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MANUSCRIPT STORY
Introduction
Near the west Bank of the Coneaught River there are the remains of an ancient fort. As I was walking and forming various conjectures respecting the character situation and numbers of those people who far exceeded the present race of Indians in works of art & ingenuety I happened to tread on a flat stone. This was at a small distance from the fort & it lay on the top of a small mound of Earth exactly horizontal. The face of it had a singular appearance I discovered a number of characters which appeared to me to be letters -- but so much effaced by the ravages of time, that I could not read the inscription. With the assistance of a lever I raised the stone. But you may easily conjecture my astonishment when I discovered that its ends and sides rested on stones & that it was designed as a cover to an artificial cave. I found on examining that its Sides were lined with * * * built in a conical form with * * * down & that it was about eight feet deep. Determined to investigate the design of this extraordinary work of antiquity, I prepared myself with necessary requisites for that purpose and descended to the bottom of the cave. Observing one side to be perpendicular nearly three feet from the bottom, I began to inspect that part with accuracy. Here I noticed a big flat stone fixed in the form of a door. I immediately tore it down & lo a cavity within the wall presented itself -- it being about three feet in diameter from side to side and about two feet high. Within this cavity I found an earthen box with a cover which shut it perfectly tight . The Box was two feet in length one & half in breadth & one and three inches in diameter. My mind filled with awful sensations which crowded fast upon me would hardly permit my hands to remove this venerable deposit but curiosity soon gained the ascendancy & the box was taken & raised to open * * * When I had removed the cover I found that it contained twenty eight sheets of parchment. & that when * * * * * * appeared to be manuscripts written in an elegant hand with Roman Letters & in the Latin Language.
They were written on a variety of subjects. But the roll which principally attracted my attention contained a history of the authors life & that part of America which extends along the great Lakes & the waters of the Mississippi.
Extracts of the most interesting and important matters contained in this roll I take the liberty to publish -- --
[Gentle Reader tread lightly on the ashes of the venerable dead. Thou must know that this country was once inhabited by great & powerful nations considerably civilized & skilled in the arts of war, and that on ground where thou now treadest many [an hard fought] a bloody battle hath been fought -- & heroes by the thousand [have been] made to bite the dust.
In the history given of these nations by my author you will find nothing but what will correspond with the natural sentiments we should form on viewing the innumerable remains of antiquity which are scattered over an extensive country. This is an evidence of the authors impartiality and veracity. But if any should pretend that the whole story is fictitious or fabulous.]
To publish a translation of every particular circumstance mentioned by our author would produce a volume too expensive for the general class of readers. But should this attempt to throw off the veil which has secluded our view from the transactions of nations who, for ages have been extinct, meet the approbation of the public, I shall then be happy to gratify the more inquisitive & learned part of my readers by a more minute publication. Apprehensive that sceptical, illiberal or superstitious minds may censure this performance with great acrimony I have only to remark that they will be deprived of a great fund of entertainment which those of a contrary disposition will obtain. My compassion will be excited more than my resentment and there the contest will end.
Now Gentle Reader the Translator who wishes well to thy present & thy future existence entreats the to peruse this volume with a clear head a pure heart & a candid mind. If thou shalt that thy head & thy heart are both improved it will afford him more satisfaction than the approbation of ten thousand who have received no benefit.
[And now permit me to admonish thee that if thou shouldst reside in or travel thorough any part of the country]
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