XIII. Letter from Captain Nepean, to the Right Hon. the Earl of Aberdeen, K.T., President, communicating an account of certain Antiquities excavated, under his direction, in the Island of Sacrificios: followed by a Report upon the examination of them, by Samuel Birch, Esq.

Abstract

The public curiosity has been much roused by Stevens's recent work on Central America, as well as by the late visit of Mr. Walker and Captain Caddy of the Artillery, to Palenque, and other ancient cities in that quarter.I have the honour to acquaint your Lordship, as President of the Society of Antiquaries, that, having been lately on service in the gulph of Mexico, whilst laying off the island of Sacrificios, I caused several excavations to be made there, and succeeded in digging up various articles of pottery, idols, and musical instruments; amongst other specimens, are three or four types, or signets, with hieroglyphics, which may perhaps throw some light on the origin of the Mexicans, or the still more ancient race that preceded them.