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The Letter from Cortez occupies a considerable space in our pages; we hope it will be interesting to most of our readers. While Dr. Robertson was engaged in the collection of materials for his valuable history, this document was sought in vain in the public and private libraries of Europe.

Our correspondent at Bedford Springs who describes, in glowing language, the delights of a summer excursion, and advises his fellow citizens to join the "festive train" at that place, is hereby informed, that we are authorised, from the best authority, to state, that there is "not a single soul in the city." Every one concurs in averring most emphatically that every body has left Philadelphia, and that “it is the dullest place imaginable."

In reply to a friend in Virginia, we can only state, that it is impossible for us to regulate the charges which are made in the post office establishment. The act of congress is explicit that sixteen pages, octavo, shall be considered as one sheet, and those who charge eight pages as a sheet, are guilty of an offence, of which it is the duty of the proper officer to take notice. If subscribers will submit to the extortion of paying double postage, we have no objection. Not long since, a few sheets, of a book, then in press at New York, were transmitted by mail, to the editor. The postage far exceeded what was afterwards charged on the whole volume, although it contained thrice the number of those sheets, for which he had been so unjustly taxed. It was generally admitted in the days of Euclid, that the whole was equal to all its parts; but in modern times it seems to have been reserved for the servants of "the most enlightened nation on the earth," to detect a fallacy in this proposition. But the new philosophy, like Mat Prior's Alma, Runs here and there, like Hamlet's ghost,

While every where she rules the roast.

The "Lines on Wit," afford ample proof that the author might not have written worse, if he had known something on the subject which he pretends to discuss. Wit, according to an accomplished writer in a witty age, is very far from being shown

-when two like words make up one voice,
(Jests for Dutchmen and English boys,)

In which who finds out wit, the same may see,
In an'grams and acrostic poetry:

Much less can that have any place,

At which a virgin hides her face;

Such dross the fire must purge away: 'tis just

The author blush there, wHERE THE READER MUST.

We are still "damm'd and block'd up" by "effusions," from unfledged urchins, who suppose that poetry consists in a few lines with similar terminations---who despise the advice of Swift, to

Blot out, correct, insert, refine,
Enlarge, diminish, interline;-

and who are altogether unmindful that

Your poem finish'd, next your care
Is needful to transcribe it fair.

These persons seem to forget that their vanity and the ridiculous fondness of their family, is to be gratified at the expense of the editor, who feels how much censure he must incur from the publication of sucli namby pamby verses as are strung together, and transmitted, by "the advice of a few fondly partial persons, who, perhaps, may overrate the author's

talents."

THE PORT FOLIO.

FOURTH SERIES.

VOL. IV.

CONDUCTED BY OLIVER OLDSCHOOL, ESQ.

Various; that the mind

Of desultory man, studious of change

And pleased with novelty, may be indulged.-COWPER.

SEPTEMBFR, 1817.

ANTIQUITIES OF OHIO.

(Accompanied by an Engraving.)

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PORT FOLIO.

Lexington, Kentucky,

NO. III.

1817.

DEAR SIR-AS some pages of your interesting miscellany have already been devoted to the aboriginal remains of our country, I am induced to send you the annexed draught of an ancient work, in Hamilton county, Ohio. It is situated immediately at the confluence of the Ohio and Great Miami rivers, on the estate of general Harrison; and in the opinion of the proprietor (who is certainly well qualified to judge), and indeed of all who have examined it, is one of the few works evidently intended for military defence, among the many others more probably consecrated to religious or social purposes, which are dispersed over all the western section of the union. As a more full description of this work may not be uninteresting, I take the liberty of extracting part of a letter, written by general Harrison to a gentleman in Cincinnati, who had requested some information on the subject.

"It is situated," says the general, " on the high ridge which borders the Ohio, and precisely at the point where it is terminat

ed by the coming in of the Miami. The hill is perhaps two hundred feet above the level of the adjacent bottom, and the sides are so steep that there are few places where it can be ascended on horseback. The work contains by estimation fifteen acres, and occupies the whole width of the ridge; the wall, both on the Ohio and Miami sides, being as near as possible to the brink of the hill; from this circumstance, and from the ridge growing constantly narrower as you approach the Miami, the eastern wall or curtain is twice the length of that which forms the western defence of the fort, and the distance from the latter to the very point of the hill opposite to the junction of the rivers, an hundred and fifty feet. Inimediately upon the point is a tumulus, of about half the elevation of that in Cincinnati.* The two long walls immediately upon the brink are no where so high as those of the ends, their situation subjecting the earth of which they are made to be washed down the precipice. Indeed it is probable they never were so high, as, from the same cause, the approach to them was rendered very difficult. In one instance only, where it crosses a considerable ravine, the side-wall on the Ohio mounts' to the present height of the end-walls. Of the latter, that on the west is the highest, being at present perhaps fifteen fect-a precaution dictated, no doubt, by the ground over which it passes being more level than at any other place. The ridge is here, however, too narrow, and the hill on each side too steep, to make it the point at which an assault could be made, with the greatest prospect of success. It is moreover covered by an out-work; for such I deem the mound or tumulus abovementioned. The weakest point of the position is to be found on the eastern side, where the ridge, spreading out to a considerable extent, would allow a large army to approach and form near the work. It is here, therefore, that the ingenuity of the persons who constructed it has been most successfully exerted. There is at this place a considerable and irregular sink in the hill, which might afford cover to an offending enemy; but the line has been so run as to command every part of it. It appears also that the engineer was not unac

* The mound in Cincinnati is perhaps twenty feet high, S.

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