The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-10-07
NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Interesting Paper from the Mexican Bonn
Diary COmmissiOn.

BILE audience was in attendance Ex-Governor Bradish
presiding
The minutes Of the last meeting Of the society
read and approved.
The President stated that communications from the
cABcers of the society nov in order
The SECRETARY informed the meeting that tho Royal
Academy Of Palermo and Society of Belle Lettres had
enclosed in box to this society various specimens
tura history, and that having received communca-
tion in reply they had again written transmitting dpo
to the members of this society and requesting be
Informed If the box had been received
The Hon. j. W. BEEEsiAs said that he had received
Communication from Salem Couaty Oregon requesting
That copies Of the stituiiou bye la 80 OF
society might be FORWARDED that State il deter
mined found society tbs princip pies and basis
Is the one now in this ety.
The TREASURER then Itrs ! report follows -
Balance in treasury since last report. S8t7 iS
Total. .............,... ............... 5062 4S
Amount pad. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. Apo
Balance in treasury, october 1, 1852 ...... $50 46
The above INCLUDE, s3 paid by sixty four
members OF the society rs OF their yearly
dues Of $50 each and paid into The budding fund
formity with the resolution OF the society.
MoRsE's TELLGHAPH
The CHAaMaN-It will be recollected by the society
and tho Librarian that the SUBJECT of Morse's tecg spn
was presented to gs two years ago SINCE which ts
committee Mas appoiI.- =" s.epar. paper Upon .ie ss
exterimcnts made Of that invention and / think Sir.
Prime was chairman of tha. committee. would in
1ure If there are any members VI that committee pre-
sent and it they have taken any action upon the
subject referred to them
MIR. B,sspior-I was on that committee, but they
were never called together, that of.
The CiAIEMAN-l nope the Committees attention will
he called to the subject.
Mr. BysxDicr-The Chair had better do this
The CHAisMAN-I will comply with your request
REPORT or THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
Mr. MooRE tue Secretary the absence Of the Chair
CT tie committee, recommended tho following gem
tlemen for nomination.
Corresponding Richard Hildredth and Frank
LIN y. u0ugh
Resident MemLrs-Henry S Hunter, Daniel Shepherd,
and Thon as G. Taliinidge
Mr.. BEEKMAs said: This society numbered among It's
honorary members mort distinguished for talent
and ability mean Henry Clay l. therefore respectfully
move thai committee be appointed to prepare suitable
o. n Ins INC
and carried and Messrs Bsekmsn Broadhead and G. b.
King were appointed as the committee
Dr. DEWrTT moved similar resolution In reference to
Dr. Mlledoler, which put and carried and Dr. De-
Witt, DR.. Julian ysrpank and the Rev. Mr. Hide were
appointed.
Mr.. FIup the Recording Secretary said that
nation on" from Mr.. ogd.n Holman, box containing
many important papers Of tie Golden family.
The honor able gentleman read paper relating TO TINS
Golden born in Ireland 10 1918 came to philadelphia
with William Penn and returned to England In l7i5
Royal Society, and came back 10 America Having re-
linquished the practice OF medicine he entered upon
career,
With the Province OF New YORK IN which he flied the
Office Of Surveyor General and Lieutenant Governor until
his DEATH Which occurred on inc 18Th September 100
Just before the city was burnt to the ground The
Corpo, alton Of this city established their plan OF
drainage the principle laid down BY him. He
was the author Of Q valuable work entitled the Prin-
cples OF Action In Matter 10 wh,h he devoted msny
years Of study previous to its publication The history OF
the FIVE Nations by him and his cor
respcndcnce With several celeb Is extraoidna
ry and valuable embracing various branches OF science
and philosophy He correspondsd with Benjamin Frank
md time of his death aud
communicated the art OF stefeotyprg TO DR.. Fraukn.
In conclusion Mr. Field uoy tnat special
he made by this society TO Mr. Hofman for the
pretentntion Of these valuable papers
the box contsncd dTas II Mr. Coldea's dp atchts
to the Rtsh government copies Of which were procured
In Lon don
letter here from the Hon. John X. Bartlett
Commissioner On the Mexican Boundary. containing
much interesting information which Is as follows -
MR.. BARTLETr's MEMOIR.
INCAMP, NEAR THE PREsIDso OF SAN Diego,
CALIFonsIA, May 20, 1882.
made you promise, before leaving, that woult
occasionally communicate to the Historical Society
any facts possessing an histories. interest," which
might possess myself Of in my wanderings across thu
continent Nearly two years have trauspred sine,
/ left New York, and my promise has not been full
filled, FOR tao reason that have not met with those
toned hy previous travellers down the Gila. NJ.
route was not down the entire leugth of that river
and our engineering parties ooly struck it Mt til
point where the western line Of New Mexico inter
scots it HENCE we passed by NOS. Of the interesting
region referred to, and only saw some nconsidera
BILE ruins accompanied, though, by great quaint tie
Of broken pottery Ga my return shall endeayo
to zee more Of the ruins
In my journey across the continent, from the Gal
of Mexico TO I'll Paso del Norsc, aud then across Il
Chihushua, and various parts of Sonora TO Guaquia
at the GCE of California "a region rarely visited b.
foIe;gners-I did not meet With single specimen
of antiquity belonging TO an earlier age than tht
present. The frontiers of the States mentioned
abound in ruined buildings, formerly inhabited b,
the Mexicaps, but abandoned in conseq uence of tn
incursioDs of the IndIans Depopuated towns au'
Villages in Of whica are found fine old churches
arc also quite common, but no veStge of an anceu
race 1t was, indeed. melancholy sight TO ysi
she deserted towns aud ranches Some of the latte
were very extensive, showing that wealth aud luxu
~ once ahounded there. They are now overgrowl
with grass and weeds; serpeu,s, lizards, and yeno
reptiles harbor in their decaying WALLIS owls
bats III great mum bers, and resting placs in thei
dark chambers; and even the hungry wolf does no,
hesitate 10 become dweler Of tho deserted place
Some OF the churches are in good state Of preser
vation, tine statues of the Saias still adjoining til
inches: and in order to render them again fit place
tor worship, 1t would only ce necessary to extcrni
nate the bats and swallows, which, in innumerabl
numbers. now occupy them.
The savage, though be would murder every soul il
the village, and plumber every house, seems 70 hav
fota for the churches for tho gliding
and ornaments, which would attract his at :ention
are left untouched These churches always sur
rounded by extensive ranges Of buildings, whicl
were doubtless once occupied by the very Indians
Cor their ancestors) who have rendered them 80 de-
ssate. In fact, IL is generally conceded tha the,
were the chief builders of them, working uoGcr th
direction Of the priests OTHERS charged with thei
erection. Many of tho churches referred to. wer
exclusively missions, established for converting th
Indians TO Christianity, but more frequently inst
laborers and p,echanics Hence eyerv thing aroun,
seem, to have been adapted TO large household
They were always placed in The richest valleys an,
surrounded by large orchards of peach, pear. pome
Srans'e, ounce, and other trees. dcegnias or ir
rigatnE canals intersscting every portion Of tbt
valley, rende ed il extremely productive, and cspa
Bile OF sustaining a large m Der of people