have been very great and difficult. Tradition says, that numerous memorials and relics were deposited beneath the walls of the massive buildings, the pillars, etc., but this, no doubt, is fabulous, with many other stories which some of the neighboring people relate of the once famous city. It is more than probable, that the large buildings were used as temples for priests, or as palaces for kings, while the people generally dwelt at the base of the mountain, or on the extended plain, and along the paved streets. The strong manner in which the remaining buildings are protected, rendering all approach to them, by an enemy, quite impossible, goes far to confirm the opinion as to their sacred character, etc. Yucatan, as has heretofore been intimated, presents a series of ancient ruins of the most remarkable kind, most of which were, without doubt, cöeval with those of Palenque. They are scattered throughout the province; but in the mountainous districts, they are on a scale of the greatest magnitude. A recent traveller, who had passed over those mountains, says that they were strewed in his way throughout his route. In the more level parts of the country, many large edifices are yet standing; and remains of similar structures are traced almost to the extremity of that province, stretching eastward to the Atlantic. The vast and superb city of Ytzalan, before alluded to, must have vied with the great Palencian capital itself. It was twenty-five miles in length, from north to south, and two miles in breadth, from east to west! The monuments are here in a state of great preservation, and exhibit much of their pristine grandeur and splendor. A more particular description of this ancient and magnificent city will be given on the receipt of intelligence promised us from abroad, by one who for years explored its ruins. The intimate connection which existed between the ancient inhabitants of this province and the Palencians, by means of great and navigable rivers, through which was maintained a rich and flourishing commerce, the evident analogy to the manners, customs, and religion, evinced by their relics, and the similarity of their buildings, are presumed to exhibit satisfactory proof of their having composed a part of the Tultique nation. The same style of architecture is every where perceivable. About fifty miles south from Merida, are extensive remains of ancient stone edifices. One very large building, yet standing in good preservation, and called by the natives Oxmutal, is six hundred feet in length, on each side! It stands on an artificial eminence, sixty feet in height. The corridors, pillars, and apartments, are decorated throughout with figures in medio-relief, which are embellished by serpents, lizards, and other devices, in stucco-work. There are also numerous statues of men, having palms in their hands, and in the attitude of dancing, beating drums, etc. These, it will be perceived; resemble those described at Palenqua and Copan. Twenty-five miles north of Merida are likewise numerous ruins, and they continue to increase in number, as you advance in that direction. Here once must have been another large and populous city; to what extent, we are unable to say. The buildings are all in ruins, some of the walls only exhibiting their great dimensions. In the present town of Mani, on the river Lagatos, there are also other ruins of very ancient edifices. A pillory is said to stand in the principal square, of a conical shape, and built of stones. At the southward of this, rises a large and ancient stone palace, which is said to have been occupied by an Indian sovereign, called Htulrio, at the time of the conquest, about three hundred years ago. This chief was compelled to relinquish his palace to the holy Franciscan friars, and afterward to his military conquerors, as a hospital. The building resembles the large one remaining at Palenque; but all tradition respecting it was lost, before the time of Htulrio, its sovereign occupant. He is said to have replied to the inquiries respecting its origin, that he only knew that it had been occupied from time immemorial by his ancestors. All else was lost in the lapse of ages. Other extensive ruins are to be seen, for a great distance, on the road from Marida to Bacalar; and, indeed, from various sources, we are informed they may be seen scattered throughout this extensive province. What inference are we then to draw, in relation to its ancient condition and population? How numerous and comparatively happy must have been its people? By an effort of the imagination, let the mind recal the period of its glory and happiness, and contrast it with its present condition. Where once stood proud and stately edifices of eternal granite,' in all their fair proportions, ornamented throughout by figures, hieroglyphics, and ingenious devices of sculpture or of stucco, are now seen only huge and unseemly masses of rubbish. Where once was heard, far and wide, the busy hum of life, the voice of crowded streets, thronged marts, and overflowing temples, the still and solemn air is disturbed only by the tiny notes of the insect, and the fearful howling of savage beasts. All is wild, solitary, dismal! No human voice is heard among the mouldering arts that once echoed and rëechoed its familiar sounds. Millions of our species have come and gone, since they were the pride of those who reared them. But no memorial has outlived the giant fabrics of their hands, nor is a tradition left behind, to guide the strange people that now gaze in wonder upon their ruins. Alas! thus may it be said of us, of our arts, of our cities, and of all the nations of the earth, when they too shall become 'Like the remembered tones of a mute lyre!' BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE. 'ETERNAL powers!' exclaimed the injured lover; twenty dollars! as the price of blighted hope and crushed affection a youth of misery, and a death of despair' I scorn the base compromise with feeling! I will take a hundred and fifty, and not a cent less!' SANDS' SCENES AT WASHINGTON.' THE 'REJECTED ADDRESSES.' IN TWO PARTS PART ONE. TASTEFUL and fun-loving Reader! - you can scarcely conceive the delight which we experienced, a few days since, in chancing upon a long-treasured copy of that teeming volume, the 'Rejected Addresses,' by the Brothers SMITH. Right away, immediately, pretty quick,' (to adopt the Frenchman's climax,) we sat down and devoured it up; pausing the while only to give way to those laughing shocks which batter at the ribs till they shake, nothing loth to be so shaken.' As the work is exceedingly rare we judge from a twelve-months' unsuccessful search through half a dozen cities for a single copy shall venture, in a couple of numbers, to open a new mine of intellectual riches to nine in ten of our readers, by a brief review of, and adequate extracts from, the choice little book in question. we In August, 1812, an advertisement appeared in the London daily journals, from the Drury-Lane Theatre Committee,' announcing that they were desirous of promoting a fair and free competition for an Address, to be spoken upon the opening of the new Theatre, which had just arisen from its ashes. The compositions were to be sealed up, with a distinguishing word, number, or motto, on the cover, corresponding with the inscription on a separate sealed paper, containing the name of the author,' which was not to be opened, unless containing the name of the successful candidate. One hundred and twelve addresses, according to the preface, were sent in, as per order' of contract, by the gross, 'some written by men of great, some by men of little, and some by men of no talent.' The editor does not deem it necessary to mention how he became possessed of so 'large a lot' of verse; but proceeds to cull what had the appearance of flowers from what possessed the reality of weeds, and in so doing, diminished his collection to twenty-one! The effusions discarded by the compiler are said to have borne a close resemblance to each other, every one having caged that much-abused bird, the Phoenix, in a simile. The fact that the published addresses failed of selection by the committee, is accounted for on the ground that they were penned in a metre unusual on similar occasions, and were deficient in that indispensable theatrical art, called 'touch and go. In addition to the addresses, the editor states, that ' above one hundred spectacles, melodramas, operas, and pantomimes, were transmitted, beside the first two acts of one legitimate comedy.' Some of these evinced, it is added, considerable smartness of manual dialogue, and several brilliant repartees of chairs, tables, and other inanimate wits,' but were nevertheless unpresentable. In selecting a few specimens of these Rejected Addresses,' we shall confine ourselves mainly to the imitations of well-known English writers. The finely-tempered yet pungent satire which pervades them, was as much enjoyed, we have been informed, by the lampooned authors themselves, as by the public at large, who speedily swallowed some ten or fifteen editions of the work. The opening effusion is a hit at the pseudo poet-laureate, FITZGERALD, whose muse up labors to attribute the burning of the theatre to that arch apostate, Boney,' and to lug in, 'by ear and horn,' some compliment to the reigning powers. The editor has well illustrated, in his successful counterpart of a loyal address, the truth of Goldsmith's remark, that 'there is not in nature a more dismal figure, than a man who sits down to premeditated flattery. Every line he writes, tacitly reproaches the meanness of his occupation; till at last his stupidity becomes more stupid, and his dullness more diminutive.' The laureate begins thus: 'Hail, glorious edifice, stupendous work! God bless the Regent and the Duke of York! After some exciting particulars' in the political history of 'Gallia's stern despot,' to whose charge are laid all the sins in the calendar, Mr. Fitzgerald proceeds: Who burnt (confound his soul!) the houses twain who have read 'Childe Harold,' will not need to be told, how completely the writer has embodied the train of thought and style of a portion of that renowned poem. We annex several stanzas : 1. 'SATED with home, of wife, of children tired, Viewing with scorn and hate the nonsense of the Nine. II. 'Ye reckless dupes, who hither wend your way, Like falling stars in life's eternal gloom, What seek ye here? Joy's evanescent bloom? Woe's me! the brightest wreaths she ever gave Are but as flowers that decorate a tomb : Man's heart, the mournful urn o'er which they wave, Is sacred to despair, its pedestal the grave. |
