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bers.

Philadelphia 1. Septem

1779 Wednesday A M.

established by himself without any authority that and honor the Body by doing justice to its memI know of.—Admitting that I had no right to demand, which cannot justly be admitted, or that I had been too peremptory in the demand, which I certainly was not; the Secretary ought to have given decent answers, not insulting and irritating denials.

I consider these affronts of the Secretary though offered to a Delegate, and however Mr. Secretary might have intended them, as abuses of power in Office, and affronts to that Assembly of which I have the honor of being one, and I trust the Committee will view them in the same light,

Mon Jan

* These instances I am ready to attest when required-I did not mention every one to Mr. Laurens as I thought it would only tend to chagrin him, and saw him disposed to pass Mr. Thomson's rudeness over without resenting it. MOSES YOUNG.

THE RUINED CITIES AND MARVELS IN ART OF THE WESTERN

HEMISPHERE.

BY WALTER SCOTT THOMPSON.

parts, but it was not until 1810, that anything reliable was known of the interesting regions of "ruined America;" it was in this year that Humboldt published his "View of the Cordilleras, and Monuments of the Indigenous Peoples of America." Then, in 1843 and 1847, Prescott gave to the world his "Conquest of Mexico," and "Conquest of Peru." But the most valuable contribution to the sources of our knowledge of this department of American antiquities is, "Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas and Yucatan," by John Lloyd Stephens, published more than thirty years ago; Mr. Stephens was accompanied by F. Catherwood, whose illustrations of the altars, idols, etc., add materially to the value of the work. My purpose in writing this short paper is not to attempt to tell the story of the wonders of these ruined cities and their remains, but simply to arouse an intetest in the subject which shall induce some of my readers to investigate it in detail. I would that Americans, generally, were more fond of studying the history and antiquities of our great Western Hemisphere, and if I can promote such study in the smallest degree, I shall feel I have served a good purpose.

MANY Americans devote years to travel and to As early as 1640, a Portuguese, Bartolome interested inspection of remains of ancient archi-Fuentes, was reported to have explored some tectural and sculptural art, in lands far away from home, while many of like tastes, to whom circumstances deny such indulgence, occupy many, many hours in mental journeys and delightsome study of those remains, borne by those travellers who tell what they see, and thus see for others as well as themselves. But, meanwhile, how many Americans of both these classes, and even of those who are almost quick cyclopedias of the wonders of Thebes and her brazen gates, Babylon and her hanging gardens, Palmyra, Pompeii, Druidic Britain and Gaul, and other like records of the antique productions of man, know aught even of the existence of the stupendous marvels which abound in numerous places within our own Hemisphere? How many comprehend that there are ruined cities of a very remote antiquity almost at the doors of our land-cities which, if we may judge from the vast extent of their sites, the huge proportions of some of their ruined structures, and the elaborate splendor of many stone idols and like works still seen there, were not inferior in size or importance to the better known ruined cities of the Eastern Hemisphere-cities whose origin and history have all the charm of uncertainty and mystery, being lost in the mists and fogs of antiquity? No doubt these cities were made desolate by Pizarro and his Spanish Spoilers, but who built them, and when were they built?

To indicate the interest of the subject, it may answer to describe briefly one of the ruined cities of Central America.

Copan is in the State of Guatemala, about

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hundred and twenty-four feet in length; and both within and without are numerous pyramidal structures, stone idols, store altars, etc. Catherwood's illustrations in Stephens's work affords an excellent idea of the elaborate character of the ornamental and doubtless generally symbolic sculptures which cover almost every stone in this remarkable city. The idols vary in size, but are mostly large, and are each cut out of a solid block of stone, as are the altars. The idols are in an excellent state of preservation, the altars not so good, some of them being completely buried, others covered with moss and much faded and worn, and of some, indeed, Mr. Stephens tells us it was "difficult to make out more than the form." Of one of these altars, Mr. Stephens says: "This stands on four globes cut out of the same stone; the sculpture is in bas-relief, and it is the only specimen of that kind of sculp ture found at Copan, all the rest being in bold alto-relieto. It is six feet square, and four feet high, and the top is divided into thirty-six tablets of hieroglyphics, which, beyond doubt, record some event in the history of the mysterious people who once inhabited the city."

The city was evidently at one time surrounded by a wall, portions of which still remain.

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1 We have reproduced one of these, showing one of the large stone idols, this idol, is a monolith, the sculptures being in bold alto-relieve; it stands with its face towards the east, and is

thirteen feet high, four feet broad, and three feet thick, completely covered on either side and back with figures similar coloring still visible on it, indicates that it was originally to those seen on its front. The presence of patches of red painted.-EDITOR.

HISTORY AND REMINISCENCES OF THE PHILADELPHIA NAVY YARD. BY HENRY M. VALLETTE,

Chief Clerk in the Department of Steam Engineering in the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

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IN preparing these papers it was not our purpose to give the history of any vessels other than those launched at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, with the single exception of the Constitution, and, therefore, we merely state that the noble old frigate Potomac, whose graceful proportions and symmetrical lines illustrate this page, is the present receiving ship of this station. Her keel was laid at Washington during the year 1819, and she was finished, ready for launching, in 1821. The cost of building was $350,000.

The picture here presented was taken on a pleasant afternoon of October last, when but few ripples disturbed the silver sheen that o'erspread the surface of our river. The ship was then indeed in holiday trim. But, alack a day! should you see her now in winter quarters, moored at the foot

VOL. VI.-12

of Race street, with an unsightly roof peering above her hammock rail, you would indeed fail to recognize the "thing of beauty."

It will, perhaps, be necessary to explain to some of the readers of the AMERICAN MONTHLY, that the receiving ship is a vessel where those who wish to enlist in the Naval service, are, after passing the requisite examinations, enrolled upon the ship's books, and held on board until transferred to the various men-of-war requiring their services. In connection with this subject it may not be deemed inappropriate (coming as it does under the head of "reminiscences") if we relate a few incidents that occurred at the yard during the late Civil War.

The effect produced by the mere anticipation of a draft is within the distinct recollection of many.

of the captain, whom, when found, Peleg thus accosted:

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Sa-a-y, yew! me an' Polly Ann want ter git on to your boat ter see cousin Ezekiel. I s'pose yew know Zeke, he's goin' fur a coal-heaver, an' we want ter spend a day or two along with him afore he goes."

"Go to the d-dickens!"' emphatically responded the captain.

How those in comfortable circumstances, under the age of forty-five, who cared not to seek the "bubble reputation at the cannon's mouth" began to look around them for a patriotic (?) and robust substitute, and for which article the feverish market fluctuated anywhere between one and five dollars per pound, avoirdupois. Whilst among those poor fellows whose depleted exchequers forbade the luxury of a sub, there was an inordinate desire, an absolute longing to enter the naval ser- Peleg was naturally quite chap-fallen at this unvice, and per consequence in a very short time the expected rebuff, and started away with fright, but "Guardo," as the receiving ship was sometimes Polly bravely stood her ground, and thinking that called, became literally packed to overflowing-probably Peleg was not sufficiently polite, tried the greater number, too, coming from the rural districts. Firemen and coal heavers fled from village forge and furnace. Farmsmen left the plough and harrow idly rusting in the fallow ground, rather than risk the chance of being drafted and sent to the terrible "front;" these bucolic boys seemed to have before their eyes a holy horror of the musket, and chose rather to serve their Uncle Samuel on the briny deep.

Our country cousins after running the gauntlet of bounty brokers, sailor boarding-house keepers, et hoc omne genus, being comfortably quartered on board the ship; at once indite an affectionate epistle, wherein they inform the folks at home that they are now ready to receive company, urging friend and relative to come at once to town, imprint a farewell kiss, or wish a parting Godspeed to the voyagers ere they went out upon the mighty ocean nobly to "do or die."

At the time we speak of the Princeton was doing duty as a receiving ship, and owing to the immense number of visitors it became necessary for the commanding officer to issue passes, admitting no more at one time than could be conveniently accommodated on board the vessel. When Peleg and Polly Ann had received their letter of invitation, leaving farm and dairy to the care of Josh, the "help," they hurried to the great city, imagining in the simplicity of their hearts that all they had to do upon entering the Yard wa to step on board the "steamboat," as they termed it, embrace their relative, stop for dinner, or perchance lodge over night and have a good time generally. Alas, their spirits sank when they reached the wharf and found the "steamboat" was moored in the middle of the river, and that they could not take passage in the boat that plied to and fro without first procuring a pass. With rueful visages they retraced their steps in search

her persuasive powers.

"Please, sir; mister captain," said she. "Peleg and me kem all ther way from Slugtown, a-purpose to see 'Zekiel; he's our fust cousin, and ef you'd only guv us tickets to git on the steamboat, we air willin' to pay a quarter apiece fur 'em, and be much obleeged to yer in the bargain, and cousin Zeke he'll be so glad to see us, and we won't stay more'n a day an' a night. I guess you know 'Zekiel, he's a great long-legged critter with red hair, blue eyes, and a mole on his-"

"Confound your cousin 'Zekiel !" interupted the now irate captain.

Polly Ann retired, covered with blushes, and utterly discomfited, muttering to herself that, "he was a nasty cross brute, so he was, and if Peleg hed any spunk in him, he'd go and lick the tarnal cuss, so he would."

By this time the crowd of applicants for passes had increased to an alarming extent, completely hemming in the officer, who, by a nervous twitching at his cravat, was evidently getting up his choler at a fearful rate; still the mass of humanity surged and pressed upon him, when a bright-eyed Bridget in the foremost rank smiled upon him, and in gushing tones, ejaculated :

"Och, captain, dear! shure an' ye wouldn't be afther refusin' me a pass till go aboord the ship to see me darlint Teddy, me own lawful husband that's gone and listed all fur till help the Govermint put down the dhirty rebellion? barrin' me brother Mike, he's the best fightin' mon that ivir doubled a fhist-"

"Clear out and don't bother me, you Irish hussy!" thundered the captain, who had become furious.

"Call him admiral,' Bridget, dear," whispered a companion, "an' mebbe that'll soften the spalpeen, bad luck till him!''

"Och, admiral, honey! wont yez let me see ould Teddy, if it's only fur wan half hour; not a minnit longer will I shtay wid him; wont ye plaze, now, admiral, dear?"

"D-n it! If you don't loosen your hold of my coat I'll call the marines," shouted the captain. The Hibernian Amazons finding it impossible to cajole, sought revenge in sarcasm.

“Arrah, now, don't be so obstreporous, shure yer shpoilin' yer purty face, so ye are, by gittin' in such a passion," fairly shrieked Bridget, when her sympathizing friend took up the war-cry, and fired this parting shot.

"A shplendid offisir ye air till be shwearin' at ladies in that way. Why don't yez be kapin' in a good humor? Jist luk at the shweat how it's a tracklin' down yer good-lookin' nose fur all the wurld loike the grase aff a meltin' kandle !''

The skipper was now boiling with rage, and consigning Biddy and all her countrywomen to an intensely warm climate, endeavored to break away from the crowd, when he was firmly seized by a round-faced, rosy-cheeked fraulein, fresh from faderland, sobbingly endeavored to make known her troubles, in her quaint German-English tongue.

"For Heaven's sake, woman, get away from me," cried the captain, and breaking loose from Katerina's clutches, by a bold stroke extricated himself from the motley throng and sought refuge in the paymaster's office hard by.

At the time we refer to, similar scenes were of almost daily occurrence, and he would have been an amiable officer indeed who could have kept his temper under such trying circumstances.

child seemed to be there. The town turned out en masse, and took peaceable possession of the Yard itself and all adjacent points from whence the launch could be to the best advantage seen. The immense concourse came to see the grand spectacle despite the following official document published in the newspapers on the day of the launch:

"HEALTH OFFICE, September 6th, 1820. "The following resolution was adopted by the Board of Health at their meeting of this day, and ordered to be published for the information of the public: Resolved, That this Board considers the assemblage of large crowds of people under the present circumstances of the health of the city to be hazardous and likely to be productive of an increase of the existing Malignant Fever.' They therefore earnestly recommend to the inhabitants of the city and county to refrain from assembling to view the launch of the United States '74,' which is advertised to take place to-morrow afternoon, the 7th instant.

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"By order of the Board.

"JOSEPH PRYOR, Clerk." The American Daily Advertiser came out on the morning of the launch with this lugubrious editorial:

"The citizens of Philadelphia who have regard for their own health and that of their families would do well to refrain themselves, and endeavor to prevent the respective members of their families from the exposure and consequent danger which must necessarily result from viewing the launch which is announced to take place this day... It is in the recollection of many of our citizens that the epidemic which prevailed in 1793 made but little progress until the occurrence of a bad

1 The following communication was addressed to the Philadelphia Gazette, August 29th, 1820: "" Launch and Eclipse.' 'MR. RELF-I observe by your paper of to-day that the

But to return once more to the "Log:" Thursday, August 31st, 1820, being set aside by the reverend clergy of the city and suburbs as a day of thanksgiving, humiliation and prayer, the Yard was closed, and presented a truly Sabbathlike appearance, the officers attending the various places of worship in the neighborhood. The humShip of the Line' at our Navy Yard is to be launched on of industry was hushed in every shop, and naught disturbed the solemn stillness but the steady tramp, tramp of the sentries as they walked their lonely

round.

The 7th day of September was indeed a gala day at the Yard, for on that day the long looked for launch of the United States ship-of-the-line' North Carolina took place. The event is yet distinctly remembered by some of the older inhabitants of our city, for almost every man, woman and

the 7th of next month, the very day on which the Eclipse of the Sun will happen. If I remember rightly, the eclipse will be total, or nearly so, which perhaps may be considered quite ominous of the future destiny of the vessel. It must of course portend good. I hope as the time draws nigh that those conversant in such matters will give us all the information possible upon this point. I should have thought that the public papers would have before this commenced operations with regard to the Eclipse, as it is so rare and awfully interesting a subject. I will only further add-may this noble

vessel never be eclipsed in time of trial, but proceed triumphant in spite of all intervening obstacles.'"

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