THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 143 



highly creditable to the authors. Its chief features are, a scientific 

 arrangement, simplicity, and directness of statement, and legitimate 

 deduction from facts, while there is no attempt at mere speculation or 

 theory. If published, it will be an enduring monument to connect the 

 names of the investigators in honorable and lasting remembrance with 

 the great subject of American Archaeology. 



The existence and progress of these investigations were made known to 

 the society by correspondence early in the year 1846; and in June of that 

 year specimens of the relics recovered, accompanied by numerous maps 

 and plans of ancient earthworks and sectional views of the mounds 

 from which the remains were taken, were laid before the society by 

 Mr. Sfjuier in person. These excited deep interest and surprise in all 

 who saw them; and the society immediately took measures to encour- 

 age further investigation, and secure the publication, under its own 

 auspices, of the important results already obtained. A few months later, 

 the chairman of the present committee, being in Ohio, was enabled 

 through the kindness of Messrs. Squierand Davis, to visit several of the 

 more important monuments in the immediate vicinity of Chilhcothe, and, 

 among these, "Mound City," so called, from which very many of the 

 minor relics and specimens were procured. He was struck with the 

 accuracy of the plans and drawings, as well as of the accounts which 

 had been laid before the society, and bears full testimony to the fidelity 

 and integrity with which the process of investigation and delineation 

 has been conducted. 



During the last and present season the researches of these gentlemen 

 have been actively prosecuted and widely extended, and the above 

 work, largely illustrated, comprising the results, has been prepared. 

 These results are so numerous and important, and consequently such 

 is the extent and magnitude of the work itself, as to put its publication 

 beyond any means which the society can command. Under these cir- 

 cumstances, your committee learn with pleasure that preliminary 

 arrangements have been made for its publication by the Smithsonian 

 Institution among its " Contributions to Knowledge." It can only be 

 a matter of sincere gratification to this society to see that which it can- 

 not itself accomplish for the history and anticjuitiesof our country taken 

 up and carried out under such favorable auspices ; and they cannot but 

 rejoice that an opportunity is thus afforded to that noble Institution of 

 opening its high career by foste]-ing scientific researches into the inter- 

 esting problems connected with the ante-Columbian history and abo- 

 riginal monuments of our own country. 



In view of these facts, your committee would recommend the adop- 

 tion of the following resolutions by the society : 



Resolved, That this society regard the researches of Messrs. Squier 

 and Davis as of very great importance in American Archaeology, and 

 as Casting much light upon our aboriginal antiquities, especially upon 

 the character and habits of the earliest races which had their scat in the 

 Mississippi valley. 



Resolved, That we regard the work prepared upon this subject as one 

 of great general interest, and as worthy to be adopted for publi- 

 cation by the Smithsonian Institution, both as resting on original re- 



