The History of Ancient America, Anterior to the Time of Columbus / Proving the Identity of the Aborigines with the Tyrians and Israelites; and the Introduction of Christianity into the Western Hemisphere By The Apostle St. Thomas

by George Jones

SECTION III.

ARTISTICAL ANALOGIES.

ARCHITECTURE, SCULPTURE, AND PAINTINGS—THE PYRAMIDS OF EGYPT AND AMERICA—THE ANCIENT TYRIAN DYE—THE TEMPLES OF JERUSALEM AND PALENQUE, &c.

The Architecture and Sculpture of the Ruins, in order to support this Epoch, must possess an undeniable existence, and founded upon data, and strong analogy, of having a character traceable centuries before the Christian Æra. Four Sciences are required to be possessed by the original nation,—viz., Architecture, Sculpture, Painting, and Navigation. If we view for these purposes Hindoostan, China, and Japan, the characteristics of the first-named Sciences are totally different, while the latter is wanting to the extent necessary. Rome and Greece would present the marine power, but the Architecture of those countries would claim no affinity with that in America; for at Copan, Palenque, and Uxmal, and all the Ruins, the Arch and Pediment are wanting. Egypt claims at once the general character of the Architecture, but not sufficient to establish that it is strictly of a National order, as practised on the borders of the Nile;—but, enough is shewn to prove, that a People built those cities in America, who had a knowledge of Egyptian architecture. If Egypt itself had sent the "colony,"—(but from the want of the means of Navigation it was impossible, and also a record would have been found in Herodotus or Diodorus, who wrote of that country about 484, and 44 B. C.:—if it had taken place prior to those periods, their accuracy would have compelled them to notice it)—if, we say, Egypt had sent a "colony," the Temples would have been built like her own in every particular.—Pronaos, Sphinx, and other characteristics,—but these do not appear, or the slightest indication of them;—yet, where the pyramidal structure and obelisk (square-column sculptured) and circular columns are to be found, there Egypt may be traced as having given knowledge to the builders. The Pyramid of Caius Cestius at Rome will illustrate this fact. No one will say that that Pyramid is Roman architecture,—yet no one will deny that the builder had a knowledge of Egypt and her works,—and no Historian would claim Rome to be Egypt, because a Pyramid was found there; so in Mexican America, the Ruins partake of the Egyptian character sufficiently to give the style of the Architectural foundations to that of the Nile,—yet they must have been erected by another Nation;—yet that Nation must be proved to have a knowledge of, and intercourse with, Egypt. What nation of all the earth enjoyed this equal to the Tyrian? They were in weekly intercourse with each other,—exchanging as men their sentiments, and as merchants their merchandise, till one general conquest overwhelmed both countries,—one nation remaining subdued and tributary, and the other dispersed and annihilated.

It is proved (we submit) that the Sculpture in many parts, and especially at Uxmal, partakes of the Grecian character, while the Architecture is that of the Egyptian. This is a nice distinction,—but it enables us to strengthen our belief that Egypt, as a Nation, could not have been the builders, but they must have been a People (we repeat it, to impress it on the mind of the reader) having a knowledge of the Nile and her edifices; to this may be joined, a People having a knowledge, also, of the Greeks, since the Sculpture at Uxmal is Grecian in design. The Tyrians possessed this intercourse;—but, it is possible that some few Greeks may have been of the Colony landing on "the American coast" before the Christian Æra,—that they may have gladly embraced the occasion, as the only means of escaping death at the fearful event which caused the Migration. From the same cause a few Egyptians may have escaped, and joined the colony in the same manner. The strangers on the Island of Tyrus, would probably be those who had arrived by water from a distance,—Egypt was one port of commerce, Ægina another, and ambitious of maritime fame. Ægina is selected for more than one reason. It was an Island in direct intercourse with Tyrus, and the Ægineans were renowned for their general knowledge of the art of ornamental Sculpture, but not on so grand a scale as that of Athens. The Ægineans were called myrmidons, or emmets, from their patient perseverance in the art of Agriculture and other employments,—and thence the Tortoise became their National emblem, the slow but sure progress of that shellfish being a symbol of their industry; it formed a double emblem; viz., of their industry and marine character. Now it will be remembered that the Ruins of Uxmal display four Tortoises in stone Sculpture,—and one was found detached, and buried in the Ruins of Copan.

Ægina was the first nation that coined Money, and issued Medals,—Athens often applied to Ægina for the execution of both. The Chief Symbol on the Coin of Ægina was the Tortoise, for the reasons stated above:—now, in Mexican America, an ancient coin, or medal, has been found with the Symbol of the Tortoise on it! It may have been buried by a citizen of Ægina (one of the Colony), or by a Tyrian who possessed a coin of the Island-rival,—but most probably the first proposition is correct—viz., that it was possessed by a native of Ægina,—for at Uxmal the Tortoise is there in Sculpture, and the entire façades, interior and exterior, are filled with ornaments à la Grecque antique,—and especially that of the running square, or meander border,—while the buildings themselves bear no analogy to those of Attica;—thus proving almost to demonstration, that Grecian Artists were authors of the Sculpture, Tyrians the Architects of the entire edifices,—while those of Egypt were authors of the Architectural bases. The reader may think that this is the refinement of investigation,—but, it is such as truth and perseverance have authorized, and the historic importance of the subject demands.

The Tortoise is, also, the designation of the coins of Thebes in Greece,—and from this fact, it is brought home at once to the Tyrians, as a Symbol of their country, as well as of Ægina,—and in all probability (consulting data) Ægina copied it from the Theban coin. The Phœnician Chief, Cadmus—(all ancient Tyrian Chiefs were so called) founded Thebes, and is well known to have introduced into Greece, the letters, or Alphabet of his own country; and without doubt, at the same time, he selected the Symbols of his Native land, to represent the Coin of his new City. The Tortoise is, therefore, a Tyrian emblem, and is found upon the Ruins in Ancient America.

Cadmus founded Thebes 1493 B. C., and was consequently contemporary with the first Lawgiver. Euripides in his Drama of the "Phœnician Virgins" thus alludes to his arrival, as uttered by Jocasta:

"Resplendent Sun

How inauspicious didst thou dart thy beams

That day on Thebes, when from the sea-wash'd coast

Of fair Phœnicia Cadmus on this land

Set his ill-omen'd foot!"

We have suggested that Grecians [i. e. of Ægina] may have been the authors of the Sculpture, and Egyptians of the Architectural bases of the edifices, because their respective styles are traceable in the Ruins of Palenque, Uxmal, and Copan. This suggestion is founded upon the possibility (and even probability) of natives of those nations being at Tyrus, at the time of the departure of the Tyrians:—yet, it does not follow, as a necessity, that all the Architects, Builders, and Sculptors must have been of those nations;—for although there does not exist in Asia or Africa any Phœnician Architecture, whereby a comparison can be made, yet there does exist the undying record that the Tyrians were builders and Sculptors from their own practice, and that fact is founded upon the authority of Scripture:

"And Hiram, King of Tyre sent messengers to David,—and cedar trees,—and carpenters and masons,—and they built David a house"—i. e. Palace. [2 Samuel v. 2.]

Here then is a distinct and undeniable record of the Tyrians being, not only carpenters (their Shipbuilding proves that) but Masons,—and which in the original Hebrew text is defined to be "hewers of the stone of the wall;" and consequently they were Sculptors, as well as Architects. Their building and adorning of Solomon's Temple (as will be shewn in the History of Tyrus) are additional facts, with the building of the Palace of David, to put at rest any suspicion, or question, whether the Tyrians themselves, unassisted by others, could have built and Sculptured those edifices in America. The Israelites had no practical knowledge of Architecture until ages after the building (by the Tyrians) of Solomon's Temple. 1015 B. C.

The above quotation from Sacred History refers to the year 1043 B. C., and consequently centuries before the time contemplated by this Epoch,—viz., B. C. 332.

Skilful knowledge, possessed, and existing for ages before, by any nation, and upon any subject, would naturally be improved upon and practised by descendants:—they would also improve upon the Architecture of any other nation with whom they had association and communion,—and as Tyrus, as a People, of all the ancient nations was a practical one, they produced in America an improvement (and a great one) upon the Architecture of the Egyptians. This fact of improvement, and alteration of the original order of Egypt, is another proof that the builders were not essentially of that nation; but,—from a country having a practical skill, and minds daring enough to innovate upon any precedent, when improvement would be the result.—That Nation was Tyrus.

We do not desire to advance one assertion, not capable of being defended, and consequently will establish that an improvement upon the Architecture of Egypt does exist in the Ruined cities of Ancient America.

The first idea in building had its origin (without doubt) from the Caverns of Nature, where Man would be protected from the raging tempest:—and, from being shadowed from the beams of Apollo by the spreading branches of the forest, he must have soon felt the necessity of converting the latter into more commodious forms than those in which Nature had left them. To huts made of trees and branches, festooned together by their own foliage, succeeded more convenient habitations, composed of upright and cross beams, the apertures closed with leaves and moistened earth. From these humble pillars of the forest, were derived those beautiful Columns composing the five received orders of Architecture. That of Egypt is not admitted into the Classic group.

The interior of a cavern with the walls rising pyramidally, gave the natural instruction for the formation of a Tent,—poles rising from a broad base to a centre,—or of a single one, with the canvass outstretched by cords and fastened to the stakes driven in the earth;—such were the Tents of Israel,—those of the Aborigines of North America, and of the wandering Gipsy, in the erection of their culinary edifice even to this day. The Pyramids of Egypt are but majestic examples of the same principle of construction,—viz., the corners and sides of a broad base rising on an inclined plane, until they meet and form an apex over a common centre. This construction has given them that defiance against the whirlwinds and sands for which they are so conspicuous. Water,—that "sore decayer of dead bodies,"—be they of "flesh," wood, or stone, can have no effect in Egypt; for there the rains do not fall, and consequently moisture cannot exert her gradual but certain power;—in Ancient America this safeguard to edifices is not granted by Nature,—but yet the principle of the Pyramid has given duration, and proved the existence of Nations in the Western Hemisphere, traceable to centuries before Egypt mourned a Cleopatra, who, as the living emblem of her death, became the venomed and fatal Serpent of her Country!

The Pyramids of Egypt (symbols of self-vanity) rise from a broad base to an unsupporting, useless, and idle apex:—in Mexican America the lowest portion of the base is retained, and that only; and upon this simple, but lasting foundation, are erected the perpendicular walls of her sacred Temples,—Sculptured stone forming the façades of the gorgeous edifices! The point of grandeur of design, is far beyond the useless masses of the Nile; for there can exist no grandeur of design without the association of utility,—physical or mental. The radiant Sun itself would cease to be Sublime, were it in design, or in its powers, to be devoid of its manifold, and creative blessings! The Architect of the Universe in forming the "image of Himself," and in assigning to it the functions of physical power, so organized them,—and the more subtle mechanism of the brain,—that they should illustrate, that all action and thought (apart from Religious duty) should be directed towards utility and excellence!

The fact of improving upon the pyramidal Architecture of Egypt, supports the apparent fact that Tyrians alone were the builders of the edifices now under consideration; for (apart from the perpendicular river-wall, which is identical with the sea-wall of ancient Tyrus) a new and distinct order, or style of Architecture, is visible in those Temples, traceable from the base to the Cornice or summit,—and from the compound character, believe that we have correctly termed it Egypto-Tyrian.

We will advance another reason for believing that Copan was the first City built in Mexican America,—viz., the square column (or obelisk) only, is found there,—while in other ruins, excepting Palenque, the circular is perceptible,—the latter are found at Mitla and Uxmal,—thus establishing (almost conclusively) that those cities were of later erection,—for the square column is easier in formation than the circular,—and the latter is produced from the former,—and consequently two columns are made in producing the circular shaft. The square is, also, better adapted, from its facial character, for the purposes of Sculpture; as illustrated in the Idol-obelisks at Copan,—and that which would be the simplest in construction, and giving the greatest facility for its peculiar adaptation, would naturally be selected by a People for their first Temple:—yet, reserving to themselves for practice at a future day, the knowledge possessed in the more refined branches of the Art:—they subsequently illustrated that superior knowledge at Palenque and Uxmal. In the conclusion of this section, however, it will be shewn that the square style of Architecture was essentially Tyrian, and that it is distinctly visible at Copan and Palenque. An analogy in regard to antiquity is found from the stuccoing or plaistering of the walls. This custom in Art is one of the most ancient on record. Mr. Stephens would infer from the fact of stuccoing that they had a modern origin, and actually calls it in one place—"plaister of Paris!" The custom is mentioned by the first Lawgiver 1451 YEARS before the Christian Æra!

"And it shall be on the day when ye shall pass over Jordan unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaister them with plaister: and thou shalt WRITE upon them all the words of this law." [Deut. xxvii. 2, 3.]

Here is not only the proof of the ancient custom of stuccoing, or hard plaistering;—but, also, the fact of Sculpture, or writing upon Stucco,—of course in its damp state, and when dry it became, as at Palenque, "as hard as stone." Again,—It, also, covered the interior of the palatial walls of Babylon, and was the surface upon which was traced the handwriting at Belshazzar's Feast,—this was 538 B. C.

"In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick,—upon the plaister of the wall of the King's palace." [Dan. v. 5.]

Another analogy is found upon this point of art, as being used by both the ancient Tyrians and the Aborigines;—for the walls of Tyrus were built of large blocks of stone—not very hard—but protected from the weather by hard white-plaister,—or stucco;—the walls of Palenque seem to be a direct imitation.

It was a custom of the ancient nations to paint their statues, or figures on the walls, with the primitive colours,—but chiefly red or vermilion. In so doing they believed that they approached the colour of the Gods,—and in Rome, from the same feeling, a Conqueror granted the honour of a triumphal entry to the Capital, was always painted red, in supposed imitation of the God of War.

It is recorded in Scripture as being practised by the Chaldeans, and as a consequence by their associates the Babylonians.

"For when she saw men pourtrayed on the wall,—the images of the Chaldeans pourtrayed with vermilion, &c." [Eze. xxiii. 14.]

It was, also, practised by the Egyptians and Tyrians,—and is now discovered in America:—for Mr. Stephens states that the sculpture, and even the steps, had been painted,—that black and white,—red, blue, and yellow are distinctly visible, but that the Red (vermilion) is predominant. From the number of colours another analogy is traceable, for of all the ancient nations that of Tyrus was the most renowned for her knowledge of colours,—and when to the "primitive three," she added by her discovery the celebrated tint, or Tyrian Dye, her renown was increased, and spread throughout all the Nations,—so much so, that they sent their royal mantles to Tyrus to receive the costly dye—and from that fact, regal robes have continued to be tinted, even to this day, with the gorgeous Purple,—which, though originally intended for blood-stained Kings and warriors,—succeeding ages have placed upon even the graceful forms of dove-eyed Queens; (so strong is custom)—while the first and Heavenly colour—blue,—and which from Scripture was the tint of Aaron's Robes of Peace,—has passed unheeded by, although commanded by The voice of The King of Kings.

"And thou shalt make the robe of the Ephod all of blue." [Ex. xxviii. 31.]

The exact tint of the Tyrian Dye is not known, other than it was purple.—There are several degrees of purple,—light or dark,—as the blue shall predominate in its mixture with the Red. The original dye was derived from a shellfish (purple murex) as before related;—and upon the occasion of its being discovered, the Tyrian thought that his dog had been wounded in the mouth, for he imagined that his faithful follower was bleeding:—here then the tint is arrived at,—viz., that it must have resembled that of blood,—consequently it was the light purple, or rather crimson as it is now termed,—therefore, the Red predominated over the Blue.

The Prophet of the Advent defines that in ancient days (760 B. C.) scarlet, red, and crimson were esteemed the same,—they are with us only different in degree,—but the two last are proved by Scripture to have been identical.

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord, though your sins be as SCARLET, they shall be as white as snow: though they be RED LIKE CRIMSON, they shall be as wool." (i. e. white as snow.) [Isaiah i. 18.] The latter part of the verse is but a repetition of the former,—a favourite style in Holy-Writ, to enforce the precepts upon the mind of the reader or hearer.

Now the more ancient of the Ruins in Mexican America, are stained or painted Red:—the Traveller, however, does not express the degree of Red,—light or dark,—or whether it contained any other colour with it;—it is enough that Red is distinctly stated:—and may not the Aborigines have dyed their sculpture in remembrance of their past celebrity at Tyrus? If at Copan (their first city) they had mixed Blue with Red to produce the blood-purple, the lapse of centuries would have extracted the minor colour—blue,—(minor from its proportion in mixture),—and have left the major colour,—Red,—entire,—as it now appears upon the Idols, Altars, and steps of these Egypto-Tyrian monuments in Ancient America. Again; the knowledge of colours by the Tyrians, (and those in which they excelled)—is distinctly stated in the Bible. Solomon in sending to Hiram, King of Tyrus (1015 B. C.) for Artists to build and adorn the Temple of Jerusalem,—says—

"Send me now, therefore, a man cunning to work in gold and in silver, and in brass and in iron,—and in purple, and crimson, and blue, &c." [2 Chronicles ii. 7.] "Blue" is directly expressed, and by its mixture with "Crimson" (i. e. Red.—Vide Isaiah i. 18.) in certain proportions would produce "Purple."—Now in Mexican America we have seen, that Blue and Red (and perhaps originally a Purple), are found, and used by the Aborigines to adorn their first Temple at Copan, as Solomon did his Temple at Jerusalem,—through the skill and knowledge of the Tyrians!—who without doubt practised their art in colours upon their own Temples at Tyrus,—and which Solomon, in compliment to Hiram (with whom he was in the strictest bonds of amity), was willing to, and did, imitate, in the Capital of Israel.

Had the Tyrians possessed no knowledge of Colours, the discovery of them upon the Mexican Ruins would have been useless in reference to any analogy, and injurious against identity;—but, the Tyrians having the knowledge of the three primitives, and of a fourth colour, and had they not been discovered at Copan or Palenque, then the want of a similitude would be evident and material;—but, as both People,—the Tyrians and the Aborigines,—possessed the same knowledge, and practice of colouring their Temples,—the Analogy is not only apparent, but absolute.

It will be remembered by the reader, that in the Sepulchral Chamber at Copan, an Engraved Gem was found,—"a small death's-head (skull) CARVED in fine green stone." The antiquity of this style of engraving has been shewn in alluding to Aaron's "breastplate of judgment,"—but, we will now prove that another Tyrian analogy is found in the carved Gem of Copan,—That the Tyrians were engravers of Gem-stones is established upon the authority of Scriptural history,—and from that Sacred Volume it is, also, proved, that the Tyrians were the builders of Solomon's Temple.—This will be enlarged upon in the history of Tyrus.—Solomon wrote to Hiram for a superior artist, in addition to the general workmen, "to work in gold, and in silver, &c.—and that can skill to grave,"—the Hebrew text is, "to grave gravings,"—or in modern phrase—to engrave,—i. e. cut, or carve metal or stones. The King of Tyrus answered,—

"And now I have sent a cunning (i. e. skilful) man; [of the same name as the King, i. e. Hiram] * * * "skilful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone;—also, to grave any manner of graving." [2 Chron. ii. 13, 14.] That Solomon availed himself of the skill of this Artist in Gem-engraving is proved by the following verse:

"And he garnished the house [i. e. Temple] with precious stones for beauty." [i. e. of workmanship.] [2 Chron. iii. 6.]

We shall conclude this Section with an analogy that may appear strange to the general reader, but it is no less true than original, and from which, Identity is apparent.

The Wisdom of Solomon (and inferentially his people also) did not embrace the practical Sciences of Architecture, Sculpture, or Navigation. He was compelled to apply for all these to the Tyrian Monarch. Solomon's wisdom was of the philosophy of Nature, and not in the defined Arts or Sciences.—This is shewn in the first Book of Kings [ch. iv. 32, 33.]

"And he (Solomon) spake three thousand Proverbs, and his Songs were a thousand and five. And he spake of trees,—from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon, even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also, of beasts,—and of fowl,—and of creeping things,—and of fishes." Five centuries before Solomon,—the Hebrew artists,—Bezaleel and Aholiab,—were called by The Almighty, and presented to Moses for a special purpose. [Vide Exodus xxxv. 30—35.]

The Tyrians were the Architects and Sculptors of the Temple of Solomon, and in the description of that Edifice it will be found that the square,—or four-sided,—columns and bases prevailed, to the exclusion of the circular,—even the door-posts of the Temple were square:—the same are seen at Palenque!

"So also made he for the door of the Temple posts of olive trees,—a fourth part of the wall,"—[1 Kings vi. 33]—defined to be—"four-square."

The two brazen Pillars of the Porch of the Temple were square,—and about five feet six inches on each side,—(what are the Pillars at Copan?)—and the capitals covered with carved "nets of checker work" and "wreaths of chain-work,"—upon these were suspended "two rows of pomegranates."

The celebrated "bases" were distinctly square,—and about seven feet on each side.

"And he (the Tyrian Artist) made ten bases of brass,—four cubits (21 inches and a fraction each cubit, Scripture measure,) was the length of one base, and four cubits the breadth thereof" [this is a perfect square]. "And there were four undersetters to the four corners of one base,"—"And also upon the mouth of it (the laver) were gravings with their borders, four-square, not round."—"And after this manner he made the ten bases [i. e. square columns]: all of them had one casting [Hebrew: "fashioning">[, one measure and one size." [1 Kings, ch. vii.]

Now the square style of Architecture in Solomon's Temple may distinctly be claimed as Tyrian Architecture—for the Tyrians were the Architects, Sculptors, and Builders, directed by Hiram the Artist,—and it is self-evident, since they were so, that they followed that style generally adopted in their own country;—here then is a direct proof of the Tyrian Architecture being in Ancient America,—for the reader will instantly recognise that the Square-columns form the "door-posts" also at Palenque,—and that the Idol-Obelisks at Copan are "four-square, not round" and covered with "gravings"—(i. e. Sculptures). The superficial measure of the "square piers,"—or columns at Palenque, does not vary in a great degree from the square Porch-columns and bases at Jerusalem,—while the Hebrew "pomegranates" at the latter Capital, were varied,—yet the florid style of Tyrian Sculpture imitated in the "compositions of leaves and flowers" at Uxmal.

It is not necessary to prove that the measurement of the Temple on Mount Moriah, and that at Palenque, are identical, in order to establish the analogy now under consideration, because local applications of their respective dimensions would create essential variations. In the previous reign (that of David) King Hiram sent his Tyrian Architects to Jerusalem, and built a Palace for the Monarch of Israel,—and in the reign of Solomon, (who resolved to erect the Temple) the same King of Tyrus was applied to for artists to build the great Mansion of Religion,—Solomon did not command how it should be built,—or in what order or style of Architecture;—that he left to the Tyrians, who were practical artists,—THEY gave HIM the design, upon his expressing to the Chief Architect the "wants" of the edifice.

"Now these are the things wherein Solomon was instructed for the building of the house of God," &c. [2 Chron. iii. 3.]

We have expressed in the previous pages, that no Tyrian Ruins in Asia or Africa are found, whereby the style of that Nation's Architecture could be identified,—none exist in Sidon, Tyrus, or Carthage;—but, the never-decaying Volume of Religion, contains a living picture of Tyrian art and style at Jerusalem, that never can be in Ruins:—though the identifying marbles of Phœnician architecture,—like the first stone-tablets of the Decalogue,—are broken and lost "beneath the Mount" of Time,—yet upon the page of Holy-Writ do they both appear as new,—as perfect,—as when first erected by Tyrians for the Son of David,—or traced by the finger of God for the instruction, and civilization of mankind!

The Temple of Solomon, upon the authority of the Bible, was of Tyrian Architecture, (for the Israelites, we repeat it, had no knowledge of the Arts at that time,) built and adorned by the Tyrians,—the same Architecture is found in the Ruins of Ancient America, and consequently Tyrian,—while the substructure being a portion of a Pyramid, justly authorizes (we submit) the new term of Egypto-Tyrian.

We cannot dismiss this interesting discovery of an analogy between the Architecture of the Temples of Jerusalem, Palenque, and Copan,—thus proving the two latter to be Tyrian,—without the remark,—that if no other similitude could be found in this volume in order to identify the Mexican Aborigines as Tyrians, we think that the analogy of the Temples alone, would satisfy the reader upon that point; as also, that this History has not been written without that due regard to testimony, and undeniable evidence, demanded by the importance of the subject;—and which, being novel and surprising, requires more than usual proof to convince the mind, that it is analyzing a proposition of truth, and not one of sophistry.

The ignorance of the Israelites in reference to the practical arts will be enlarged upon in the next volume.[8]

Having stopped the Press to insert these remarks upon Mr. Stephens's second visit to Yucatan, we cannot refrain from offering a few observations upon a paragraph by one of the most learned and accomplished Reviewers of the present day,[9]—and one who has the distinguished honour of having first brought the Ruins of Ancient America to the general notice of Europe, through the medium of his talented periodical. In reviewing[10] Mr. Stephens's volumes upon "Incidents of Travel in Yucatan," (2d Visit,)—the Editor writes as follows:—

"The difference in declension between Central and North America offers a problem worthy of philosophical consideration. In the former case, the Mexican Indian, notwithstanding massacres of merciless atrocity, has been allowed to remain, albeit scattered on the soil of his ancestors, and to enter into a combination (i. e. Marriage) whence another race of mankind has sprung: in the latter [the Northern] the white invader (Anglo-Saxon) has chased him from his native possessions and driven him to limits, where utter extermination seems to be his doom. The comparison could hardly be made without indicating a conclusion highly favourable to the iron-clad Spaniards of what we choose to call an ignorant and a barbarous age (1520), and against the more modern offspring (1620) of our country and enlightened times. Though the thirst of gold was the same in both instances, it does appear, and it is melancholy to reflect upon it, that something of nobler impulses belonged to the elder (or Spanish) æra."

We have quoted the entire paragraph to which attention is desired, and shall now review the several parts,—and trust in a few remarks to remove the unintentional stain upon the Anglo-Saxon race, which the above extract has placed upon them:—as also, affording an additional opportunity of supporting our previous assertions, that the Aborigines were two distinct People.

"The difference in declension [i. e. of the existing Aboriginal population] between Central and North America offers a problem worthy of philosophical consideration." We had already solved this problem in the first pages of this volume, before the above was brought to our observation. The solution is founded upon historic truth,—viz., that the Aborigines of the North will not intermarry, or cohabit, with any race but their own,—they have a Religious abhorrence even at the supposition of such a sacrilege,—for in their minds it is one. This principle of the House of Israel is even followed in European Society by the Jewish family,—and that after ages of intercourse with the Christian. It seems impossible to eradicate the prejudice with the Aborigines of the North,—and this has been one of the greatest barriers to the propagation of the Christian Religion among them. As a most convincing proof of the above, we offer an historic fact not generally known even in America, and certainly not in Europe,—but it is given upon the authority of the late President of the United States,—General Harrison,—and it is, therefore, unimpeachable. In writing the forthcoming Life and History of that distinguished Patriot, it came under our observation during the required researches,—and is found in a document of his as late in date as 1838,—viz., At the commencement of the American Revolution in 1775,—the government of Great Britain (through the influence of her traders), engaged all the North-western Aborigines in her cause, for the purpose of laying waste the frontiers. The Continental Congress, most anxious to destroy this junction and impending calamity,—sent delegates to convince them that they were not a party to the quarrel, and therefore should be neutral. The application met with no success, for the Aborigines viewed the Colonists as their enemies and invaders,—because they were the actual possessors and occupiers of the land and homes of their ancestors. The Congress knowing that from the time of the Pilgrims landing at Plymouth, (1620) the Aborigines would never associate as a community with the Anglo-Saxon race—by the great family bond of Intermarriage;—the Congress then had recourse to the following novel proposition,—and it was actually embodied in a treaty concluded with the Delaware Tribes in 1778,—viz., That the Aborigines of the North, by remaining neutral in the War,—should be consolidated into a State by themselves, and upon the achievement of National Independence, should be incorporated into the Republic of the United States! The following are President Harrison's words,—viz., "Nothing can shew the anxiety of Congress to effect this object in stronger colours, than the agreement entered into with the Delaware Tribes, at a treaty concluded at Pittsburgh in 1778. By an article in that Treaty, the United-States proposed that a State should be formed, to be composed of the Delawares and the other Tribes of the North,—and contracted to admit them, when so formed,—as one of the members of the Union."—[Historical Discourse, Ohio, 1838.] The above fact of History certainly proves the anxiety of the Congress, not only to avoid their enmity, but to provide at a future day for their continuance as a People, and not their "extermination." The same policy of the United-States has now placed all the Tribes on the West of the Mississippi,—(for they would form no community founded upon intermarriage), and there to be protected by the Government of the United-States against all invaders. In vain shall we search the Spanish Annals for an instance (in their Mexican Conquests,) of humanity like these acts of American commiseration and Christian policy.

In the second sentence of the paragraph quoted from the Literary Gazette, the Editor has given the identical cause why the Mexican Aborigines are still found upon their lands,—not as owners, but as Slaves,—viz., that they did intermarry—("enter into a combination," &c.)—thence the two races are apparent upon the strongest ground of argument,—viz., Religious principles,—and which, with all Aborigines are the guides to their actions. Therefore, the Editor by his remarks upon the Mexican race, actually solved, though unconsciously, the problem proposed in his first sentence. In forming a "comparison" between the Spanish invasion by Cortez, in 1520, and the landing of the Pilgrim-Fathers in 1620, any writer must fail,—for without similitude there can be no comparison;—contrast is the word, and never in the history of nations was there a greater contrast than between the Spanish and Anglo-Saxon races, in their motive in landing in Mexico and in New-England: but the Editor has written "Though the thirst of Gold was the same in BOTH instances, it does appear, and it is melancholy to reflect upon it, that something of nobler impulses belonged to the elder (or Spanish) æra!" Cortez and Pizarro, and their bands of pirates, were alone possessed with an unquenchable "thirst of gold,"—it was "the god of their idolatry,"—even the humane Columbus could only hold his power with the Spanish Government by sending home the precious metal,—and when it failed, so declined his influence; and it at last compelled him to have recourse to making Slaves of the natives of Hispaniola,—and each had allotted to him a task of bringing a small bell full of gold from the mountains, and if they failed, stripes were their punishment; and of all the natives, not one acre of land was purchased, or even attempted. The Spaniards found, as we will prove, branches of Christianity!—and yet with the Crucifix in one hand, and the brand or dagger in their other,—they sacrificed eleven millions of human beings to their unhallowed invasions, lust, and thirst for gold:—but were the English so possessed when in the depth of dreary winter they braved the dangers of the broad Atlantic?—What drove that band of Pilgrim-Fathers forth to seek an unknown wilderness for a home and shelter? Was it gold?—would they have dealt with money-changers in the Temple?—No!—One thought alone throbbed within their hearts,—viz., To worship their God and Saviour according to the solemn dictates of their conscience! They were Englishmen, and the first promulgators of Religious and Civil freedom in the Western Hemisphere.—Upon their landing did they enslave the Natives for gold-finders?—No!—They offered the hand of amity,—and in it they gave gold for acres, and obtained the land by fair and honourable purchase. Entering upon their pilgrimage upon the principle only of Religious freedom,—the Northern-native has been ever permitted to enjoy the same; and not a record of that land will prove, that the English ever sacrificed a human being upon the ground of Religious belief or disbelief. It is the very principle of the Contrast between the Spanish conquest and the English landing on the Western Continent, that has made the essential difference, even to this day, in the stability of the Governments of the two European races, Spanish and Anglo-Saxon. The former was based upon injustice, lust, and avarice,—thence can be traced the eventual downfall of the Spanish principles in South America; but the latter was Freedom-founded, and based upon laws, virtue, equity,—and thence, as a consequence, the Anglo-Saxon family still remain firm and secure. Their House being built upon a Rock, and daring,—like the Parent-Country,—the wild elements of tyranny even to approach the foundation, they fear no "comparison" with a blood-stained Mansion erected upon the Sands; and which the waves of Time have so far swept from view, that even the false proportions would have been lost, had not History placed them in her archives as a warning to posterity! Apology, we trust, is not required for this almost digressive note;—the just defence of the character of England and the United-States has been our only motive;—and that being our rule of action through life, either in public or private, we could not avoid it. G. J.