Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-11-17
America UfoId.
WHAT SENATOR BoUTWELLTHINKso or AMER
IcA PREVIOUS TO THE LANDING OF COEuM


From the Boston POst.I
The opening lecture Of q series to be given |
IN Town Hall, West Newton, was delivered |
iast evening by Senator Boutwell,, upon Amer |
lea previous to its discovery by Columbus, IL |
was understood by some that he would take |
for topic OF discussion the present financial |
sltuAtiOnI but the former subject had been an
nounoed, and the lecture was listened to with
great satisfaction. The audience was quite
large and Indicated that the project for home
entertainment was to be well supported by
the citizens OF the new city. Mr.. Boutwell,
was introduced by Otis Pattee, ESQ. chairman
OF the board Of selectmen, and proceeded i'm
mediately to his lecture.
A rev ncts, he said, comprised all our posi-
tive knowledge Of America previous to its dis
covery BY Columbus bat there were numer-
Gus authentic instances and circumstances Of
history which suggested and justified the in
quirles on which he entered. Mankind might
accept without diStruSt the fact that arts once
known are now absolutely from the know
ledge OF living men, and leave no trace upon
the record OK their lives. Arts were the means
by which knowledge Of every kind is preserv-
ed and perpetuated. Whenever an art is lost
some iact or knowledge dependent upon it
also disappears. Arts are chiefly preserved
by language, which is the smedium of their
communication.
II America were known to the ancient
world it was prOpably confirmed to the Vene-
tians aud their allies, whose language, litera-
ture and arts have disappeared The fail of
Carthage, the most renowned port of Venetia,
destroyed the link that might have connected
ancient Tyre and SidOn with the modern
world. Not only were their maratime pur-
suits destroyed, but the language in which the
achievements OF the men engaged in those
pursuits were recorded was destroyed at the
: same time. The present century was chiefly
the time in which mankind has realized the
duty Of extending civilization, culture, and
practical human power. Recent inVeStlga-
tions had shown that the ancient EurOpeau
African and Asian world could hardly have
been ignorant Of America.
Geology claimed for this greater antiquity
than is accorded to the Eastern world, ant
there was every reason for believing it haC
been Inhabited as fast and as far as it la
been completed A careful study of the hu
man race had not yet separated those Ameri
; cans from the Asiatlc stock, which is by gene
raj consent the parent stock Of the Old World
Taking the division of the race into thre
: : classes, as distinguished By their hair as
true one, the red men were known to haV
: cylindrical. white ren OYRl, and black mel
n elliptic. By comparison upon this basis, tn
g American indians would be found to be In tn
| same class with the aDscient Scythlans, WhOT
4 they very much resemble Ia many appearan
r ces and practices, which were mentioned, an
a that the present tribes are OF African descent
d Among these might be named their waTllk
" habits and the possession Of certain arts EO'
:" lost to the world, the evidence Of whose el
st istance are found both there and here, an
nowhere else, such as the art Of welding an
hardening copper and the like. Then. tOt
there was the similarity Of the pyramids an
mounds Of the West and South that were sin
h liar TO others made by these other families {
m the human race, the inscriptions upon SOM
?. although comparatively unknown, being "
n exactly similar In many cases. It was ais
NJ shown to be probable that the mythical 60
4 den land OF Ophir," from whence the TyIlaT
10 and SidOnian5 secured their gold In ancieI
:. times, must have been no less than the go
a. mines OF the American continent. 1t WI
=. perfectly possible that It should be so, ina
N much as It was well known that there was 1
Z. gold In the places to which they pretended
in 20 and that they possessed the knOwledl
on of the compass. and how to sail their Vesse
Vo at the rate OF one hundred and fifty miles p
at day while they were on voyage for thF
he years time. It vas also we'll known tn
at tho Mortimer bad visited tha shores Of Il
Of continent, between the fOrty-seeOnd and SO
a. enty-thiFd degrees OF latitude, long ago aI
In that the ruins Of ancient cities In Yucatan aI
ad Vera Cruz indicate prosperity, cultivation q
ne long existence. Other arguments Of q sin
N lar nature were offered and lngenlOusly g
th piled to prove an early knowledge OF this pG
Of Of the world, and the lecture was made One
lal the most pleasing and curious studies viii
nd an audience could wish to pursue.