The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-19
American Geographical Society.

This society held its regular meeting last evening at
the University. Rev. Francis Hawks, DID,, in the
chair.
Hon George Bancroft presented to the society very
valuable manuscript vocabulary Of the Camanche,
Caddo, and Wichita ndian) languages It sent to
Mr. Bancroft by member Of Captain Marcy's expedition
through the UNEMPLOYED regions of Texas, and Is the
only vocabulary exant Of the Caddo language tribe
that rapidly becoming extinct It Ia undoubtedly the
most valuable manuscript in its way, In exsten ,e.
Lieut.. yKIK, U. s. N, read interesting paper on
"Texas aud the Topography of the Lower Rio Grande
He commenced by tracing the history of the earlier set
tiers OF Texas-their struggles with the Indans-the
breal up Of the MISSIONS and the discoveries OF La
Sale The French, in 1870 attempted TO establish them
selves in Texas and Ia order to keep them out the Span
iards established missions the coast further at
tempt made by tue French when the Spanaris
established the missions of San JOSE San Antonio and
Cuidad Rodrigo In 1921 American received permits
SIGN to establish colony In Texas and received grant
Of land II not likely thai the Anglo Saxon blood
would submit TO the tyranny Of Mexico, and
1857 Texas threw of the yoke and its independence
aeknowe dged by the Uped States in 1874. Texas lies
geographically between rs deg. 20 min. ana 80 deg 30
N lat, and 90 deg and 10 min. lon. E. from
wch. The area Is 800 600 square miles The geo.
logical appearance Of this State contains the great dy
siUns primary, secondary and tertiary The inhsbi
ants are generally from the older States The foreign
chiefly Germans Texas has 10000 miles Of ri
principal rivers and the soil them OF the richest
description The Rio Grandc Ia 2,00o miles in length.
mouth OF the Kio GThnde the
immediate subject OF the papers, and 1t. vels com.
mesced with description. OF Branos Santiago,
which harbor Is the point from which commence
commences between the Gulf and New Mexico. Browns
vlle the chief town in that section increased In four
years from 400 10 1000 Ths population of this city has
not increased since 1852 account of the unset ed
state 81 the frontier Ria Grande is in the city,
and is the principal depot OF the 6busters. There Is
more generosity and good feeling among them than
would be generally supposed They would sccrn the
acts which often committed by friend friend in
civilized metropolis All the to the river
The cbaracteistics OF old Mexican aud Spanish towns
The inhabitants live together animal existence.
Eagle Pass, 100 miles above Rio Grande Ia impor.
tant American station. Wild Cat the Seminole chief
lives here. The inhabitants OF Texas include In
diau', Mexicans and Americans. The Camsnches
dams. they do not cultivate the soil, out
occupy themselves In stealing from and numbering the
whites. Nothing but determination will be a rene "
for the suerings OF the settlers from these Indians
They cannot be subdoed The Mexican peasants make
everything that they from skins They are gene
rally Kind hearted people, although their ideas Of
rality very low. The Americans the Rio Grande
are rovns daring adventurous people but stll Texa
stands high among the slaveholdns States In ntell
gence in productions In energy. In enterprise aad
raity and there Ia doubt that the OF
Union pass from existence there would yet be left
within the limits Of Texas the elements OF magnificent
empire
brief abstract was listened 70 with attention and evil
dert pleasure At is close, Rev. CHARLES KIyo Prss
dent OF Columbia College moved that the thanks OF the
society be presented to Lieut. vee, for the able paper
Hon GpoRer BANCROFT seconded the motion and added
10 Il request for q copy for publication, which motion
vas ADOPTED, and then the society adjourned.