* 



288 Miscellany, Booh Notices, etc. 



Unfortunately, the evidences of the more elevated, and to us, more 

 interesting, features of this culture, were almost wholly destroyed by 

 the Spanish ecclesiastics in their blind bigotry and zeal, Mr. Ban- 

 croft has, however, succeeded in collecting a large amount of informa- 

 tion on these points, which is exceedingly valuable. He shows, that 

 beyond the mere manual dexterity and skill in manufactures, which 

 excited the wondering praise of the Spaniards, the Mexicans possessed 

 an advanced literary and artistic culture, which the rude soldiery of 

 Cortes, and the fanatical priesthood, were entirely incapable of appre- 

 ciating, and hence, have given us but meager and imperfect accounts. 

 In the palmy days of the Chichimec empire and indeed down to 

 the coming of the Spaniards, an academy or council at Tezcuco con- 

 trolled all branches of art among the ISTahuas, especially poetry, 

 oratory, history, painting, and lesser arts. Every teacher of the 

 young was required to have a certificate of his qualifications from this 

 council, and before it the pupils were brought for examination. Every 

 literary work was subject to its revision and at certain sessions, poems 

 and historical essays were read by the authors, new inventions exhib- 

 ited and rich prizes awarded for excellence in any branch of learning. 

 Of their literary works few fragments remain ; but these breathe an 

 elevation of sentiment and dignity of style not unworthy a place be- 

 side the productions of ancient Greece. 



The error of considering the picture Avritings of the Aztecs as a 

 test of their general knowledge of art is clearly shown ; as in these 

 a conventional style was absolutely requisite in order to make them 

 available as records. 



Mr. Bancroft is also led to hope after full examination that future 

 study will unravel the secrets hidden in their sculptured delineations, 

 and picture-writings, and yield a conclusive solution of those ethno- 

 logical problems, which have so long bafiled inquiry. 



The succeeding volumes Avill treat more fully of their antiquities, 

 religion and language, and discuss the various conclusions and theories 

 suggested by scholars as to the origin and growth of these nations and 

 their civilization. 



The work forms one of the most valuable contributions of modern 

 times, to the science and literature of this subject, and should have an 

 honored place in every well selected library. 



