The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-05-18
From The Journal If Commerce.
ANTIQ IrITIEG


| on SO new and exciting subject OF inquiry may
not be unacceptable TO the readers of this lour-
| nal.
In the year 1888, the attention of the learned
and the curious was drawn towards native anti
qultles by some accounts which appeared in the
public prints, descriptive OF the ruins of (sup
posed ancient) city found near Palenque, in the
Province of Chapa, GaulamaIa. These ruins,
which were partially explored in 1887 by Capt.
Dei Rio, seem 10 have been known TO few and
| interesting TO none Of the Savans OF Europe
uhtii The report Of that officer, with Cabrera's
commentary, was translated and published IN
England in 1922 But they were doomed 10 be
soon forgotten neglected At length, how
ever, Dr. Francis Cory, who, residing in the
vicinity OF The ruins, pursued their investigation
with zeal and success, had the honor of rousing
the learned world 10 "A Just sense of their value
as monuments OF People, and as records of
their history. In the fall Of '33 the substance Of
a correspondence between the learned Doctor
and the late DIR. Mitchell Of this city, was en-
bodied in communication read by Samuel
Ackerly, Esq, before the New York Lyceum of
Natural History. This paper, which presented
the most striking novelties and wonderful facts,
on being introduced Nv the press to the general
notice, made strong impression and awakened
an abiding interest. About this time, two for
eign societies offered prizes for the best accounts
Of these ruins and during the last five years
several large works, erudte and speculative,
have been published in Europe Many travel
ers, too, have visited them in spite of difficulties
Of access and the jealous illiberaty of the gov
eminent. But il was left for tive enterprising
men from our own city to explore them thorough
", and depict them fully to the world We speak
OF Messrs Catherwood and Stevens.
The course of lectures given last week by
these gentlemen on the antiquities Of Central
America, was heard with much interest by a
numerous and brilliant audience. MANY per.
sons, however, felt something of a disappoint-
ment; especially those who went prepared TO
see wonders, and who expected to be treated TO
a story of adventures and facts more marvellous
than fiction. In truth Mr. Caherwood's bold
but faithful description of the ruined cities, has
done much toward Disseminating them OF an
imagined magniicence and magnitude, and
must help eventually to disabuse the general
mind of captivating error respecting their au-
hors and their age. But we, who prefer plain
statement to a vanished tale, listened to that
gentleman with great satisfaction, dashed only
by regret that the vexed and difficult problem
just mentioned, was left untouched, and the au-
dience dismissed to form erroneous opinions on
II, from their own scanty knowledge and accord
ing 10 their prepossessions.
II is more easily askedthan answered whence,
when, and how, came that peculiar race which
first peopled the Western world. Concerning
them books are silent, and tradition is various
and obscure. Their story, therefore, must be
read in their works. Yet, thus far, their buried
and Wondering monuments leave ground for
only probable conjectures. Comparative Ar
chaology and Philology which are our only
safe guides in researches of this nature, have not
yet been competently applied to the study ofthe
ruins. We should not. then, be in haste, 10
draw any conclusions respecting them, but
should wait till our judgment is assisted by the
possession of more light But to the question
where is that aboriginal race, -where the hume
rous people that built those temples, palaces, and
piles stupendous," we think il may, without
presumption, be replied truly, that the degene-
rate descendants of that race and people inhablt-
ed the cities of the southern continent at the
time Of its discovery, and that all not extingush
ed Gas were our lndians) by the arms or more
destructive vices of their conquerors, were either
gradually merged in the Spaniards, or driven
into the wild Businesses of the interior, where
now exist the purest specimens of the original
stock.
We know that this has ceased to be a popular
from men and books PeFhaPps1 lew '66 nds
liable to less forcible objections, yet none is more
likely TO excite controversy than this. But con
troversy is not our aim or wish. We may here
after invite the attention of the inquisltive TO
some Of its proofs, AT present we can only pro-
test against the preference of poetry to truth
Some reporters of Messrs. G. and SIS lectures
have not only mis- -ascribed 10 them opinions un-
favorable to our views, but have even ctedthose
respectable authorities in support OF much base
less romance.