Ill 



versation followed, Mr. Thompson asking what material was 

 used in the sculptures, as they must have heen of an enduring 

 nature. The President remarked that if the Darwinian theory 

 was to be taken into account, it would scarcely be necessary to 

 assume that in bygone ages America had been peopled from other 

 continents. He could scarcely coincide with the lectiu'er in con- 

 sidering the Egyptian pyramids inferior in point of grandeur and 

 impressiveness to those of America. — Mr. Bell inquired if the 

 ancient remains were found over all parts of America. Eeferring 

 to primitive Greek sculpture he remarked that it was first done 

 in wood and gradually introduced upon stone. He would suggest 

 that in like manner those stone remains had been preceded by 

 wooden sculpture. Eeferring to the Peruvian remains, he pointed 

 out that they were more perfect than the Mexican. The Peru- 

 vian fortifications were peculiar and unlike those of any other 

 portion of the world, and displayed a wonderful knowledge of 

 the principles of engineering. Mr. James Lancaster testified to 

 the high value of the paper. He regretted that our boast of 

 England's antiquity over that of America was no longer to be 

 made. It appeared to him that the type of faces in the stone 

 sculjptiu'es was more Jewish than Egyptian, and this was con- 

 firmed by his recollection of having seen some Aztecs a number 

 of years ago. The architecture, &c., appeared to be allied to 

 the Chinese, and he suggested the possibility of the Chinese 

 having crossed over by the shallow and at times frozen Behring's 

 Straits in bygone times and peopled America. Mr. Kay, in 

 referring to the antiquity of America, commented upon the age 

 of some copper mines near Lake Superior, and instanced the 

 fact of a tree growing over the mouth of a mine with 350 annular 

 rings. Under this were found other trees of like age. He also 

 remarked on the great extent of these mines, and stated that at 

 one place as many as ten cart loads of stone hammers were 

 picked up. Mr. James Folds asked if there did not exist in by. 

 gone times two distinct civilizations in different parts of America- 

 This was suggested to him by the contemplation of the different 

 styles of the remains. Mr. Strange asked if no cromlechs existed. 

 There was another question suggested itself to his mind. Con- 

 sidering the resources and luxuriant fertiUty of this rich country, 

 and the religious and educational facilities of its inhabitants, how 

 did it come about that the people had all disappeared ? He would 

 point out that in the Burnley neighbourhood there were points of 

 archfeological interest which this Club ought to unravel. Mr. 

 Waddiugton was called upon to reply. Eegarding the question 

 asked by Mr. Thompson, he stated that the chief monuments of 

 Central America were in stone. Considering the state of mega- 

 Uthic remains all over the world this did not teU against then- 

 antiquity, it was more a matter of surprise that the earth mounds 



