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it, the obligation of standing pre-eminent in science. would not, however, amongst other nations, be an ungenerous competition, if they, by revising some institutions, and establishing others on improved principles for the encouragement of sciences and the improvement of arts, would take as a model the generous example of France. To foreigners and to strangers, as to Frenchmen, all her precious collections are equally thrown open; they are to all alike accessible. France then has a right to receive, even from foreigners, the tribute of praise. It may be an empty, but it is a flattering gift; and nations that take gold have no right to feel envy. Some persons have felt regret that defeat imposed on France the necessity of restoring those works of art, of which the Vatican and other public collections had been despoiled by her arms. It was argued, that though in Paris, from the attention with which strangers who visited the rich collection of the national gallery were received, where every thing worthy of admiration was particularly pointed out to their view, these precious objects of art were less the property of France than of the world, and that the arts and sciences derived an additional advantage from the mutual comparisons which the concentration of those objects offered the opportunity of making. This advantage was certainly inappreciable; but the claims of justice were much more sacred, and the restitution which was made by France conferred glory on her conquerors. With the conviction that this resignation on her part was a debt due to justice, France ought to be content; she will feel flattered, however, by hearing the voice of Europe whisper, that if any nation could have a right to enjoy that precious collection, that nation would be no other than France, who showed herself worthy to possess it by the noble use she made of it whilst in her hands.

Intending to say something of a curious collection of antiquities lately brought to this country from America, I have said more than I had purposed on that which is not immediately relative to my subject; it is however so connected with it, that if it was an error, it was one likely to be incurred. I shall now, however, make some remarks on monuments, of which the curiosity, not the beauty, the novelty, not the art, eminently intitle them to learned attention.

For a series of years it had been the custom to state, in contradiction to the evidence of older writers, that the continent of America possessed no monumental antiquities; that nothing existed there characterising the manners of the populous and civilised Indian nations which once inhabited, and whose

descendants still inhabit those extensive regions. This assertion was so often and so positively repeated, that general opinion was almost inclined to lean towards it, especially as none of the antiquities of the Mexicans or Peruvians seem hitherto to have found their way to Europe. We were informed that those nations were unacquainted with iron, and we came to the hasty inference that of monumental remains they could have none; as experience informs us that the monumental remains of nations are chiefly buildings of stone, or sculptured images of art. We gratuitously assumed that the Indians, not being acquainted with iron, had no mode of supplying its place; though perhaps the efficiency of their tools of copper was the very reason that they had not discovered the use of iron, in which the mines of those countries are abundant. However this may be, specimens now in England of Mexican antiquities prove, not only that monumental records of stone preserve still the antiquities and manners of the Indians, but inspection of them will convince us that in the art of sculpture they had made great proficiency, if not arrived at some excellence; but we cannot suppose, when we contemplate these existing monuments, that in other congenial arts, especially painting, they could have been less advanced. And here I may remark, that from the few Mexican paintings now extant, preserved from the fury of religious persecution and other accidents, it would by no means be fair to judge' of the proficiency which the Mexicans had made in this art. We should rather form our opinion of the degree of merit which they had attained in it, from the contemplation of their best sculptured remains, more of which, it may now be expected, will be brought to Europe.

At the time of the conquest of Mexico by the Spaniards, historical, and other paintings were of infinite number, and threw great light on history, being of the utmost utility in preserving uncorrupted the traditions of ancient times. It is certainly a painful reflection to think that almost all of these have been destroyed, together with many other monuments of Mexican antiquity we only know that they once existed. It is not, however, so much owing to the neglect of individuals to the antiquities of their nation, that so few of the monuments of earlier ages have come down to us, as to the suspicious eyes with which the Spanish Government ever looked on those who seemed too curious in their investigations into her possessions. in the New World, or any thing connected with them. Amongst the native Indians, as well as the Spaniards, several VOL. XXIX. Cl. Jl. NO. LVII. M

intelligent individuals gave deep attention, and bestowed grea research on the antiquities of New Spain. This their learned works, still existing, amply testify; but a name which deserves particular mention was that of Doctor Siguenza, Professor of Mathematics in the College of Mexico: he made an ample collection of Mexican manuscripts, and wrote works of profound learning on Mexican antiquity, which have unfortunately all been lost. Some few other names might be mentioned; but the collections which these individuals made have been dissipated and destroyed, or doubtless at the present day it would have been an interesting object to have had these remains secured against accident, by having pictures and fac-similes made of them, which would in a manner have multiplied the original, and through its copies have preserved it from destruction and oblivion. With regard to Mexican antiquities and paintings, it may truly be said, that piety and ignorance, zeal and apathy-in short, the most contrary causes-have conspired for their destruction. Even science herself may be arraigned as an accomplice in this evil work; for, led by an eager desire to advance her interests, more than one European has crossed the Atlantic to explore the natural productions and antiquities of New Spain-from which country when about to return to their own, to enrich it by communication of the fruits of their laudable zeal, at once their hopes are ruined, and the labors of years defeated, by the jealous policy of the Spanish Government, which, after having robbed them of the valuable collections they had made, (which collections are dispersed never to be recovered), thinks it a boon that the dungeons of the Inquisition are not decreed to them for their habitation during the remainder of their days. Such (except the Inquisition) was the fate of the unfortunate Italian, Boturini, who visited Mexico in 1736: with great expense, and incredible zeal, he had made a vast acquisition of Mexican antiquities, with which he was about to leave New Spain, when by order of the Government he was arrested, his whole collection seized in the most unjustifiable manner, and he himself sent to Spain; where, after some short period of time had elapsed, he published in 1746, at Madrid, an account of the loss he and science had sustained, (in a detailed catalogue in one vol.) of the precious collection which his long residence in Mexico had enabled him to procure, and his knowledge of the Mexican language, which he had learned on purpose the more easily to make inquiries amongst the Native Indians respecting their curiosities. Thus even the scientific zeal of an individual was in a measure the cause of many records of antiquity being lost. For had they not been

collected together by him, they would have stood the chance at least of rich merchandise, the safety of which is not entrusted to one but to various vessels, some of which must reach the destined port. It is pleasing however to think that much more enlightened views actuate the present government of Mexico, on whose talents and patriotism already seems to dawn the auspicious morning that precedes a brilliant day, now about to gild that newly-emancipated and magnificent land. Perfectly opposite and contrasted as their policy in public matters is to the selfish and narrow line of conduct so long persisted in by the mother-country towards her colonies, History and Science seem likely to incur a separate debt from the generous consideration shown by a Minister in Mexico to their interests. Don L. D'Allemagne, wisely judging that several original Mexican manuscripts of the most rare antiquity, preserved in various archives in Mexico, ought to be published, as the means of preserving these precious remains from the accidents to which the Revolution or other causes might expose them, displayed excellent judgment in committing them to the hands of Mr. Bullock; whose zeal and interest in the pursuit of discovery during his residence in Mexico, as well as perfect experience in such inquiries, were at once a full pledge that the greatest care would be taken by him of the valuable deposits committed to him, and which he was under promise to return safe and complete to the Mexican Government from this country, in which they have sought a temporary retreat and refuge. If however that interest which they so fully merit, should create a desire to have fac-similes and copies of them, it is proposed to publish a work on Mexican Antiquities and Hieroglyphics, which would comprise what indeed it would be to be regretted should not see the light, when so fair an opportunity seems to present itself. Certain painted Mexican annals, which for 300 years have been buried far from the busy examination of men in the archives of Mexico, the keys of which were always preserved in the Palace of the Viceroy, are now in the possession of Mr. Bullock; in short the most ample materials for a work of this nature exist. With respect to Mexican antiquities it is difficult to judge what the public feeling may be; it cannot be said that any scarcely have been seen, much less published, in Europe: this ought to be a reason why they should be received with avidity; it may be a reason that they may be treated with neglect.

In France, from the direction that the literary inquiries of the

present day have there taken, and the zeal with which antiquarian research is encouraged, and success rewarded, it could not be doubted that this undertaking would meet with a highly favorable reception; the beneficial results which France has derived from her generous and enlightened system, have displayed themselves in the brilliant discoveries in Egyptian Hieroglyphics by Monsieur Champollion, who is now employed in publishing another work of the most varied learning relative to Egyptian antiquities, entitled the Egyptian Pantheon. Turning our eyes however to England, it must be owned that the intrinsic merit of a work is but a poor pledge to the undertakers of it, that it will meet with public favor. Men of science do not, as in France, (I allude here particularly to the members of the Institute) direct the public mind. Neither learned bodies, nor societies, if the name of the author is neither eminent nor fashionable, and especially if the work would be expensive, think of conferring patronage or even notice on it. It is certainly to be lamented that the Universities must equally share in this charge of indifference: their neglect to the interests of Oriental Literature could not be more strongly instanced than in their deeming it unnecessary to patronise in the least degree Dr. Morrison, who, engaged in the task of composing his Chinese Dictionary, (a work wanting to the literature of Europe, and necessarily one of great cost,) would have been highly flattered and encouraged if the Universities of his own country had taken an interest in the work which he was carrying on in China.

I may be excused for here making some digression respecting the intended translation of the Imperial Dictionary of China, which, had it been completed in the manner in which it was commenced, would have laid the extreme regions of Eastern Asia completely open not only to the Historian, but to the Philosopher; for the arts and sciences would probably have reaped as rich a harvest, in this magnificent depository of the learning, the customs, the religious opinions, the history, and the revolutions, which, during the space of 3000 years, have taken place in the furthest east. That this great work was begun was highly creditable to the India Company; and if England has not, Europe has, sufficiently extolled their munificence. Perhaps content with this premature praise, the patronage which shone on the undertaking has run its full course; but the work, it is to be feared, in the end will prove incomplete and abortive. Had Sir William Jones been alive, he certainly would have regretted that an undertaking had been abandoned, of the importance of which to knowlege he was a judge qualified to decide; but the spirits which seem to