powerful was the passion for gold, that the first adventurers endured every fatigue, and encountered every danger, in search of it; and, by compelling the natives to dig in the mines, prematurely destroyed the lives of vast multitudes of this hapless race. It being the practice of the Europeans to take possession of the regions in America which they visited, by the pretended right of discovery, they seem to have made no account of the aboriginals, depriving them of liberty, or life, whenever occasion or passion demanded.

The Spanish acquisitions in America, before the late revolution among them, belonged to the crown, and not to the state: they were the absolute property of the sovereign, and regulated solely by his will. The pope, agreeably to principles which governed men in a dark and superstitious age, granted to the monarchs of Spain, the countries discovered by their subjects, in America. They were governed by viceroys, who exercised supreme civil and military au thority over their provinces.

Distinguished Characters in Period VIII.

...1. Columbus, an eminent navigator, and discoverer of America.

2. Raphael,
3. M. Angelo, S

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masters of painting among the moderns. 4. Erasmus, a Dutchman, eminent in philology and general literature.

5. Copernicus, a Prussian astronomer, and discoverer of the true system of the universe.

6. Luther, 7. Calvin,

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eminent theologians and reformers.

8. Camoens, a distinguished Portuguese poet. 9. Buchanan, a Scotch historian and poet. 10. Montaigne, a celebrated French essayist. 11. Tasso, prince of Italian poets.

12. Spenser, one of the greatest of the English poets.

§ Columbus (Christopher) was born 1442, at Genoa, son of a woolcomber. He was early inured to the labours of the sea, and acquired great experience in navigation. With the sciences immediately connected with his profession, he was acquainted, beyond most men of his age. Indeed, this great man was far in advance of the rest of the world, and anticipated the illumination of a distant futurity. For the splendid discovery which he was destined to make, his temperament and his previous course of life, eminently fitted him. There was an enthusiasm in his character, a lofty expectation, and a religious fervour of soul, which spurned ordinary difficulties, and raised him immensely above ordinary men. By his Knowledge of maritime affairs, as well as by reasoning, he became

persuaded that a continent must exist in the western ocean. To ascertain the truth of his theory, was an object which soon engross ed all his time and faculties. And, after much effort and many trials and disappointments, in regard to assistance, he was permitted to realize the grand idea he had so happily conceived.

He made application to several courts, before he could obtain the requisite means and patronage, and it was only after much delay, that he was finally enabled to prosecute his discoveries under the auspices of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain. He sailed on the third of August, 1492, in three small ships, and returned to Spain in May the following year. In the mean time he had discovered a new world, and had taken possession of a portion of it, in the name of his sovereign. This event filled Spain, and all Europe, with amazement, and the greatest honours were accorded to him in the country, whose annals he has so signally adorned. He made three subsequent voyages to the new world, in the second of which he reached the continent; but powerful enemies had now risen up, jealous of his ascendency, who impugned his motives or decried his services, and so much influence had they with the Spanish court, that Columbus, in his third voyage was sent back to Spain in irons. Though he suffered much in the latter part of life, he finally triumphed over his enemies, and peacefully left the world, on the twentieth of May, 1506.

The memory of Columbus will be cherished while the world stands; though in consequence of one of those untoward events that sometimes occur, he has been deprived of the honour of giving his name to the hemisphere which his genius brought to light. Signal must have been the satisfaction of his mind, notwithstanding the disasters through which he passed, in view of the transcendent benefits which Providence had made him the instrument of conferring on mankind.

2. Raphael (Sanzio) was born at Urbino, 1483. By studying the best masters in painting, he soon rose to eminence, and merited the appellation of the divine Raphael. He also excelled as an architect, and was employed in the building of St. Peter's, at Rome. He came to an untimely grave, in consequence of his addiction to licentious pleasures, dying at the age of thirty-seven years. By the general consent of mankind, he is acknowledged to have been the prince of painters. He excelled in beauty and grace.

3. Angelo Buonaroti (Michael) was not only a great painter, but sculptor, and architect. He was even an elegant poet. In architecture he surpassed all the moderns, and he was the greatest designer that ever lived. He is said to have sucked sculpture with his very milk, inasmuch as he was nursed by a woman whose husband was eminent in that art. The early displays of his genius, raised so great a jealousy among his youthful rivals, that one of them struck him with such violence on the nose, that he carried the mark to his grave. The most celebrated of his paintings, is the Last Judgment. His architectural abilities are best displayed on the church of SL

Peter's, at Rome, the building of which he completed. His style is that of grandeur and sublimity, united with the utmost simplicity and beauty. Sir Joshua Reynolds declared, that the last word which he wished to utter from the academic chair, was the name of Michael Angelo. Description can convey but a very imperfect image of "Buonaroti's car

Midst epic glories flaming from afar."

Only the sight can give one an idea of his peculiar excellence. He lived ninety years.

4. Erasmus (Desiderius) was the most learned man of the age in which he lived, and contributed by his example and writings, to the restoration of learning in Europe. He was somewhat of a wanderer, having occasionally resided in Italy, Switzerland, Holland, France, and England. With the last of these countries he was best pleased, and there he met with the greatest encouragement from Henry VII., Sir Thomas More, and all the learned Englishmen of those days. He was the most correct and elegant Latin writer among the moderns. Rotterdam, is to this day proud of having given birth to Erasmus. The house in which he was born is still marked out to the admiration of the traveller by a suitable inscription, and a beautiful copper statue was long since erected to his memory in an open part of the city.

In the great question of Protestantism and Popery, he was claimed on both sides, though neither party was pleased with him. Here is a dark spot on his character. He was evidently temporising, timid, and undecided. He lashed the vices and follies of the Papists, while he seemed to be indifferent to the success, or jealous of the labours of the reformers. He died at Basil, July 12, 1536, aged sixty-nine.

5. Copernicus (Nicholas) was a native of Thorne in Prussia. In nis twenty-third year he went to Italy in search of knowledge. After some years' absence, and having in the mean time acted as professor of mathematics at Rome, he returned home. Here he began to apply his vast knowledge, to an examination of the different theories respecting the universe. The simplicity of the Pythagorean system pleased him best; and after twenty years of profound investigation, he removed from the machine of the universe, the cycles and epicycles of former astronomers, and placed the sun in the centre to illuminate and control the whole. This great discovery he kept concealed for more than thirty years, for fear of exciting against himself the persecuting spirit of bigotry. When at last he consented, through the importunities of his friends, to have his work published, and a copy of it was brought to him, he was a few hours afterwards seized with a violent effusion of blood, which terminated his life, 24th May, 1543, in his seventieth year.

6. Luther (Martin) was born at Isleben, in Saxony, 1483. His parents designed him for a civilian, but by the following awful incident, his views were directed to the church. As he was walking in the fields with a fellow-student, they were struck by lightning,

Luther to the ground, and his companion dead by his side. His mind was so much affected by the event, that without consulting his friends, he formed and executed the resolution of retiring from the world. He entered into the order of Augustine hermits, at Erfurth. From this place he removed to Wittemberg, being ap pointed by the elector of Saxony, professor of theology and philosophy in the university just founded there by that prince. It was m his retirement at Erfurth, that he providentially found a Latin Bible, the first he ever saw, and in perusing it he was astonished at the little knowledge of Scripture and Christianity, which the clergy then imparted to the people.

After he had been at Wittemberg three years, he was sent to Rome to plead the cause of some converts of his order, who had quarrelled with their vicar-general. While he was at the seat of the papal power, he became more than ever convinced of the ignorance and debauched lives of the dignitaries of the church. This probably gave him the first decided disgust to the Romish ecclesiastical government, especially as he had engaged in the monastic life, from motives of genuine piety. Upon his return to Wittemberg, he was created D. D. at the request of the elector of Saxony, and continued to act as professor of divinity in the university. Here he explained, with clearness and ease, the Psalms and the Epistle to the Romans, and supported his reputation by the most rigid morality, and the most exemplary conduct.

The minds of his auditors being thus prepared, a favourapie occasion soon offered for carrying into execution his glorious plan of reformation. The completion of St. Peter's church, at Rome, at this time, required extraordinary sums, and pope Leo X. published, in 1517, general indulgences for the forgiveness of sin, to such as would contribute to the pious work. The Dominicans were intrusted with the selling of these indulgences in Germany; and in paying their money, the friar Tetzel informed the superstitious people, that they might release themselves, not only from past, but also future sins. Luther's holy indignation was roused by these vile practices, and he preached against them, with wonderful success. Persecution soon followed, and the reformer became the object of the papal vengeance. Luther, however, was undismayed, and, in an astonishing *cries of efforts, in which he was opposed by all the power and policy of the papal world, he achieved the object of his long cherished wishes.

In 1524, Luther threw aside the monastic habit, and the next year married a nun, who had escaped from a convent, and, though he was ridiculed and censured by his enemies, he confounded them all by his appeal to the Scriptures. By her, he had three sons, whose descendants are still respected in Germany. Luther died in the place of his nativity, 18th February, 1546.

Luther was singularly qualified for the service he performed. He was a man of high endowments of mind, and great uprightness-a friend of true religion, liberty, and human happiness. His under

standing was vast, and his knowledge unequalled, almost, in the age in which he lived. Especially had he an admirable acquaintance with the Scriptures, which he expounded with equal eloquence and clearness. In courage, resolution, and decision, he was an example to all reformers.

7. Calvin, (John,) a coadjutor of Luther in the reformation, was born at Noyon, in Picardy, 10th July, 1509. His early piety marked him out for the church; but though he assumed the functions of the ministry, he was too much disgusted with the superstitions of the Romish church, to remain in her communion. His knowledge of the Bible had opened his eyes to the abominations of the man of sin." He now applied himself to the study of the laws, in which he made great progress; at the same time, he extended his acquaintance with divinity. He soon entered most cordially into the reformation; and his zeal and labour as a writer and disputant, very essentially aided the work. With difficulty, however, he escaped from the vengeance of the catholics; but his confidence in God was not to be shaken, and having taken his position, he felt that it was to be maintained. He spent most of his active life at Geneva, where he undertook the ministry, and filled the chair of the professor of divinity. He was, however, once expelled the place on account of refusing to administer the sacrament indiscriminately, and again experienced trouble in the affair of Servetus.

Calvin, by his vast abilities, and by his clear views of religion, attracted the attention of the world, and it might almost be said, that "the care of all the churches" rested on him. Many of the reformed churches of Germany, France, England, and Poland, looked to him as their head, and he was in the habit of directing them by his letters. He died, 1564.

Calvin was a man of pre-eminent piety and talents, and, though not faultless, he has rendered such a service to the cause of evangelical truth, and of the reformation, as to deserve the gratitude of posterity. Scaliger says, that no commentator has better hit the sense of the prophets than he.

8. Camoens (Lewis) is known principally as the author of the Lusiad, an epic poem, which has been translated into the most important languages of Europe. Camoens is deservedly called the Virgil of his country, and in his work has displayed great powers of description, extensive learning, and a sublime imagination.

Misfortune marked his course in life. In the service of his country, he lost an eye. On his return from the Indies, whither he had gone to better his fortune, he was shipwrecked, and saved his life with difficulty, by swimming with his right arm, and holding up his poem, with his left.

After he had published his poem, and dedicated it to the king, he was cruelly disappointed, as to patronage; and feeling all the miseFies of indigence and neglect, he expired in the midst of his ungrateful countrymen. He lived fifty-two years.

9. Buchanan (George) was born in the shire of Lenox, in Scot