The Ruins necessary to be described for the illustration of our present subject, will be those of Copan, Palenque, and Uxmal; and for this purpose extracts will be quoted from the lately-published work on Central America, by Mr. Stephens. These extracts will be given as unquestionable authority, and the engravings in the work will be received as accurate representation of the Ruins, and upon which many of our results have been founded. On the subject of their accuracy, the fascinating traveller writes as follows: "I will only remark, that from the beginning our great object and effort was to procure _true copies of the originals_, adding nothing for effect as pictures. Mr. Catherwood made the outline of all the drawings with the _camera lucida_ and divided his paper into sections, so as to preserve the utmost accuracy of proportion. The engravings were made with the same regard to truth, from drawings reduced by Mr. C. himself--the originals being also in the hands of the engraver. Proofs of every plate were given to Mr. C., who made such corrections as were necessary: and in my opinion they are as true copies as can be presented; and except the stones themselves the reader cannot have better materials for _speculation and study_." Though this candid traveller acknowledges not to know the principles of Architecture, or the rules of Art, and when in Egypt amused himself by mutilating a statue of Isis,[1] yet when he came in sight of buried cities in his own country, before unknown to the history of the world, the Sculpture of which is "as fine as that of Egypt,"--feelings he must have had of which no man would rob him,--reputation by being the explorer, of which an enemy would not attempt to deprive him,--and although we are not selfish enough to covet his reputation, yet we are candid enough to admit that we have, from the heart, envied him his feelings! [1] Vide J. L. Stephens's Travels in Egypt, &c.