New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-02-21

| esrring the Isdians are sso open 70 question, II
not to criticism. For instance he ciasses the Sem.
inoles a. distinct tribe, combined with the Chcc-
ta~s, Chick,saws, And Creeks at the time OF the
first authenticated European explorations; while the
lses. writers On the subject regard the term Semi
mole SIS Of comparatively recent origin, and merely
applied 10 certain Outcasts from the Greeks, and 90.
a. designating q separate tribe or nation. Nor DO
we believe that The inspd sap Of the maple would
tempt the taste of the Ind,n, after being diluted
with waser-that juice, eve, in It's mcst potent
FORM being bat very Indifferent hind OF eau sae'te
| The tomAhAwk, which the usual tradition repre-
rents as stone Ratchet is here described a.
wooden club, two feet or more IN length, ferinl-
mating in heavy knob.
The question of the discovery Of America, ante
rior to Columbus, is summary disposed OF BY Or.
Palfrey. 1t is not improbable, he admits, that so
early as the tenth or eleventh century, the Norwe-
gisn navigs.or extended their voyages as far a.
tie American continent. But he sdduces pregnant
reasons 10 doubt the authenticity of the tradition,
which has reported the landing of the Mortimer
on Rhode Islsnd, and the southeastern part OF
Msssachusetts With regard 70 the famous Dish-
ton rock, which has been supposed to bear record
in Runc letters Of an expedition of Icelsnders to
the spot, be m.intains that it has been tortured
altogether in vain for confession that it is the
work Of civilized man." Some Of the Ostensible fac
SMILES Of il which have been made at different
times, and which to the number OF nine have been
published by the Copenhagen society, bear but an
imperfect resemblance to each other. Mr.. School
crsfs, who had q dsguerreotype copy made of it,
quotes the explanation Of an Algonquin chief, who
protested TO understand it record Of battle
between two parties Of Indians This we confess
does not strike us as quite satisfactory, as it ap
pears to Dr. Palfrey, who thinks ait ha, perhaps fur
nisbed the most probable cre to the origin and mean.
iug of the inscription. At all events, however, his
conclusion is safe, that the history Of civilized
Nsw.Epglsnd does not call for determination OF
the question as to n discovery OF that country BY
the Mortimer, however interesting as matter OF
antiquarian research. If colony Vas founded, 1t
peri,hed; if a communication with Europe was
opened, it was disused, til it was renewed in an
other quarter"
The round stone tower near the Atlantic Hotel
in Newport, which has been regarded az another
relic of ante. Columbian discovery is made the sub.
ject Of siDgularly ingenious and interesting dis
cuision. But for the fAscn, tions Of LOngfelOTs
muse, this would long since have lost the place In
literature to which it has been elevated by anti
quarisn zeal and the taste for the marvellous. The
history OF this ancient tower has long been the
theme OF curious speculation. IL is structure OF
about twenty three feet in diameter, twenty.Dur
and half feet high, about half the hight beng
taken up by eight Roman arches With their inter-
veniDg pers, on which rests circular Wall pierced
with four windows. The first notice Of it known
TO exist is in the will of Gov. Arnold Of Newport,
dated Dec. 20, 1917, in which he sludes to it as
his " stone built windmill" In the last century,
the building served as q gristmill, and afterward
~ q powder. house. Edward Pelham, husband Of
Gov Arnolds granddaughter, calls it An old stone
mill" in his will, dated 174O. well-authenti-
Gated tradition 10 the Arnold family declares it to
have been built by Gov. Arnold. One of the early
settlers of Newport records in his journals, under
the date of Aug. %, 1875, "a storm blew down
our wind. mill" DR.. Palfrey is inclined TO accept
The conclusion that its place wassupphed BY Arnold
in the stronger edfce which, two years sfterward,
he calls in his will my stone-b built windmill"
This is confirmed by some striking condolences.
In 1875, Gov. Arnold was rich enough to be able
to pleaie his fancy. He had arrived at the age Of
sixty, period of life when men often indulge in
some sentiment or fancy in respect to objects con-
Dected with the memories Of their youth. The
next link in the chain is the tradition that the
family of Arnold came from Wsrwickshire. One
piece Of his property specified in his will q, the
bennington farm" apparently in commemora-
ton Of the welkno WI phase Of fashionable resort
two or three miles from the town of Warwick.
This may account for the singular freak Of such
an architectural display in windmill intended for
a handful of humble coloDi,ts. For in tie parish
Of Cbesterton, three piles from bennington,
stands wind mill Of the same construction. This
was visited by Dr. Palfrey in 1856, who describes
it from personal inspection. Its resemblance to
the old Newport tower lie sufficiently remarkable.
On the whole, we may disereetly enough decide
with the author, that "if the ChestertOn mill was
standing at the time Of Arnold's emigration and if
he came from Warwick, be had been acquainted
with it a. one Of the wonders Of the shire; and he
knows little OF human nature who does not IN Ter
stand how the thriving man in the decline Of his
days should nave been moved to renew, in the dis
him, the likeness Of tenderly remembered object
Of his boyish admiration"
But We are dallyiDg too long with the attractive
episodes, which DR.. Palfrey skllfally intersPerses
with the main tonirs az bis work and must hasten