in its place a copy in plaster, made by a
skilful Yucatan artist.

The Director of the Museo Yucateco,
JUAN PEON CONTRERAS.

MERIDA, 1877.

NOTE. The unexpected arrival and early return to Vera Cruz of the
national war steamer Libertad, which conducted the recovered statue
to the Department of State, gave no time in which a copy of it
could be taken in this capital, the Government of the State
reserving the right to ask of the President of the Republic, who
resides in Mexico, to send such a copy to the Museo Yucateco, as a
just compensation.

PEON CONTRERAS.

_April_ 6, 1877.

After the defeat of Dr. Le Plongeon's cherished hopes of exhibiting his
statue at Philadelphia, this traveller passed his time in investigations
among the islands of the east coast of the Peninsula, particularly those
of Mugeres and Cozumel. His observations there--as well as much
additional information regarding the architecture of Chichen-Itza and
Uxmal, and his deductions therefrom--are contained in a communication to
the Minister of the United States at Mexico, and are here given in
abstract, as throwing light upon the discoveries that have been made,
and the inferences which have been drawn from them.

This appeal contains a statement of the wrongs suffered by Dr. Le
Plongeon in being prevented from removing his statue and other
discoveries from the country; and also a demand for redress and
compensation, as an American citizen, for the seizure and appropriation,
in the first instance by the government of Yucatan, and afterwards by
the supreme government at Mexico, of the work of art which he had
brought to light. This statement, with the correspondence which
accompanies it, is intended also to be offered to the consideration of
the President of the United States for such action as may be considered
proper in the premises.

The extracts made are those only which relate to the investigations of
Dr. Le Plongeon in the course of his travels; for although great
sympathy is due him for his misfortunes and disappointments, a legal
statement of his wrongs cannot be discussed in this paper.

EXTRACTS FROM A COMMUNICATION OF DR. LE PLONGEON TO THE HONORABLE
JOHN W. FOSTER, MINISTER OF THE UNITED STATES AT MEXICO, DATED
ISLAND OF COZUMEL, MAY 1, 1877.

Chichen-Itza is situated in the territories occupied by subjects of
Don Crecencio Poot, Chief of