silver ornaments, plumes, precious stones* and other valuable effects which I have reserved for your majesty, and which are worth at least one hundred thousand ducats.

These ornaments, independently of the materials are of inestimable value for the novelty and singularity of their forms. No prince in the world can have in his possession any thing like them, as by Montezuma's orders every production of nature, both of the sea and the land, was imitated either in gold, silver, precious stones, or feathers, with the utmost accuracy.† He has

* The most valuable of these were probably the calchihuis. Bernal Diaz in giving an account of the first embassy from Montezuma to Cortez, at St. Juan de Alloa, enumerates among the presents made him on that occasion, "four jewels, called calchihuis, resembling emeralds, most highly valued by the Mexicans." The two noblemen who came upon the embassy, declared to Cortez, that these rich jewels, each of which exceeded in value a load of gold, were intended for the emperor." B. Diaz, p. 59.

In a speech of Montezuma to Cortez, the same writer makes that monarch say "I will give you for your emperor, some most valuable jewels, named calchihuis, each of which is worth two loads of gold; I will also send three tubes used for 'shooting darts or pellets, so richly adorned with jewels, that he will be pleased to see them." B. Diaz, p. 171.

"When this was done," (the gold presented by Montezuma, assorted and melted,)" another present was received from Montezuma, so rich that it was worthy of admiration, exclusive of the jewels called calchihuis, the ornamented* tubes covered with jewels and pearls, the beautiful embroideries of pearls and feathers, and the penaches and plumage, a recital whereof would be endless." B. Diaz, p. 172.

+ That the Mexicans and some of the adjoining nations had attained to a very high degree of perfection in many of the arts, more particularly the working of the finer metals and in weaving, is fully proved; not only by writers cotemporary with the conquest, but by some specimens of their skill still remaining.

B. Diaz, in his account of the expedition of Grijalva to Yucatan, says, that the Indians of the river Tabasco, presented that chieftain with some golden toys made in the form of birds and lizards. Keating's Diaz. p. 17. After a battle fought by Cortez with the same Indians, he was visited by a number of chiefs from the neighbouring districts, "who brought with them presents of gold wrought into various forms, some resembling the human face, others of animals, birds and beasts, such as lizards, dogs, and ducks. Diaz, p. 49.

In the first embassy to Cortez from Montezuma, among the presents, were a plate of gold of the size of a carriage wheel, representing the sun, admirably wrought, and said to be worth upwards of twenty thousand crowns; a larger one, equally wrought, of silver, representing the moon;

.. thirty pieces of wrought gold, representing ducks, very well executed; others in the forms of deers, dogs, lions, tigers, and apes; twelve arrows, a bow with the cord; two rods, like those borne by officers of jus

These tubes were the sabarcanes hereafter mentioned by Cortez, as among the curious and rare articles which he had reserved for the emperor; they were used by the Mexicans for shooting birds.

also had executed, after models which I gave him, images, crucifixes, medals, ornaments and necklaces in the European fashions.

There likewise belongs to your majesty, the fifth of the silver plate and dishes which I have had made by the artists of this

tice, five palms long: ten collars, and many other ornaments, all of fine gold, and cast or moulded work. After these were produced, plumes of feathers represented in gold, others of silver, together with fans of the same materials, beautiful penaches of green feathers, &c. Diaz, p. 57.

"Here were the shops and manufactories of all their gold and silver smiths, whose works in these metals and in jewellery, when they were brought to Spain, surprized our ablest artists. Their painters we may also judge of by what we now see; for there are three Indians in Mexico, Marcos de Aquins, Juan de la Cruz, and Crespillo, who, if they had lived with Apelles in ancient times, or were compared with Michael Angelo or Berrugiete in modern times, would not be held inferior to them. Their fine manufactures of cotton and feathers, were principally brought from the province of Costitlan. The women of the family of Montezuma, also, of all ranks, were extremely ingenious in these works, and constantly employed; as was a certain description of females who lived together in the manner of nuns." Diaz. p. 143.

I saw, says the author of the American Letters, at Strasburgh, in 1760, in the possession of Father Le Fevre, a Jesuit, and a man of great respectability, a very ancient Mexican fan, made of linen as fine as the most beautiful muslin known. On it were depicted a number of figures forming a Mosaic. Never have I beheld any thing so beautiful, both for the art with which the native and splendid colours of the feathers were disposed, as for the beauty of the design. No artist in Europe could have done as well; these feathers were those of the beautiful bird Ciricon.Lettere Americane.

Cortez, on his return to Madrid, having married for his second wife Juana, the daughter of the count d' Aguilar, among other things, presented her with five emeralds, wrought by the Indians, which were estimated at one hundred thousand sequins. The first was cut in the form of a rose, the leaves of which were perfectly formed. The second had the shape of a little horn. The third represented a fish, whose eyes were of gold. The fourth was a bell, and had a large oblong pearl for a clapper; and the fifth was shaped like a little cup, with a golden foot. Four little chains of gold were suspended to it, the ends of which were united in a pearl, that served as a knob. Some Genoese merchants, who were at Madrid, offered for the last alone, forty thousand sequins. These jewels, says Ramusio, were at that time the most beautiful that had ever been seen. Cortus Americanas.

It is said, adds the French translator, in a note to this passage, that Cortez, having accompanied Charles the fifth on his expedition against Algiers, the galley, on board of which he was, was overtaken by a storm, when he lost these valuable jewels. The handkerchief in which he had bound them around him, not having been well secured, they fell into the mud (probably as he was going on shore,) and could never afterwards be found. Idem.

Among many things known to the Mexicans, of which we are ignorant, was the art of spinning the fur of the hare or rabbit. We have attempted to imitate them, but we have never been able to attain the perfection of their work. From the account left us by one of the companions of Cor

country, amounting to upwards of a hundred marks of silver besides a great number of pieces of cotton extremely beautiful, both in colour and workmanship, some tapestry hangings for the churches and the royal apartments, coverlets made of cotton or the finest wool, and twelve sarbarcanest superbly painted and ornamented; all which are presents from Montezuma to your majesty.

It would require more talents and time than I have, to give a complete description of Mexico, as regards its extent; the manners and customs of the inhabitants, its police, and the many singular things which it contains, and if my account should prove incorrect, the fault will be found to consist in my having said too little instead of too much. We every day see something so surprising, that we can scarcely believe our own eyes, so that it would not be very singular if, in my account of so remote a country, I should not obtain full credit, though it is my duty to communicate to my sovereign, nothing but the real truth.

tez, we are informed that the Mexicans spun the hair from the belly of the hare or rabbit, to the greatest perfection; that they dyed it of various colours, and made cloth of it, resembling our silk, and that the colours were even unchangeable by ley. Idem.

I venture to assert, says Count Carli, that the art of dying was carried to a much higher pitch of perfection in America, than it was at the same period in Europe, notwithstanding our chemical acquirements. Lettere Americane.

The French mathematicians could not comprehend how these nations, (the Mexicans and Peruvians) could have succeeded in making statues of gold and silver at one cast that were hollow within, thin and delicate. I have seen one of them in which no soldering could be perceived. The octagon plates have excited equal admiration, each end of which was of a different metal, that is, gold and silver alternately, without being joined by the least solder. Fish, also cast in moulds, whose scales were intermingled with gold and silver; parrots, who moved their heads, tongues and wings; and figures of monkies, who performed various actions, such as spinning thread, eating apples, &c. These Indians were well acquainted with the art of enamelling, and of working all kinds of precious stones. Among the first presents sent to Cortez by Montezuma, was a helmet of plated gold, circled with bells, and ornamented on the top with emeralds, panaches, and large plumes, at the end of which, golden meshes were suspended. French translator's note to Lettere Americane.

Count Carli says, that the Mexicans and Peruvians also mixed gold with copper, and gave to this composition a degree of hardness, so as to enable them to make hatchets of it that were very useful. Lettere Americane.

Mirrors of a particular kind of beautiful metal, very white, and as brilliant as silver, formed a part of the rich presents sent by Montezuma the first time to Cortez. They were set in gold. Perhaps they were of platina, and if so they must have known the secret of melting and working it. French translator's note to Lettere Americane.

Bernal Diaz says, that in one of the Mexican temples there was a figure which had eyes of the polished substance, whereof their mirrors are made. Keating's Diaz, p. 146.

Sabarcane, a long hollow tube, made use of by the Indians to blow arrows through.

The province of Mexico is comprehended in a valley, about ninety leagues in circumference, surrounded by steep and lofty mountains. This valley is almost entirely occupied by two lakes or lagoons, the largest of salt, the other of fresh water. These are separated by a range of hillocks situated in the middle of the valley, and as the salt lake rises and falls like the sea, its waters at the flood are poured into the fresh water lake, while the latter at ebb, discharges itself into the former.

Temixtitlan, or Mexico, is situated on the salt lake, and communicates on each of its sides with the main land by means of four causeways, two lances in breadth, and not less than two leagues in length. This city is as large as Seville and Cordova; and the principal streets are very broad and strait.

Some of these streets, and most of the others are made partly on the land and partly on the canals which have a communication with each other, by means of bridges of sufficient breadth to admit ten horses abreast formed of long and large beams very strong, and well joined. On observing the situation of this city, and the facility it would give the Mexicans of shutting us up and destroying us by famine, without our being able to quit it, I had four brigantines built, each sufficiently large to carry three hundred men, and some horses, if necessary.

Mexico contains many extensive squares, which serve for market places. One of these is much larger than the great square of Salamanca, and is surrounded by porticos. More than sixty thousand persons are daily employed here in selling and buying all kinds of merchandise, such as provisions, garments, gold and silver ornaments, lead, brass, copper, tin, precious stones, shells, feathers, stones both rough and hewn, timber unwrought and squared, bricks, clods of earth, &c. It likewise contains a house where all sorts of game, and birds of every description, are sold, as domestic fowls, partridges, quails, wild ducks, moor-hens, turtle-doves, pigeons, various kinds of small birds, parrots, eagles, falcons, sparrow-hawks, hares, rabbits, deer, and a species of small dog, which are eaten.

There is in Mexico a street wholly appropriated to botanists, where medicinal herbs, and every kind of plant that is known, are sold. There are also apothecaries, who sell ointments, plaisters, and medicines, ready prepared; barbers who cut the hair, or shave

* Bernal Diaz says, that Mexico is a city larger than Venice; and Humboldt, vol. 1. p. 11, that the name Mexico is of Indian origin, signifying in the Aztec language, the habitation of the God of War, called Mexitli, or Huitzilopochtli; but that before the year 1530, it was more commonly called Tenochtitlan than Mexico. Adorned with numerous teocallis, (pyramidal temples) says M. de Humboldt, surrounded with water and dikes, founded on islands covered with verdure, and receiving hourly in its streets, thousands of boats which vivified the lake; the ancient Tenochtitlan must have resembled some of the cities of Holland, China, or the Delta. Humboldt, vol. 2.

the beard; cook-shops, where any thing to eat or drink may be had; and porters, who sell wood, coal, and clay, and various kinds of matting for beds, chairs, and carpets. Here may likewise be had, pulse, and fruit of all sorts, onions, leeks, garlick, cresses, artichokes, cherries, prunes, precisely like those of Spain; wax, honey, confectionary, a kind of wine made from plants and sugar, cotton thread of all hues, in skeins, which is sold in a place resembling that where sewing silk is sold in Grenada. Paints, as well ground, and of as fine colours as those of Spain, may likewise be bought here; dyed deer skins, with or without the hair; earthenware of every shape, varnished and painted: Turkey wheat in the grain, or bread made from it, which is preferable to that of the islands, or any that I have hitherto found on the continent; pastry made of birds, or fish, or a mixture of both, fresh and salted fish, raw or cooked; eggs of all kinds of birds, and omelets ready prepared. In one word, all sorts of provisions and merchandise are sold here in great quantities. Every thing is conducted with the utmost regularity, a particular street being allotted to each description of merchandise, which is sold altogether by number or measure. In the principal square is a building, where twelve judges, forming a kind of consular court, are continuaily employed in settling the disputes that occur in the markets, and in punishing the delinquents, which is done on the spot. There are also commissioners who examine the measures, and break those that are false.

(To be continued.)

FOR THE PORT FOLIO.

THE PICTURES AND STATUES IN THE LOUVRE.

THE letters composing the name of Napoleon Bonaparte, by a different arrangement, may express the words pone rapta bona leno, or" you rascal, lay down the stolen goods." For many years the Corsican was permitted to slay and pillage, but the day of retribution at length arrived. Wellington and Blucher led the forces of Europe into the city of Paris; not, however, before many of the followers of the great buccaneer had escaped with their booty. But some of the "stolen goods" remained. The splendid collection of pictures and statues, in the contemplation of which the idle Parisians forgot their miseries, was among the first objects which attracted the attention of the allies: and the British