The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-10-03

American Archaeological Researches.
interesting work lately published in this city, from
the pen Of =, G, Sqyisr, A: M. entitled .'Amsrt
following notice Of IL, which appeared recently in
the London AtheaQunl, came to hand, We have do
ternned upon giving it, especially a. it comedies
with our own views on the subject. We may add
that the work In question evinces great research
and power OF analysis, and that it ought to be in
From the London Athenssum, July 2sl
The study Of Archaeology is making progress IN
all paris Of the world In America especially IN
the United States, there be no antiquities, in
our sense of the word, but such as arc aboriginal
continent, from Greenland to Cape Horn. before the
discovery of Thy Europeans The main object OF
the work Of Mr.. Squier is to nvesti gate these an
original antiquities, and to ascertain now iar they
tiers Of the globe In this task he has proceeded
with an enlarged, q liberal, and learned spirit,
and has produced book (the forerunner OF others
connected with it) Of much research, and display
ing exter sive general requirements. We have
read it with interest," not merely from the novelty Of
its views but from the nature of its hitherto unex
plored information We have been travelling over
new ground with q now guide.
The foundation upon which the author builds is
old enough, since 1t is the doctrine of WarbUrton in
his Divine Legation" where he lays it down, that
q" human nature, in the same circumstances, will
always exhibit the same Appearances" and sup
ports the notion that similar customs and manners
among the various tribes Of mankind are most fire.
quently to be accounted for in this way and not
the suppositiOn that there must necessarily b ave
been some ancient interco mmunication. Thus, for
example, the weapons and implements of nations
In q semi barbarous condition, have always been
found similar; they arose out Of the necessities Of
those who used them, and they differ chiefly when it
Is found that certain peculiar circumstarccs, not
existing elsewhere, have dictated the Introduction
of means arising out Of those circumstances This
however, is only q very partial illustration Of a
W theorv.
muc6 farther, and covers q much broader Held
observation and analogy.
The volume before US, which Is intended as
part of a series, is devoted chiefly to suggestions
produced by contemplating the religious notions Of
the early inhabitants of our globe and among her
por @ the writer In bis introduction, thus speaks OF
In the absence Of written language Of forms of
expression pabe Of conveying abstract ideas we can
pie, Of 81 mbolc system. That symhlism in great
cegree resulted from this necessity very obvious; and
that associated with mans primitive religious systems
il afterwards continued when IN the advanced stage
Of the human mind the previous necessity no longer ex
is.ed Is equally undoubted 1t thus came to constitute
kind Of sacred Language, and became invested with
esoteri; 6cance understood only by the few With
the Of men the meaning of the original emblem or
The reason for its adoption the necessity for its use being
membered. superstious reverence, the consequence
of long association and encouraged by cunning priest.
hood nevertheless continued to attach to the symbol
which, from being the representation Of adorable at
tribute manifestation of dcd, became itself an object
idolatry in its common technical The ne:es-
sity for rymbolca system which We have assumed as
equent upon mans primitive condition existed alike
amongst all early nations; and the result Of that uni
formty Of mental and moral constitution and of phys
eel circumstances to which have Referred their SYM
bols possessed like uniformity We may take an ex
ample the the dispenser Of heat and light the viv
heni6cent and genial in Its influences the most OBJ
yious is the most potent and glorious object In the
natural erea'ion, fty and almost universally emblema
tzed the first principle With its annually returning
strength the germs quckened the leaves and blossoms
cd ttems An bene its ne
Ipcned and the earth full Of luxurance and life
Under this aspect it WAS God the Life gver God the Be-
ne6cent.
Having thus treatedo Of sun-worship, Mr.. Squier
proceeds in his second chapter to his more imme.
diate purpose, as stated on his title page where he
speaks Of the reciprocal principles Of nature, and
I'd. Its to Phalic worship in the Old and New
w 'ds--showing in Q most remarkable manner
tn entity of the two systems amo 1g nations that
:. have had no intercourse, and charging upon
ENVIRONMENTS, more especially in America, which
olish ipcontestsbly that it was spread over the
ce Of that vast territory, long before amore en-
ltened system was introduced either there or
20 the Old World. Mr.; squier traces i among
e Asiatics, and especially among the Hindoos--
nd proves its exact correspondence, and as far a.
an be ascertained at about the same period, In
,dexico and Peru. He considers it ga primitive
Is known prevalence in India, Greece, Rome,
Egypt, and among the Hebrews. The evidences
asregard America are even more conclusive
In q subsequent division the author adverts to
u
structures in different parts Of earth; and with
out pretending to any great originality Of informa-
tion, be impresses US with the originality OF his
views, and with their business as founded on the
facts which be has sdiuced. This portion of the
volume is illustrated by woodcuts, which render
perspiouous style still moro Ineligible; and such
Of them as relate to mounds raised for religious
purposes in various districts Of the United States
compared with others in Egypt and India, are ex-
trtmely we'll Explained in the text and notes. For
his Mexican antiquities the author willingly &C.
knowle jges his obligation to Lord kingsborough's
magnificent volumes.
ten Of the "Serpon. Symbol until his 6fth chap
ter, where he enlarges on 1t, and furnishes many
curious illustrations, which cannot fail q. once to
bring to mind the Dracontiums in England AMI in
the northwest Of France to WHICH so much atten-
tion was directed BY Stukeley and Others during
the last century The doubt that We feel is whether
these earth works the Mississippi for instance
ways designed for religious offices, and were
not sometimes meant for Notifications raised by
savsges against enemies Of the same description
The serpentine earth.worth on st. Peters river,
Iowa, may have been Of this character but as the
notion does appear to have impressed the author,
who has inquired lcarnodly into the subject, VIC
are very likely wrong, and only venture to throw
out hint.
REpoRTED GOLD MINES EAST or THE ROCKY
MorNrArN;.-A correspondent of the st. L)1s
(Mo.) ReDeas speaking of an alleged discovery OF
gold east Of the Rocky mountains, says My In
formation is gained from old man Ia Tennessee,
(whfs name have foTgotten,) and for the truth Of
the folio wing statements, and irther particulars.
would respectfully refer you TO DR. Booth, Of Mo
bile, and John Morgan Brown, former Superin-
tendent OF the Marine Hospital, Mobile, and Mr.
Wm p. Boo,h, Fort Smith, Arkansas This old
gentleman in Tennessee states that many years ago,
IL think ABOUT the spring Of lSl9) he, in company
with several others, went up the Arkansas river, on
a trading expedition among the Indians They
"A nm ha NV IN W ~