Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-10-07
THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THE sMITHsoNI.
AN INSTITUTION.

We are rejoiced to see publication from this
new Institution, which we may now say has fairly
commenced its sphere of usefulness, by issuing a
volume which is as creditable to the Regents" by
whom il is conducted for securing so valuable a
work, as it is to its authors. The work alluded to
is volume in imperial quarto, the size Of the Con-
gress edition OF the "Exploring Expedition" and
forms the first of series to be entitled The
Smithsonian Contributions 10 Knowledge" The
particular subject TO which this volume is devoted
is the . .3ncient Monuments of the Mississippi
! Valiey comprising the results Of extensive original
surveys and explorations" By +. G. Squier A.
NJ, and E. II. Davis, M. d.
We think the officers Of the Institution could
hardly have selected more appropriate memoir
with which TO begin the SERIES than one devoted to
researches among the aboriginal remains of the
United States. The subject is not a new one, It
is true, but the disioned and confused accounts
WHICH have been written of these remains, and the
imperfect surveys which have been made, have rather dis
couaged than promoted for further investigation In
fact many believe that little remained to be done West
antiquities, and that Indians likely to
have raised the mounds and earthworks Of the Mississippi
Valley any other Of men.
Messrs. Squier and Davis, living in the vicinity of these
ancient works. determined thorough survey and
than hundred mounds opened their baseupward
of hundred enclosures of earth of various dimensions from
10 to 800 acres surveyed and measured and lou
sands Of interesting relics collected To many these
lies possess the greatest interest," they exhibit skill in
the arts such savage people Of which have know
ledge has attained But attach greater interest TO
the earhwoks which exist along the bottom lands Of the
Ohio and its tributary These enclosures which
made with banks of earb of various forms square,
some circular, others ocagona and in instances, owing
to the form OF the land, they present irregular sapes The
purposes of these works it difficult conjecture. The
larger enclose space sufficient for great ETY., and may
have been thrown up to protect settlement Of people
army Some of the smaller undoubtedly intended
for Notifications, being protected by mounds at ech opening
gateway, and other MEANS resembling those employed by
the ancient Brans and Romans Again, nl some that
appear to have been connected with religious ceremonies
The explorations Of Messrs Squer and Davis exclu
syely in Ohio but they have given accounts many
cen works in Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, South Caro-
lima, Georgia, Mississippi and Wisconsin from surveys by
Others In Wisconsin those remarkable earhwoks in the
form of animals the object of which it difficult deter
mne These found the open prairie, and to
present BEARS bualoes and other animals In place
ten twelve OF these huge animal shaped mounds from 80
to 1875 feet in length in line with each other. Others
to have been intended represent birds with extended wings
Of great dimensions and in few instances they represent
the human FORM One of these has legs extended
and hundred and twenty-five feet in length,
hundred and forty feet from the extremity Of
that Of the oher and thirty feet the body.
The surveys Of works in the Southern States of great
Importance, ard exhibit SO striking resemblance the
raced edces eocas of Mexico and Yucatan that
led believe them the work Of the of
IN ,f
baked brick and eah and display less skill in their construc
ton. As advance northward the valley Of the Ohio
the general character of the constructions found be the
same though they made entirely of earth, neither stone
brick being used any Of the mounds teraced works
II would require space than the columns OF newspa
per will permit describe the wonders
which brought TO light in this splendid volume ana
airI but express Pi that ihe interesting relics Of
ancient which inhabited the fertile valleys Of the
West have not before been made known This volume con-
tans fory-eisht coPpepae and hograPhc pans surveys
views &c., and two hundred and wood engravngs Of
articles found in the mounds such implements Of war and
husbandry, ornaments Of copper, silver, SHE'LL clay, &C.
There also engrayngs Of cuptued rocks almost equal
the celebrated Dghton Massachusetts, claimed by the
Danish antquaes have been the work Of Scandinavian
voysgers in the tenth century in fact the analogy SO si
king that the credulous will no doubt carry Erik the Red and
Thonn Karlsefne the Aeghanes to the more tempting
regions aorg the Ohio and there plant them or in modern
parlance let them squat and become progenos Of the nu
merous and powerful that raised the innumeabe mounds
and other works Of which we have been speaking.
few remarks the Institution ON which the great work
has emanaed seem necessary before close Il appears
by the notice prexed TO this volume that is the intention
OF the Regents to lend their aid the increase Of knowledge
and to stimulate research by offering rewards OF money!
medals &c for original memoirs all subjects oinvestga-
ton. ? "To appropriate portion of the income annu
ally special objects Of research under the direction Of suta
bic persons" "To publish series Of reports giving an
account Of the discoveries in science and OF the changes
made from year TO year in all branches Of knowledge no,
strictly professional"
As we have observed the Regents the Smithsonian In
stuon could not have commenced its series with more ap-
proprate work. We learn that other memoirs and volumes
are IN preparation, Of which will be put 10 press mme
atey These are the physical Sciences and are the re-
suit Of elaborate study research and experiment. and
nate from the most distinguished scholars in our country
The volume Of Mes Sque aud Davis rs well as the other
works from this institution is be sent gra,utousy 10 the
learned societies and public libraries Of Europe in order that
communication and mutual exchange may take place be-
tween them, by correspondence and by their respective me-
moirs and " transactions"
We hope that the antiquarian research which has been o
well carried and with such good results may be extended
10 the Southern portions Of country and that the gentle
men who have distinguished themselves By their explorations
at the West may be induced go on with their researches
1 at he SOut q II