SOME REMAINS of ANTIQUITY. 183 



an exiftence, when the nations hy whole anceftors they 

 were conflrufled fliall have paiTed away. 



In the following inquiry, I lliall offer fome of my rea- 

 fons for believing that there formerly exiiled in many 

 parts of North-America, a race of people, who, whilft 

 they were more numerous, had made much greater ad- 

 vances in the arts, and in improvement, than the prefent 

 races of Indians, or than their ance/lors Jince our aSliial 

 acgttciifitance with them. This mode of inveftigation can- 

 not be faid to be foreign to my fubjedl, fmce it is my 

 opinion that the artificial tumular articles are the work of 

 fome of the ancient and more improved people to whom 

 I allude. Befides, by purfuing the inquiry in this manner, 

 I fhall render my letter more worthy of your notice, and 

 of the notice of our Philofophical Society, to whom I wiih 

 you to prefent it. 



The Aztecas, or Mexicans, in the progrefs of their 

 migration from the northern country of Aztlan, to the 

 vale in which they afterwards founded the capital of their 

 empire, difcovered many and extenfive ruins. Thefe 

 ruins were fuppofed, by the Mexicans, to be veftiges of 

 the Toltecas, a numerous and powerful people, who had 

 made greater advances in the arts of life, and in one of 

 the fublimeft of fciences,* than any of the other nations 

 of the new-world. The Toltecas are faid to have begun 

 their emigration towards the clofe of the fixth or the be- 

 ginning of the feventh century of the Chriflian xra.-f- 

 The Mexicans began their departure about the middle of 

 the twelth century.]; If theie accounts, therefore, can 

 be depended upon, it would appear that the works dif- 

 covered by the Mexicans had been conftrudtcd fometime 



* Aftrcnomy. f About the year 596, according to Clavigero. 



X According to Clavigero, in the year 1160. Dr. Robertfon fays, it 

 was " towards the commencement of the thirteenth century." The Hif- 

 tory of America, Vol. III. p. 156. London: 1796. 



A a 2 between 



