136 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF 



Institution among its " contributions to knowledge." It can only be 

 a matter of sincere gratification to this society to see that which it can- 

 not itself accomplish for the history and antiquities of our country taken 

 up and carried out under such favorable auspices ; and they cannot but 

 rejoice that an opportunity is thus afforded to that noble Institution of 

 opening its high career by fostering scientific researches into the inter- 

 esting problems connected with the ante-Columbian history and abo- 

 riginal monuments of our own country. 



In view of these facts, your committee would recommend the adop- 

 tion of the following resolutions by the society : 



Resolved, That this society regard the researches of Messrs. Squier 

 and Davis as of very great importance in American Archaeology, and 

 as casting much light upon our aboriginal antiquities, especially upon 

 the character and habits of the earliest races which had their seat in the 

 Mississippi valley. 



Resolved, That we regard the work prepared upon this subject as one 

 of great general interest, and as worthy to be adopted for publi- 

 cation by the Smithsonian Institution, both as resting on original re- 

 searches, and as affording remarkable illustrations of the history of the 

 American continent. 



Your committee would also append to this report the accompanying 

 letters from Samuel G. Morton, M. D., of Philadelphia, and Hon.. 

 George P. Marsh, of Vermont, both members of this society, and joint, 

 members of this committee. 



All of which is respectfully submitted. 



EDWARD ROBINSOK 

 JOHN R. BARTLETT, 

 W. W. TURNER, 



Committee, 



New York, June, 1847. 



New York, June 9, 1847. 



I have examined with much interest and attention the manuscripts, 

 drawings, and ancient relics in the possession of Mr. E. G. Squier, and 

 am happy to say that my previous impressions concerning the value of 

 the researches of that gentleman and his associate are fully confirmed. 

 It is fortunate for the cause of American Archaeology that the first 

 systematic attempt at its elucidation should have been conceived and 

 executed in so truly philosophical a spirit ; and rich as this age already' 

 is in antiquarian lore, it has, I think, received few more important con- 

 tributions than that which the enlightened and generous zeal of these 

 two private gentlemen is about to confer upon it. The Smithsonian 

 collections could not begin with a more appropriate or creditable 

 essay ; and I hope that every facility may be afforded to the authors in 

 bringing before the public the results of their honorable labors in as 

 suitable a form and with as little delay as possible. 



GEO. P. MARSH, 



