornaments which ap-
pear about their, are similar to those of Pal
enque. In fact, this we consider only as d
P!eluue TO what we shall expect from these
distinguished, persevering and scientific trav-
Inc editor of the New ork Star attributes
reatimPortance to these discoveries in his
toricai point Of view. We subioin his re-
MARKS as suggesting wide field for specu-
lation:
rms Is wonderful; equal to any thing dis
covered ior a,century in the old world The
people OF this country must be prepared for
extraordinary developments in researches
throughout Central America. Peru and Next
90. we must as anation relinquish our I'M
1;el'eVlng ProoPensities, our practice of doubt
ing every thing which we cannot exactly
comprehend, and believing all things to be a
l 1Si or hufnbug excepting men, or silver
9oildr, ana prepare ourselves by proper stu
uy ana discipline of mind to know and to be-
lieve that this new world, so called-the dis
covery OF few centuries-was settled by the