Antiquities ajid Languages of the Meodcan Indians. 105 



the modern races of red men, have ever, with slight exceptions, 

 passed beyond the hunter state. There are instances of stone 

 hatchets being found in tumuh, in the State of New York, made 

 after the Mexican manner, and of a material pecuhar to Mexico. 

 This points to a connexion between the ancient nations of Mexico, 

 and the people who constructed the monuments that are found, 

 even in the northern parts of the territory of the U. States. We 

 now want architectural comparisons, between the monuments in 

 the U. States, and those found in the southern parts of America. 

 In this point of view, the present communication of our intelli- 

 gent correspondent, may prove extremely valuable. 



Editor, 

 No. 1. Palace of Mictla. 



Sir, — We cannot but regret that the conquerors of Mexico 

 have destroyed, with a barbarism ignominious even for the fif- 

 teenth century, the most remarkable edifices and monuments 

 of the various nations which inhabited that extensive portion of 

 the American continent. The Bishop Zumarraga caused the 

 precious annals of the Mexican Indians to be burnt, and destroy- 

 ed what had escaped the fury of the conquerors. The conduct 

 of these last, formed a contrast with that pursued by their coun- 

 trymen in the Peninsula, in relation to the celebrated palace of 

 Alhambra, and other monuments of the Arabians. Zumarraga 

 and the first monks who arrived at Mexico, preferred the exam- 

 ple set by the inquisitor Tormequada, to that of the monks of 

 the congregation of St. Mauro, in whose convents the sciences 

 found a refuge, and where the treasures of Grecian literature 

 were preserved. 



Thus, few monuments of Mexican antiquities have remained, 

 except those capable of resisting the ravages of time ; those im- 

 mense masses, which the nations, as if by instinct, have construct- 

 ed, as memorials of their existence to future ages. 



The writings and paintings which were saved from the confla- 

 grations of Zumarraga, were but few^, and consequently, the 

 notices we possess, respecting nations so far advanced in civiUza- 

 tion, are scarce, and deserve to be cherished. 



The investigations which you propose to insert in your Journal, 



touching the antiquities and languages of the aboriginal Indians, 



deserve much attention, and I have thought myself bound to 



communicate to you some information which I possess, respecting 



Vol. I.— 14 



