EXPLORATION Of MEXICO.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 379, 23 July 1880, Page 7

EXPLORATION Of MEXICO.

M. De9ire Charnay, the French savant who is at the head of the scientific expedition party, airangcd by M. Pierre Lorillard for study of the remains of the ancient Mexican civilisation, has left New York for Mexico, to commence work. At Philadelphia he had an interview with the Mexican Minister, who, althouph he could give no definite promise, expressed a ho^e that no difficulties would be placed in the way of M. Charnay's»labours. M. Charnay desires to correct the false impresbion that he mears to carry off any of the original monuments from Mexico. He has no intention of doing tliis should the Mexican Government have any objection ; but he hopes to take impressions and mouldings of reliefs and historical inscriptions, to which there can be no objection. These reproductions, as well as numerous photographs, will form at Paris a special collection, under the Minister of Public Instruction, and which will receive the name of the Lorillard Museum. The expense of the expedition will be shared between the French Government and M. Loiillard. The campaign will last probably two, perhaps three years, of which one will be spent in Yucatan, where thereis much to do, and the remainder in various excursions to Oaxaca, Catapec, Palangua, &c. M. Charnay has already done exploiiug work in Mexico. In 1857 he visited Mexico and Central America, and took photographs of the temples, monuments and tombs of M ilia, Palenquc, Chicht-n-Itza, and many other inte-resting points, and on his return to France published an atlas along with a volume entitled, " Cites et Kuines Americainep." Mr. Thorelike Rice, the editor of the North American Iteview, at present in London, has negotiated with the French Government, on behalf of M. Lorillard, all the details nectssary to the execution of the project. The expense U expected to amount to 300,000f. The journal of the expedition will be published in the North American Review. M. Charnay himself, in a communication to the .Herald states that there are six provinces in which he proposes to search for traces of the unknown people who lived there long before the Aztec c , or even before the other races or tribes called Otomies, Cliechimecs, Olmeos, of which hitherto only the scantiest remains hare been found. He states that he will endeavour to bargain with the Mexican Government for a share of the remains that may be discovered, but that, at all events, exact models of all the objects will be prepared, both for the French Government and for XI. Lorillard, who has shown himself exceedingly generous in connection with the project. A detailed plan of the expedition, M. Charnay states., is to be shortly published ill France, Germany, England, and Ameiica — Times.

There is likely to be some trouble between England and the United States, unless the present English Cabinet should resolve to repudiate the acts of its predecessor in the matter of the Fortune Bay fishery question. The American Secietary of State has just published a report on the present state of this question, which may be briefly summarised. The United States fishermen having rights of fishing near Newfoundland, under the Treaty of Washington, f. .uud themselves impeded by the local legislative regulations of that colony and forcibly stopped on certain occasions. Mr. Evarts complained to Lord Salisbury, who replied that he could not override the local laws of Newfoundland. To this Mr. Evarts answered that the Washington Treaty with England was above Newfoundland law ; but Lord Salisbury rejoined that the Treaty must be understood to be qualified by the local laws existing at the time. Mr. Evarts does not accept this view. He recommends, in the first place, retaliation by the rciniposition of duties on the products of Canadian fisheries as they existed before the Washington Treaty ; and, secondly, an examination and audit of the pecuniary claims of the United States fishermen who allege themselves aggrieved, with a view to ultimate provision for their compensation being exacted from England. President Hayes, it may be added, has sent the Secretary's report to Congress, with a suggestion that that body should act upon its recommendation. — Nation. The names of visitors to the Benedictine Monastery of Mont i Cassino are written in Books that are carefully preserved by the Monks, and these volumes in time become historic curiotities. The archivist of the monastery is always proud to show the name of Cardinal Newman, in 1847, with a very beautiful Latin petition for the prayers of the Saints of Monte Cassino. Mr. Gladstone's name is entered in 1866, with the word " Floreat," and to his name is appended that of the Marquis of Lome. Kenan writes in it what it may be supposed he would not write now — Unum est nccessarium. Maria optimam partem elegit, &c. It is dated February, 1850. Dean Stanley's name occurs as having twice visited the abbey.