the top than at the bottom. Mounts of stone, formed by fallen edifices, are found throughout the neighbouring country. In comparing these ruins with those of Palenque, I am struck with a similarity indicating a common origin (the Tulteca); however, they differ in very essential points. Palenque was abandoned, and the memory of its existence appears to have been obliterated before the conquest; whereas the Spaniards found Copan inhabited, and in the summit of its perfection; notwithstanding which, the edifices and other monuments in Palenque are in a better state of preservation than here, owing to their superior architecture. There is no building here standing, while numerous ones are still so in Palenque; the stones for building were different, since those of that city are not more than two inches thick, while these were cut into blocks; here the roofs were formed of inclined stones, there they were always placed horizontally. There is much more perfection in the human figures there, and they mostly stand in profile; these are generally placed with a full front. I saw no obelisks or sculptured tables in Palenque. Circular stones are found in both places of various sizes; some like those of a mill, with a hole in the centre, and some without; and neither having any inscription, mark, or apparent utility. The writing, or hieroglyphics (which are phonetic), is very similar in both cities, always inscribed in tablets either perfectly square or nearly so, and containing faces, hands, and various identical characters. A small Spanish force, with a considerable number of auxiliary Indians, despatched from Guatemala, captured this place, though they met with great opposition on their march, and a resistance here worthy of better means and success. This place remained long celebrated for the superior quality of its tobacco; but the cultivation of this plant being removed, as royal property, to the Llanos de Santa Rosa, towards the east, seventy-five years ago, Copan has gradually fallen into decay; and is now reduced to a small hamlet, standing near where the brook of Sesesmil falls into the Copan river, in the western suburb of the ancient city. This spot is within the modern State of Honduras, being four leagues to the eastward of the boundary with Guatemala, in latitude 14° 45′ north, and longitude 90° 52′ west from Greenwich. The water is good, and the climate moderate and delightful. The cave of Cutilca, nearly two leagues distant, has nothing very remarkable, but its vicinity to this place, and the fabulous account given of it (under the name of Tibulca) by the Rev. Domingo Juarros in his History of Guatemala. The cave is entirely the work of nature, and extends about eighty paces into the interior of the mountain of Cutilca. With much consideration, I have the honor to be, Sir, Your very obedient humble servant, JUAN GALINDO, Member of the Royal Geographical and Horticultural Societies of London, and of the Sociedad Economica of Guatemala. LETTER OF DR. ADAM CLARKE.* DEAR SIR, Millbrook, Prescot, Lancashire, Nov. 22d, 1821. Almost six months after date, I was honored with your letter enclosed with Vol. I. of the Archæologia Americana. For this token of respect I beg leave to return my warmest thanks to your Honorable President, and to the Society; and to yourself for the handsome and polite manner in which this valuable present was conveyed. Two literary friends who were with me on a visit begged to read the work; their perusal of it kept me nearly eight days from having the pleasure which they told me they had received in perusing it. On its return, I threw aside all other studies, and bent my mind fully to consider its contents. To say I was pleased with it, will express very little of my feelings; I was highly delighted and much instructed. The investigations relative to your ancient people, led me into a new world. Fancy, a rare operator in antiquarian pursuits, got immediately to work; and I began to travel with your travellers; survey with your surveyors; and thought how well I could have digged with the laborers employed in clearing the old tanks, ditches, &c. Mounds, cairns, and forts, which I had repeatedly seen in England, Ireland, and Scotland, presented themselves before me; as also the various instruments of stone and clay, which I have seen, particularly in Ireland, dug up by the spade or turned up by the plough. Those which I have myself examined bear such a striking resemblance to those which you have described, that I cannot possibly doubt of their affinity. For several years, I have bent my mind frequently to the study of the ancient customs of the Irish; especially of those who live in the glens, who preserve their ancient language, and This celebrated scholar and eminent divine, died of the Asiatic cholera, at London, Aug. 21st, 1832, aged sixty-nine years. |