served to the present day, are generally well sustained by the indirect evidence deduced by Mr. Gallatin from the various kinds of testimony which he has investigated; but some readers may perhaps be disappointed at finding how few and limited are the facts thus ascertained, and that the value of those records is much smaller than many have imagined. We find a history and description of the several copies of them which have been preserved in Europe, with an explanation of the principles on which the records were made; but it clearly appears that the chief and almost only objects of the ancient ones were, to note down the days, months and other periods of time, with the recurrence of the festivals of their religion. With respect to the records subsequent to the Spanish conquest and about that epoch, Mr. Gallatin adduces strong evidences of the interference of foreign hands, which greatly invalidate their value and interest. The general conclusion on this point therefore is, the unpleasant but not surprising one, that no high flight of Mexi can intellect has been preserved, and probably was ever made, in any department of thought or study, unless it be in astronomy, in which they used a pretty correct as well as curious calendar.

The chapter on the agriculture of the Mexicans will be read with great interest, as it contains a cogent argument, legitimately drawn from the culture of their great staple article of food, in favor of the origin of their race from some other source than those to which it has commonly been referred. The theory suggested at the conclusion of that subject, respecting the peopling of North America, with its obvious recommendations and difficulties, may hereafter lead to some new inquiries into nations and tribes of Asia and Africa heretofore but little attended to.

The Grave-Creek Mound, by Mr. Schoolcraft, is a paper abounding in facts well calculated to gratify the taste of every person possessing any rational curiosity concerning the history of our predecessors on our native soil.

Among the various objects found on opening two ancient tombs in that tumulus, was a small stone bearing an engraving of twenty-three characters, in which the learned of Europe have traced a resemblance to seve ral letters in various old alphabets, although the copies of the inscription hitherto published have been quite incorrect. Mr. School

craft now lays before us the gratifying results of his own examinations; and, by comparing his correct copy of the stone with nearly a dozen ancient Asiatic and European alphabets, we find the exact prototype of almost every character, and nearly all of them are precise copies of the Celtiberic letters.

But our present limits forbid us to dwell longer on this valuable paper, or to do any justice to the several remaining ones—one of which is a very full and instructive history of the celebrated Hamyaritic inscriptions recently copied from the rocks on the southern coast of Arabia, with copies, explanations, and interpretations.

The two remaining papers in this volume, which we hope to be able to notice at a future time, are one from Mr. Frederick Catherwood, the celebrated traveller, on a PunicoLybian monument at Dugga, and an ancient structure at Bless, both near Carthage; and the other on ancient remains in Tennessee, by Professor Troost.

JUVENILE DEPARTMENT.

METALS.

Our knives, forks, axes, and most of the other very hard and sharp things we have, are made of iron; while watches, dollars, eagles and other most beautiful and valuable articles are made of silver and gold. No wonder we want to know something about the metals. What is their nature? Where do they come from? How are they worked into so many shapes? Are any of them to be found hereabout? How do they look when taken from the ground? In short, we wish to see the ores and to hear about them. It is reasonable and right to have such a curiosity; and I shall try to satisfy it in my young readers in some degree. They will hereafter, I hope, read, observe and inquire, and so add much more to their knowledge.

There are about 40 metals known. They are all alike in two things: they shine brightly when clean, and spread out when hammered or pressed. Most of them are heavy, hard, and melt in the fire; but there are several which were not known until a few years ago, which will float on water,

I have told you that quartz is made of a particular kind of earth, and clay stones of another and limestones of a third. Those earths are made of three of the curious metals I have spoken of, mixed with oxygen gas, by being burnt in it. Common stones might therefore be called ores: but they are not. What we call ores are the mixtures of silver, iron, lead, copper, zinc, tin, gold, &c. When any metal is found. pure, it is not properly called ore. If there be only a small speck of it, in a stone, or among sand, if that speck is pure metal, it is called native.

There is then no gold ore in the world, because gold will not mix with oxygen or acids or sulphur. Other metals do and that has made ores of them.

1. Iron. Iron is hard, heavy, and darkcolored. But, when pure and clean, it shines so bright that we can hardly tell what color it has. It grows soft when heated red, so that it may be hammered flat or round, or drawn through holes into wire. Heat it till it looks white, and two pieces may be made into one by hammering them together. Heat it hotter yet, and it will melt, and run like molasses. When melted it is cast in moulds of sand, of different shapes; and so they make iron stoves, cannon, water pipes, anchors &c. Sheet iron is made by pressing it between rollers. There are many processes and operations in getting it from the ore, and in manufacturing it.

Making steel is one of the most important. Steel is iron combined with a little charcoal. Somehow or other it makes it harder and more elastic.

READING HISTORY.

FOR A LITTLE CHILD.

What is the use of reading History? History tells us what people have lived at different times and in different parts of the world; what good and evil they have done,

and how God has rewarded and punished them.

It also tells us why useful knowledge of different kinds has increased and spread in some countries, and not in others, and why some nations have been wise and happy, while others were ignorant and miserable.

One of the most important things to be learned from history, is that any person may do much good to many others, and even to a whole people, by getting all the knowledge he can, and loving to make others happy.

It teaches us to understand how much better it is to be a christian than anything else. We, who know history, will see that if every child had been taught the bible, and obeyed it, there would have been no wars nor ignorance nor crimes in the world.

And

O, I should like to read history, and understand the wisdom which it teaches. How kind has God been, to have ancient books preserved, and so many of them copied in our language! If it had not been for these, we could not have known history. how kind in him to let me learn to read. Now I know the twenty-six letters, and have begun to put them together in spelling and reading, 1 shall be able to go on learning more words, until I can read any of the books in our language.

But the Bible is the oldest history in the world. And it is the truest and the wisest. Men made other histories, but God made the Bible. O how wise I should be if I knew all that is in it! Is there any better wisdom to be learned in college? O no.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Singular Law Case.-The New Orleans Crescent City has the following notice of a case tried in that city:

CITY COURT-Before Judge Collens.-A novel case was decided, yesterday, in this court, in which a boy aged about ten years was claimed by two persons, each maintaining that she was the real mother. The plaintiff's, John Paul and Martha Paul, his wife, had lost their son about two weeks ago, and some few days since had been informed that the defendant, a Mrs. Hughes, had the boy in her possession. The latter had lost a son some three years and a half ago, and found this child whom she and some friends said

they identified as the child lost at that time by Mrs. Hughes. The case occupied the Court for three days, but judgment was given in favor of the plaintiffs, it having been satisfactorily proved that the boy was the son of John and Martha Paul. For some time, he (the child) persisted in stating that he really was the son of Mrs. Hughes, and denied his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Paul, and it was not until he was removed from the influence of Mrs. Hughes' presence that he admitted his real identity. We believe that this is a case without precedent, except the one stated to have been brought before King Solomon, which is recorded in the Bible.

PORTABLE LIFE-BOATS.-Experiments to test the serviceableness and efficacy of the new life-boat, recently invented by M. Monzani, has been made in presence of a great many nautical and scientific persons, amongst whom were Sir Francis Collier, Sir Edward Parry, Mr. Willock, Chairman of the East India Company, the boat builder of the Royal dockyard, and others. The boat weighs only 216 lbs. with all her tackle and apparatus, and would hold about 24 persons. She is constructed of water-proof cloth, something like sailcloth, stretched on a frame of wood; when not wanted she may be stowed or placed on the deck or other convenient part of any vessel, where she will be flat, not taking up more than three inches in depth, the breadth of the frame or hoop which forms her gunwale.

The experiments were very satisfactory. Her powers were severely tested; she was thrown from the Alecto steamer, at a height of 25 feet from the water, into the basin ; she took the water safely, not shipping above a quart of the element. Eight men then descended by ropes and boarded her in a minute; they pulled her across the basin and performed a variety of evolutions to the satisfaction of the spectators. She is understood to have all the advantages of what is called the mussoolah boat, without the objections to it. Being flat-bottomed she draws little water, and will ride over a heavy surf, where a common ship's boat could scarcely live. She is portable and light, yet sufficiently strong, and requires no tackle to be hoisted over the side of a ship. By means of this very simple invention half the perils of the ocean may be avoided.-London paper.

CARPET MAKING.-This business is now carried on in various parts of the United States. Many of the carpets manufactured by our people are not surpassed by those imported from abroad. It is said that our artists have the best machinery, and that their colors, designs and materials are also of the best description. With these advantages on their side, and the fact that living is cheap and taxes light among us, it is not surprising that our people should meet with so much success, as appears to crown their labors in this

The Franklin (Tenn.) Democrat, of the 13th inst. says—“ Mr. Shumake, living six and a half miles south of this place, in digging a well on the top of a hill near his house, discovered the bones of an animal of most enormous size. One of the teeth and one joint of the neck bone is now at the office of Dr. S. S. Mayfield. The tooth weighs four pounds six and a half ounces, and is in a high state of preservation. The enamel on the tooth is near half an inch thick, and as hard as flint."

A FINE CAMMELLIA.-There is now in the possession of Mrs. Irlam, at Bootle, near Liverpool, a camellia which stands 15 feet high, is 63 feet in circumference, and the stem is seven inches in diameter. It had 4000 flowers. The plant is not so symmetrically formed as it might be, owing to its being crowded; but nevertheless it is a grand specimen, and worthy to be classed among the lions of horticulture. Two years ago, when it was less cramped for room, the sum of 250 guincas was offered for it.

The Magazin Pittoresque.

From the preface of the "Magazin Pittoresque," (or what we might call the Penny Magazine of Paris,) commenced in 1833, and still continued, we take the following extract. Like most of the English and French works of this class, it contains eight pages a week. The price is two sous, and the circulation soon reached a hundred thousand. One regrets, however, to find the scope of those publications generally confined to narrow limits, compared with those which we have adopted in our plan. In France, especially, most editors feel compelled to repress the expression of opinions on some of the most important subjects, while they cannot calculate on such a degree of public intelligence as pervades our country.

"Nous voulons qu'on y trouve des objects de toute valeur, de tout choix: choses anciennes, choses modernes, animées, inanimées, monumentales, naturelles, civilisées, sauvages, appartenant à la terre, à la mer, au ciel, à tous les temps, venant de tous les pays, de l'Indostan, de la Chine, aussi bien que de l'Islande, de la Laponie, de Tombuctou, de Rome ou de Paris."

POETRY.

The Ass and the Wolf:

A Fable, translated from the Spanish of Samaniego, for the Am Penny Magazine.

A poor lame ass went limping by,
And saw a wolf, but could not fly
So, turning round, he coolly said:
"Friend wolf, I'm sick, and almost dead.
This ugly foot-it hurts me, oh!
I cannot live and suffer so.
I only wish I'd let alone

The blacksmith; he the job has done.
I beg you, with my dying breath,
Draw out that hob-nail with your teeth;
'Twill stop the pain-then, if you please,
Eat me and welcome, at your ease."

The wolf, suspicious of no guile,
Sure of his prize, began to smile:
"I've studied well anatomy,
And surg'ry too, as you shall see;
The case is plain-I understand;
I'll do you the business right off-hand.
Draw out your leg-turn up your hoof;
Don't fear me, friend! that's far enough."

With his best canine tusk all bared,
The new professr stood prepared.
But the lame ass, so pained and sick,
Drove all his teeth in with a kick,
Then hobbled off, and left behind
The wolf complaining to the wind:

"Ah, wretched me! how well I'm paid,
Because myself a fool I made.

Oh ye who would your trades forsake,
Take warning from my sad mistake.
I got my living and grew richer,
As long as I remained a butcher;
But see my wretched, lost condition,
Since I've begun to turn physician!"

To fit us to do good on earth,

And find our way to heaven.

Look north, and south, and east, and west, No other land you'll find,

Where children can so well improve

In manners, heart, and mind. For here the people rulers be,

And order all that's done;

Oh, if they all were wise and good,
What land were like our own?

For God, who gave our fathers brave
The Bible for their guide,

And safely led them to this land

Across the ocean's tide,

Who gave us churches, schools and laws,
And many priceless things,

Would have us governed by ourselves,
And not by popes or kings.

Then let us learn, while we are young,
Our passions to subdue,

That when we take our parents' place,
We may be patriots true.

And long may Independence Day
Return and find us free,

And children meet with songs to praise
The GOD OF LIBERTY!

Chorus. For there's no pleasure, &e.

There is not a more common error of selfdeception than a habit of considering our stations in life so ill-suited to our powers, as to be unworthy of calling out a full and proper exercise of our talents.

As society is constituted, there cannot be many employments which demand very brilliant talents, or great delicacy of taste, for their proper discharge.

Editors receiving this paper in exchange, are invited to reinsert the following advertisement: THE AMERICAN PENNY MAGAZINE AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER, Edited by Theodore Dwight, Jr.

Is published weekly, at the office of the New York Express, No. 112 Broadway, at 3 cents a number, (16 pages large octavo, or, to subscribers receiving it by mail, and paying in advance, $1 a year. The postage from July onwards will be Free for this city, Brooklyn, Harlem, Newark, and all other places within 30 miles; and only one cent a copy for other parts of the United States. Persons forwarding the money for five copies, will receive a sixth gratis. Editors known to have published this advertisement, with an editorial notice of the work, will be supplied with it for one year. By the quantity, $2 a hundred. The work will form a volume of 832 pages annually.

Postmasters are authorized to remit money with

out charge.

We particularly request the public to remember that no prson is authorized to receive money in advance for this paper, except the Editor or Publishers and an Agent in Ohio and the five south-western counties of Pennsylvania, who will show an attested certificate, signed by the Editor.

Whene'er our forest groves I tread,
I fancy oft the Indian maid,
Or matron's gentle eye and tone,
Now, like the flowers in autumn, gone;
For, to that race, once ruling here,
'Tis autumn still, through all the year;
And shatter'd trunks and leafless trees,
Lament them in the evening breeze.
For here were warriors once as bold
As vernal torrents ever roll'd,

And maidens through these wilds would go,
As pure and spotless as the snow;
And when I rest in woodland cave,
Or at the fount my forehead lave,
The Indian mother's form appears,
And childhood's shout is in my ears;
For parents smil'd, and children play'd,
In times long past, beneath this shade;
And where, in wild security,

Hand, heart, and footsteps, all were free. We were at once reminded of the above unpublished lines, on contemplating the print before us; and it would have been well for us, and our savage predecessors on American soil, if the Red men had been more frequently regarded with such feelings of humanity as they express.

We

have been, from early life, deeply interested in the Indians, having listened to tales of them in infancy and childhood, from the lips of an aged friend, who, in early life, had been personally acquainted with some of the race, in circumstances favorable to their character. Now that we find more disposition than for some years past, to cast off prejudices, and to look them in the face as brethren, we take great pleasure in doing what little may be in our power, to foster a rational interest in their history, and to promote exertions for the improvement of their condition.

Among the many points of striking resemblance in the habits of that wonderful race, prevailing extensively through numerous families, nations and tribes, is that of the treatment of infants. There are minute dif. ferences, it is true, and some cases in which a great diversity is observable; but the prevailing practices are much alike. The child, when somewhat grown, is left at freedom, and often clings to its mother; but, for months before, is subject to ligaments and a