146 AMERICAN LITERARY FORGERIES. 



be worth noting. '' As, in returning, we passed through the pilastered 

 hall above described, we observed a descending opening about seven 

 feet high by three feet wide. Following this in its windings about fifty 

 yards, we came to a flight of forty-one steps, ascending which, we found 

 ourselves in another chamber of wonders, oval in shape, about seven 

 feet long, twenty feet high, and three feet wide," — rather puzzling 

 dimensions for an oval chamber. " The walls were sculptured in mag- 

 nificent bas-relief and Runic inscriptions. Professor Bacchio, the 

 learned Sanscrit scholar of the University, who was with us, has taken 

 upon himself the task of translating the inscriptions. Of the meaning 

 of some of the words and the colossal sculptures he speaks very confi- 

 dently." 



European scholars may possibly wonder that they have not before 

 heard of this learned Sanscrit scholar, who reads ofi" " Runic inscrip- 

 tions" at a glance. He belongs to the same class as the learned geologist, 

 Professor Brand, the scholarly Sir Thomas Murray and Mr. Philip 

 Marsh, and the " Professor Scrobein," to whom with " Professor 

 Graetz of Grottenburg," the mysteries of the Newport Round Tower 

 were left for solution : according to an older narrative of the same class, 

 of which an account has already been furnished to the readers of the 

 Canadian Journal.* 



This latest Runic discovery has also attracted the notice of English 

 litterateurs ; but in this case it has come into the hands of those whose 

 habitual dealings are with more modern matters and dates than usually 

 fall to the lot of " Archaic Anthropologists," and so the marvel has 

 had a somewhat incredulous reception. " A piece of news reaches us," 

 says the Atkenceum of 13th February, " through the Missouri Repub- 

 lican which, if it should prove to be true, is of the highest historical 

 interest. But is it true ? " A brief abstract is then given of the 

 above discovery, divested of some of its most astounding wonders; 

 and to this is added the remark : " If this report is not a joke of the 

 ' Western Boys,' it brings us the most important evidence yet produced 

 of the existence in ancient days of a civilized race, in the great valley 

 of the new world. The fact of the tunnel occurring just at St. Louis 

 is suspicious. If the facts are truly stated, an ancient city must have 

 stood on the Mississippi, near to St. Louis, though probably on the 

 opposite bank. If so, the cases of Memphis and Cairo will have found 

 a parallel in the New World." 



* Vide " Historical Footprints in America," Canadian Journal, Sept., 1S64. 



