ose who survived, selected a place for residence, erected
fortifications, became a numerous people and extended their
settlements."[4]

Thus various and discordant are the conjectures respecting the manner
in which this continent was first peopled. Although some [25] of them
appear more rational and others, yet are they at best but hypothetical
disquisitions on a subject which will not now admit of certainty. All
agree that America was inhabited long anterior to its discovery by
Columbus, and by a race of human beings, who, however numerous they
once were, are fast hastening to extinction; some centuries hence and
they will be no more known. The few memorials, which the ravages of
time have suffered to remain of them, in those portions of the country
from which they have been long expelled; have destruction dealt them
by the ruthless hand of man. History may transmit to after ages, the
fact that they once were, and give their "local habitation and their
name." These will probably be received as the tales of fiction, and
posterity be at as much loss to determine, whether they ever had an
existence, as we now are to say from whence they sprang.

"I have stood upon Achilles' tomb
And heard Troy doubted. Time will doubt of Rome."

-----
[1] "If a learned man of Tobolski or Pekin were to read some
of our books, be might in this way demonstrate, that the French
are descended from the Trojans. The most ancient writings, he
might say, and those in most esteem in France, are romances:
these were written in a pure language, derived from the ancient
Romans, who were famous for never advancing a falsehood. Now
upwards of twenty of these authentic books, affirm that
Francis, the founder of the monarchy of the Franks, was son to
Hector. The name of Hector has ever since been preserved by
this nation; and even in the present century one of the
greatest generals was called Hector de Villars.

"The neighboring nations (he would continue,) are so
unanimous in acknowledging this truth, that Ariosto, one of
the most learned of the Italians, owns in his Orlando, that
Charlemagne's knights fought for Hector's helmet. Lastly,
there is one proof which admits of no reply; namely, that the
ancient Franks to perpetuate the memory of the Trojans, their
ancestors, built a new city called Troye, in the province of