xxxii PRE ACE. 



ancient remains at various points, togetlier with some general remarks upon our 

 antiquities, distinguished for their comprehensiveness and sound philosophical 

 spirit. Bishop Madison of Virginia, in 1803, addressed to Dr. Barton, then Vice 

 President of the American Philosophical Society, a communication of considerable 

 length "upon the supposed fortifications of the western country," which was 

 published in the sixth volume of the old series of (he Transactions of that institu- 

 tion. It contains some interesting facts relative to the ancient remains found 

 within the valley of the great Kenhawa river, in Virginia, and is principally 

 devoted to combating the popular notion that all the ancient earthworks were of 

 defensive origin. Bartram, in his animated Journal of Travels in Florida, pub- 

 lished in 1779, makes frequent mention of the ancient remains which fell under 

 his notice. His accounts have been amply confirmed by later observations, and 

 they may be regarded as presenting a very accurate view of their general character. 

 Previous to Bartram's expedition, Adair, in his " Account of the American 

 Indians," published in 1775, mentioned the existence of these remains, but gave 

 no details respecting them. 



In 1817, De Witt .Clinton, whose active mind neglected no department 

 of inquiry, read a paper before the " Literary and Philosophical Society of 

 New York," (an institution no longer existing,) upon the " Antiquities of the 

 western part of New York," which was subsequently published in a pamphlet 

 form. It gave a connected view of these antiquities so far as then known, and 

 indicated their character with such clearness, as to identify them at once as 

 belonging to that imposing class of remains found in the valley of the Mississippi. 

 McCauley, in his '■'■ Historif of New York,'''' published at a later period, (1829,) 

 added considerably to the number of facts presented by Mr. Clinton. 



Among the earliest and more important contributions to the general stock of 

 information respecting the western monuments, is the chapter entitled " Antiqui- 

 ties," contained in " The Natural and Statistical View of Cincinnati and the Miami 

 country,^'' by Daniel Drake, M. D., published in 1815. It not only embraces many 

 facts, but is free from the tendency towards exaggeration which has been the 

 prevailing fault of most that has been written upon the subject of American 

 Antiquities. In connection with what was published by Mr. Brackenridge, and at 

 a subsequent date by the late President Harrison, (Address before the Historical 

 Society of Ohio, 1832,) it presents a better view of the ancient remains of the 

 region north of the Ohio, than can be obtained from any other source, — Mr. 

 Atwater's Memoir, in the Transactions of the American Antiquarian Society, 

 alone excepted. 



It would be impossible, as it is unnecessary, particularly to point out all that 

 has been published upon this subject, chiefly consisting, as it does, of detached 



