Section 845

" As you pass on the mail-road from Palmyra, Wayne County, to Cauandaigua, Ontario Clounly, Xew York.'bc- fore arriving at tlie little village of Muucliestei-, about four miles n-om Palmyra, you pass a large hill on the east side of the road. Why I say large is because it is as large, perhaps, as any in that country. The north end rises quite suddenly until it assumes a level with the more southerly extremity, and I think I may say an elevation higher than at the south a short distance, say half or three fourths of a mile. As you pass towards Cau- andaigua it lessens gradually, until the surface assumes its common level, or is broken by other smaller hills or ridges, watercourses, and ravines. I think I am justilied in saying that this is the highest hill for some distance around, and I am certain that its appearance, as it rises 60 suddenly from a plain on the north, must attract the notice of the traveller as he passes by. Tlie north end (wliich has been described as rising suddenly from tlic plain) forms a promontory, without tinilicr, but covered with grass. As you pass to the south you soon come to Bcatteriiig timber, the surface having been cleared by art or wind ; and a short distance farther left yon are snr- rounded with the common forest of the country. It is necessary to observe that even the iiart cleared was only occupied for pasturage, its steep ascent and narrow sum- mit not admitting the plough of the husbandman with any degree of ease or profit. It was at the second-men- tioned place where the reccn-d was found to be deposited, on the west side of the hill, not far from the toji, down iis side; and when myself visited the place in the year ]s:i(i there were several trees standing— enough to cause a shade in summer, but not so much as to prevent the surface be- ing covered with grass, which was also the case wlien the record was first found. How far below the surface these records were anciently placed I am unable to say; but from the fact that they had been some fourteen hundred years buried, and that, too, on the side of a hill so steep, cue is ready to conclude that they were some feet below, as the earth would naturally wear, more or less, in that length of time. But being placed towards the top of the hill, the ground would not remove as much as at two thirds, perhaps. Another circumstance would prevent a wearing of the eanh: in all probability, as soon as timber had time to grow the hill was covered, and the roi-ts ol' the same would hold the surface. However, on this point I Shall leave every man to draw his own conclusion and form his own speculation ; but, suffice to saj', a hole of sufficient depth was dug. At the bottom of this was laid a stone of suitable size, the upper surface being smooth. At each edge was placed a large quantity of cement, and into this cement, at the four edges of this stone, were placed erect four others, their bottom edges resting in the cement, at the outer edges of the first stoiie. The four last named, when placed erect, formed a box ; the corners, or wliere the edges of the four came in contact, were also cemented so firmly that the moisture from without was | prevented from entering. It is to be observed, also, that | the inner surfaces of the four erect or side stones were smooth. This box was sufficiently large to admit a breast- plate, such as was used by the ancients to defend the che<t, ' etc., from the arrows and weapons of their eueray. FrDui the bottom of the box, or from the breastplate, arose time small pillars, composed of the same description of cenieni nsed on the edges, and upon these three jiillars wore placed the records. This boxcoiitainiii- the mmmiiN wasovered with another stone, the boiidiu sm Tare h.-mi.' Hat, and the upper crowning. When it \va- lirst vi-iied hv .Mr. .Smilli, on the morning of the •-'■Jd nf Seiiieinliei-, lsj;i,'a part (d'llie crowning stone was vi-iMe al)ove the siula'ce, while the edges were concealed l)y ihe v,,ii and u'lass: from whicdi circumstance it may he seen that however deep this box mii,'lit have been i)lacea at lirst, the time had been sulli- , cieiit to wear the earth, so that it was easily discovered I when once directed, and yet not enousih to make a per- I ceivable diffeience to the p i-«.M-bv. Afier arriving; at the repository, a little exerii-n n. i- m .in- the soil tVom the edges of the top of tln' li \, mi , -ht lever, brou'.'ht to his natural vision its (unieni- \\ ini,. \ie\vinK and con- templating this sacred tivasiiie uiih wonder and aston- ishment, behold : the angel of the Lord, who had i)revi(>ns- ly visited him, again stood in his prese was iigain enlightened as it was the ev( he was tilled with tlie Holy Spirit, and I oi)ened, and the l,'1oiv (pflh'e Lord shone niiind ab.iut and rested ipoi, him. While be thus Ktond -a/in,' and adtnir- in-_', th(! Miit;el said, 'Look '.' and as he i litis spake he be- held the Prince of Darkness, surrounded by his inuuraer-