"At-the distance of three miles along the hank of the Caliokiathere lathe largest assemblage—the principal one of tvhich is a stupendous pile of a mass of earth, that most have required years, and the labour of thousands, to accomplish. Were it not for the regularity and design which it manifests, the circumstances of its being on alluvial ground, and the other mounds scattered around, it could scarcely be be lieved to be the work of human hands.— The shape is that of a parallelogram, standing from north to south; on the south side there is a broad apron, or step, about half way down, and from this, -another projection into the plain, about fifteen feet wide, which was probably intended as an ascent to the mound. The circum ference at the base is at least eight hun dred yards, and the height of the pyramid about ninety feet.
" Several of these mounds are almost conical, and at regular distances from each other ; about which are scattered pieces of flint, and fragments of earthen vessels.
"A curious'cbscovery, made a few years ago in the state of Tennessee, proves, be yond a doubt, that at some remote period the valley of the Mississippi had been in habited by a much more civilized people than when first known to us..... -Two hn m an bodies were found in a copperas cave, in a surprizing state of preservation— They were first wrapped up in a kind of blanket, supposed to have been manufac tured of the lint of nettles, afterwardswith dressed skins, and then a mat of nearly sixty yards in length. They were clad in a beautiful cloth, interwoven with fea thers, such as was manufactured by the Mexicans. They had been here, perhaps, for centuries, and certainly were of a dif ferent race from the' modern Indians.
They might have belonged to the Olmec, who overran Mexico about the seventh century; to the Toultec, who came centu ries afterwards ; or to the Aztecs, who founded the great city of Mexico about the thirteenth century.
" In tracing the origin of institutions or inventions amongst men, we are apt to forget, that nations, however diversified by planners and languages, are y-et of the same species, and that the sante institu tions may originate amongst twenty differ ent people. The wonder would be, that they should not shew a resemblance. We find these mounds in every part of the globe ; in the north of Europe, mid in tireat-Britain, they are numerous, and much resemble ours, but less considerable. The pyramids of Eript are perhaps the oldest monuments of human labour in that country., so favourable to the production of a numerous population. The Pyramids of Mexico, which are btu little known, and yet scarcely less considerable, like those of Egypt, have their origin hid in the night of oblivion.
" Who will assign, as the age of Ame rica, a period of years different fron; that allowed to, what has been denominated, the old world ? The multiplicity of proofs contradict the recency of her origin ; deeply imbedded stories of carbonated wood, the traces of ancient volcanoes ! We could appeal to her time-worn cataracts, and channels of mighty livers, and to her venerable mountains.—Grant, then, that America may have existed a few thousand years; the same CAllfieS prevailing, like effects will be produced ; the same revo lutions AS have been known in the old world may have taken place here."—See Goo* Lomisiana, by IL M. Brecken• ridge, Esq.