102 CABI.VET OF THE 



cover their statues and walls ? May we not hope tliat some Chanipol- 

 liou will speedily arise and unfold the scroll which contains the history 

 of this mysterious people ? 



The common opinion refers these remains of a great people, together 

 with kindred monuments found elsewhere, to a high antiquity, and to a 

 people deriving their knowledge and taste in the arts from the east. 

 From this view Mr. Stevens dissents, and furnishes reasons sufficiently 

 numerous and powerful to convince any prejudiced mind. No one, 

 after having road the history of the conquest of Mexico by Cortcz, and 

 the reference to splendid cities and monuments of art of every descrip- 

 tion, whicli the conquerors found in Mexico and Central America, will 

 fail to arrive at any other conclusion than this — that the nations then 

 occupying those countries, or their immediate predecessors, were the 

 artilicers of these curious and wonderful works. The conviction ap- 

 pears to be strong in the mind of Mr. Stevens, that the descendants of 

 those who erected the cities whose ruins he describes, are yet living : 

 some scattered through the original land of their ancestors, whilst oth- 

 ers, perhaps, retain their former independence and glory. He was in- 

 formed by a padre, in whose veracity he placed confidence, that there 

 exists a city and region of country, unconquered by the Spaniards, and 

 retaining all its primitive character and manners, unadulterated by ad- 

 mixture with foreigners. The padre had seen it, from the top of the 

 Cordilleras, with its turrets and spires glittering in the sun, but its 

 streets have never been trodden by the foot of the white man. Here, 

 then, may be found the key to unlock the hidden niysteiies that lie en- 

 tombed in Copan, Palenque, Quiraqua and Uxmal. May we not hope 

 that the government, as well as individual citizens, w-ill manifest a deep 

 interest in this subject; and that they will rescue from destruction what 

 the avarice and bigotry of the Spanish conquerors have spared ? 



CABIXET OF THE LINX.EA.V ASSOCIATLON. 



It is truly gratifying that the enterprise of collecting a cabinet for 

 Pennsylvania College, has thus far succeeded so well. There was a 

 small collection of minerals and a few articles of no particular interest 

 in the room of the library, for several years, but the real commencement 

 of the operations now so successfully carried on, is to be dated from 

 last July. T'lie Linna?an Association was established a short time pre- 

 vious, and then it was determined to proceed in the collection of a cab- 

 inet. The active members deserve much credit for their industry, and 

 we hope that they will not ceu:>e to labor until they have secured a very 



