SOUTH AMERICA. 



265. 



The skeleton of the Mammoth is a national treasure. I Fourth 



JoUUNEY. 



eould form but a faint idea of it by description, until I 



had seen it. It is the most magnificent skeleton in the 

 world. The city ought never to forget the great expense 

 Mr. Peale was put to, and the skill and energy he showed, 

 during the many months he spent in searching the swamps, 

 where these enormous bones had been concealed from the 

 eyes of the world for centuries. 



The extensive squares of this city are ornamented with 

 well-grown and luxuriant trees. Its unremitting attention 

 to literature, might cause it to be styled the Athens of 

 the United States. Here, learning and science have American 



literature. 



taken up their abode. The literary and philosophical 

 associations, the enthusiasm of individuals, the activity 

 of the press, and the cheapness of the publications, ought 

 to raise the name of Philadelphia to an elevated situation 

 in the temple of knowledge. 



From the press of this city came Wilson's famous 

 " Ornithology." By observing the birds in their native 

 haunts, he has been enabled to purge their history of 

 numberless absurdities, which inexperienced theorists had 

 introduced into it. It is a pleasing and a brilliant work. 

 We have no description of birds in any European publi- 

 cation that can come up to this. By perusing Wilson's 

 ^' Ornithology" attentively before I left England, I knew 

 where to look for the birds, and immediately recognised 

 them in their native land. 



2 M 



