10 



MONUMENTS OP ANCIENT PERU. 



abundant light to the whole of the circumference. Under their 

 auspices, the moral and philosophical sciences have, latterly, 

 made an incredible progress, having found their way into all 

 the schools, and thence diffused themselves rapidly into every 

 order of the state. It is our earnest wish that this philosophi- 

 cal light may, by its permanence and efficacy, influence and 

 ameliorate the common system of education. It is on that 

 score alone, in the acceptation which embraces the whole ex- 

 tent of the kingdom, that Peru is in some measure defective. 

 A good taste, urbanity, and a social disposition, are the here- 

 ditary qualities of every Peruvian. 



We have thus fulfilled our promise, by giving an idea of 

 Peru in general terms, notsubje6l to a determinate point, either; 

 of history or of literature. It is a prefatory introdudlion ; or, 

 if we may be permitted to adopt the phrase, a leisure compo- 

 sition, which will give us a greater facility in treating of the 

 different subjects that regard the kingdom of Peru, as they 

 may occasionally present themselves to our notice. 



VESTIGES OF THE 



MONUMENTS OF ANCIENT PERU. 



Scarcely does man begin to live, when every thing an- 

 nounces to him his approaching dissolution. The elements 

 destined to his nourishment, conspire to his destru6lion ; and 

 the very globe he inhabits does not cease, by violent convul- 

 sions, to endeavour to shake off a load by which it seems to be 

 oppressed. In the mean time, immortality is that which causes 



in 



