14th century, when the Spanish navigators brought a confused account of their existence; they were not, however, fully explored till fifty years afterwards, when a Norman gentleman conquered most of them, and received the sovereignty of them from Henry 3d., king of Castile, on condition of perpetual homage to the crown of Castile. The aboriginal natives of the Canaries were called Guanches, and defended every mile of their islands against the invasion of the Spaniards with great intrepidity, till being overpowered by superior numbers and discipline, they were at last either exterminated or forced to submit to the ceremony of baptism. The few of them which remained from the massacres which had been committed amongst them, were not, however, able to be kept in that degree of civilization required by their conquerors; the Spanish colonists therefore applied subsequently to the mother country for the introduction of the Inquisition, which was immediately granted, and this horrible engine of state policy so completely effected the purposes of destruction, that not a single original inhabitant can now be found on any one of these fertile and salubrious islands.-The Madeira Is. lie farther out in the Atlantic, at a distance of 240 miles from the Northernmost of the Canaries, and about half as far again from Mogodor on the coast of Morocco. They belong to Portugal, and contain about 520 square miles, and 95,000 inhabitants, who are chiefly Europeans. The only important island is likewise called Madeira; it's chief town is Funchal.-The Azores or Western Islands are about 400 miles to the N. W. of Madeira, and nearly twice this distance from the mainland of Africa, as well as from C. St. Vincent, the S. W. extremity of Portugal, from which they lie in a direction due West. The principal islands are nine in number, viz. St. Maria, St. Michael, Terceira, Graciosa, St. George, Pico, Fayal, Flores, and Corvo : of these the most important one is Terceira, the capital of which is Angra, where the Portuguese governor resides. The Azores were unknown to the ancients, and though some description of them was given by the Arabian geographers of the middle ages, they were not visited by Europeans till about the middle of the 15th century, when they were discovered by a Flemish merchant who was driven by stress of weather upon their shores; this led to their being explored by the Portuguese, who have ever since kept possession of them. CHAPTER XXX. AMERICA. 1. America is thought by some to have been alluded to by ancient authors under the name of the Island Atlantis, which they pretend, derived it's name from Atlas, Neptune's eldest son, who succeeded his father in the government of it. The most distinct account of this celebrated country is to be met with in the Timæus and Critias of Plato. He describes it as a large island in the Exterior, or Atlantic Ocean, 30,000 stadia in length, and 2,000 in breadth; as lying opposite to the Strait of Gades and the coast of Ethiopia, as exceedingly fertile and productive, and abound. ing in metals and trees. He farther states that there was an easy passage out of this island into some others, which lay near a large continent, exceeding in dimensions all Asia and Libya. Neptune settled in Atlantis, and distributed it amongst his ten sons, to the youngest of whom he assigned one extremity of it, called Gadir, which in the language of the country was said to denote fertile, or abounding in sheep. The descendants of Neptune reigned over the country during a period of 9,000 years, the government passing down from father to son in the order of primogeniture: they likewise obtained possession of several other countries, and subdued all Europe as far as the borders of Asia Minor, and all Libya to the frontiers of Egypt. Their own immediate territory was a federative republic, established by a law which Neptune, it's founder, had promulgated, and himself engraved upon a column within the walls of their great temple. This republic was governed by ten Archons, who ruled over as many provinces, under the guidance of certain established customs, which invested them with the power of life and death over all their subjects. Assemblies were held alternately in each state every five years, in which all public affairs were subjected to deliberation; the offences of citizens were examined by the archons, and punishment pronounced according to the degree of their aggravation. At last, however, this island was submerged in the ocean by some terrible convulsion of nature, and nothing farther was ever heard either about it's inhabitants or their institutions: the sea, where it sunk, was rendered so muddy and so full of flats and shelves that it could not be navigated'. 2. The reality and local situation of the island of Atlantis have given occasion to many different opinions. Amongst those, who have advocated it's actual existence, some have imagined it referred to America, and others to certain lands, which once united Ireland to the Azores, and the latter to the mainland of the New World. Others, however, are of opinion that Atlantis is the same with the peninsula of Sweden and Norway, whilst some have not scrupled to place it even in more desolate regions, at Greenland, Iceland, Spitzbergen, or Nova Zembla. But it appears far more probable that it never had any existence except in the fanciful imaginations of the poets, or the conjectural speculations of calculating philosophers: the unnavigable sea, which rolled over it's demolished wreck, was known to have been frequently navigated, from the days of Pytheas and Hanno to those of the emperor Augustus, not only by the adventurous and unwearied traders of Carthage, but by many others in the employ, and under the dominion of Rome. The Atlantides Insulæ must not be confounded with it, for the minute descriptions of them, which have been handed down to us by some of the ancient historians, completely identify them with the Fortunate or Canary Islands. On the other hand, there seems no reason to suppose that such of the ancient philosophers as felt persuaded of the spherical figure of our Earth (and Plato was one of these3), should be induced to reflect on the little por tion of land with which they were acquainted, and to conclude that the whole of the vast surface which remained, was not covered with water. Plato has himself distinctly stated it as his opinion, that the Mediterranean Sea was only a little inlet of the vast Exterior Ocean; and his imaginary description of the great Atlantic Island and Continent, which he placed in it, may have originated in his own mind from a deep investigation of the matter, and a conviction that land would one day be found in that direction. It was the same opinion which, a few centuries since, was entertained by the thoughtful and enterprising Columbus so warmly and zealously, that it supported him through all the discouraging scenes of raillery, abuse, and persecu tion, which he had to undergo, and which at length so fortunately terminated in his discovery of the conjectural Island of Atlantis in the actual continent of America. But amongst all the ancient authors, who have alluded to the future discovery of a New World, none have predicted it more happily than Seneca, in the following passage from his Medea3: Venient annis Secula seris, quibus Oceanus 3. America, or The New World, may be regarded as an immense island, stretching nearly across the Western Hemisphere, in the same way that the three great continents of the Eastern Hemisphere, being connected together and surrounded by the ocean, likewise form one enormous island. It is The Island of Atlantis is spoken of and alluded to by many other writers amongst others by Aristotle, Meteor. II. 1; de Calo, II. 13: by Elian, V. Hist. Ill 17: by Strabo, II. p. 102: and by Pliny, II. 90; VI. 31. 2 Plutarch, vit. Sertor. 8. 9.-Sallust. Fragm. 489. 588.-Flor. III. 22Plin. VI. 36. 37. 3 Phædr. T. I. p. 108, 245; Timæus, IX. 356. 4 Timæus, T. IX. p. 296. • Act II. ad fin. washed on the E. by the Atlantic Ocean, on the S. by the Antarctic Ocean, on the W. by the Pacific Ocean, and on the N. by the Arctic Ocean: it is the second in size amongst the four great divisions of the Earth (being inferior only to Asia, and nearly five times as large as Europe), but it's population is surpassed by each of the other three. America was discovered, in the year 1492, by Christopher Columbus, a Genoese, who, at different times, made four voyages thither; but it has unjustly derived it's name from Amerigo Vespucci, a Florentine, who, having heard of the discoveries of Columbus, imbibed the desire of distinguishing himself by a similar pursuit, and first visited the New World in 1499. Two years prior to this, Sebastian Cabot, the son of a Venetian pilot, but an Englishman by birth, was despatched from Bristol, his native place, by king Henry 7th, and discovered the islands of Newfoundland and St. John, and sailed down the coast of the mainland as far as Florida. 4. Columbus having had considerable nautical experience, felt satisfied not only that there must be lands still farther to the Westward than those already explored, but that a shorter passage to the East Indies, at that time the great object of Portu guese navigation, might be found in steering in that direction than round the continent of Africa. When he had settled his plan for extending the boundaries of the know ledge of the Earth, he laid his scheme before the Senate of Genoa, and, making his own country, for which he bore a filial and sincere affection, the first tender of his services, offered to sail under the banners of that republic, in quest of new regions. Genoa rejected his offer; and Portugal, to whom he next applied, treated him with so much duplicity, that he went himself to Spain, whilst at the same time he sent his brother Bartholomew into England, to make the like proposals to both courts. By both, his schemes were at first slighted, till by the interposition of some zealous friends at the court of Spain, a change was effected in his favour, and a treaty signed with him, by which Ferdinand and Isabella, the sovereigns of Spain, appointed him their High Admiral in all the seas he should discover, and their viceroy in all the islands and continents. He accordingly set sail from Palos, a small sea-port town of Seville in Andalusia, his fleet consisting of only three small vessels, having on board but ninety men; and after surmounting the difficulties of a perilous and mutinous voyage, he discovered, on the 33d day from his departure, one of the Bahama islands, which he subsequently named San Salvador. He was the first European who set foot in the New World which he had discovered, and he took solemn possession of it for the crown of Castile and Leon, with all the formalities observed in the appropriation of new discoveries. From San Salvador Columbus proceeded in his investigations; he saw several islands, and touched on three of the largest : he likewise visited Cuba and Hispaniola. Wherever he went he enquired for gold, and having obtained a certain quantity of the precious metal, and made other arrangements, he took his departure homewards, accompanied by some of the natives, and arrived in the port of Palos, about seven months and a half from the time when he set out thence. Ferdinand and Isabella conferred upon him the highest honours which gratitude or admiration could suggest all his stipulated privileges were confirmed, his family was ennobled, and another armament was immediately fitted out for him. This consisted of 17 ships, and about 1,500 persons, of whom a large number were men of distinction, destined to settle in the newly discovered countries. 5. Columbus sailed from Cadiz on his second voyage to the New World, in the year 1493. He first reached the Caribbee Islands, and subsequently Hispaniola, where he built a small town, which he named Isabella, in honour of his royal patroness: he then proceeded in quest of new discoveries, but during a tedious voyage of five months, in which he endured every hardship, he only discovered the island of Jamaica. Shortly afterwards he was obliged to return to Spain in consequence of the numerous acrasacions which had been brought against his conduct by his enemies; he met their charges with the modest but determined confidence of a man, conscious not only of his own integrity, but of having performed many very eminent services for the state, in whose employment he had embarked. The dignity of his conduct silenced his enemies, and having recovered the good opinion of his sovereigns, they resolved to make every exertion to render the new colony a permanent and complete establishment, by sending out such reinforcements as Columbus thought necessary for the purpose. It was not, however, tili 1498 that he was enabled to proceed on his third voyage, during which he discovered the island of Trinidad and the great river Orinoce; be likewise touched upon various parts of the continent, without suspecting it, conceiving that they belonged to islands, which he had not leisure to explore. In the mean time, new complaints were secretly transmitted to court by his jealous enemies, against him, which ended in a separate commission of discovery being granted to Apconso d'Oeta; this commander was accompanied in his voyage by Amerigo Vespucci, the Forentiae, after whom the whole New World has since been named. Cacimbus was then recalled, and Francis de Bovadilla appointed in his stead. By his unworthy and insolent successor Columbus was thrown in chains, and treated with other logines, which have for ever disgraced the court that granted him so mach power. On his arrival in Spain, he was instantly set at liberty, and treated with that civility and kindness by the king and queen which he had formerly expe menced. Bovala was disgraced, and Columbis obtained permission, in 1502, to make his fourth and last voyage to his new continent. Here he found his jealous enemies, whose arance and oppression towards the natives he had always strivea to keep in check, still exercising against him every artifice of malice which disappointed ragine and revenge could suggest. Notwithstanding this, he pursued his voyage, and traced the coast of Darien, in hopes of discovering a strait, which he fondly imagined would open a new track to the East Indies. Although he was disappointed in has expectations, he was, nevertheless, so much delighted with the fertility and apparent wealth of the country, that he resolved to leave a small colony upon the R. Belem, in the province of Veragua, under the command of his brother, and to return to Spain to procure the means for readering the establishment permanent. After a tempestuous vovare, during which he met with the greatest calamities, he arrived at St. Lacar in Spain in the year 1504. Here, in addition to his other sufferings, he learned the death of his patroness Isabella, from whom alone he anticipated the redress of has wrongs: be applied, however, to the king, who amused him with promises, but wisa, instead of granting his claims, insulted him with the proposal of renouncing them ail for a pension. Disgusted with the ingratitude of a mouarch whom he had served with fidelity and success; exhausted with the calamities which he had endured; and broken with the infirmities which these brought upon him, Columbus breathed his last at Falladolid, a. D. 1506, in the 59th year of his age. He was buried in the cathedral at Seville; and on his tomb was engraved an epitaph, commemorating his discovery of a New World, which in justice ought to have been denominated Columbia, in order that the name might for ever excite the remembrance of a hero, who, in spite of every obstacle, succeeded in realizing a project, esteemed by his contemporaries as the chimera of a disordered imagination. 6. After the death of Columbus, the Indians of America were no longer treated with gentleness, for it was his defence of the property and lives of these harmless savages that had brought down upon his head such bitter hatred. The Spani, in order to effect the subjugation of the country, carried on a most barbarous systent of extermination: and not content with the ordinary and most bloody destruction of war, which their superiority in arms and tactics gave them over such rude people, they caused a great number of the Indians to be torn to pieces by large hounds, and a species of mastiffs or bull-dogs. They likewise occasioned the death of vast num bers more of these poor wretches in the mines, in the pearl-fisheries, and under the weight of burdens that could only be transported on men's shoulders, because threaga out the whole extent of the Eastern coast of the New World, no beast of burden of of draught was found. In short, they exercised innumerable cruelties on the race or chiefs, whom they suspected of having concealed any silver or gold: no dise whatever was observed in their small parties, composed mostly of thieves, 254 commanded by men who merited capital punishment for their crimes, and had mostly been taken from the dregs of the people. It is an indisputable fact, that it Almagra and Pizarro could neither read nor write. These two adventurers wert the head of 170 foot-soldiers, a number of bull-dogs, and a monk named La Valle Viridi, whom Almagro afterwards caused to be beaten to death with the but-end of muskets, in the island of Puna. Such was the army that marched against the Peruvians: as to that which went to the attack of the Mexicans, under the conduct of Cortez, it consisted of fifteen cavaliers, and 500 infantry at the utmost. The horrors committed by these 700 murderers are indescribable; and the hundreds of thousands of ignorant savages, whom they butchered for the sake of plunder, would exceed the bounds of all credibility, if it did not stand upon the pages of history recorded by their own countrymen. By such means they succeeded in subduing more than onethird of the New World under their dominion, but a retribution has at last overtaken them at this moment they do not possess a single foot of land in the whole continent of America, whilst their own territory in Europe, enervated by the vast wealth which it so easily drew from it's prolific colonies, has become one of the most unhappy and degraded countries in all Christendom. 7. The Isthmus of Darien, or Panama as it is also called, is not more than 25 miles broad in it's narrowest part; it divides America into two nearly equal portions, that which lies to the N. of it being commonly called North America, and that to the S. of it South America. The Northern part of America, extending between the two great oceans, and including more than one fifth part of the whole continent, belongs to the British, with the exception of a comparatively small portion at the Western extremity opposite to Asia, which belongs to the Russians, and is generally denominated Russian America. British America contains several subdivisions, as Upper and Lower Canada, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, New Britain, &c.: it's North Eastern part touches upon Greenland, which is the farthest part of the continent in this direction, and off which is the island of Iceland. The United States lie immediately South of British America, and below them again is Mexico, both of which countries likewise occupy the whole breadth of the continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Farther Southward are the little territory of Balleze, belonging to the British, and the republic of Guatimala, which occupies the narrowest part of the continent, and is the Southernmost state in North America. To the E. of Mexico and Guatimala, in the North Atlantic Ocean, there is a multitude of islands, some of which are very considerable in size, but others are of little consequence: all these islands are collectively distinguished by the appellation of The West Indies, or West India Islands, and belong mostly to European Powers. 8. The Northernmost State in South America is Colombia, which confines towards the North West with Guatimala: to the East of it lies Guyana, parcelled out into three divisions, belonging to the English, Dutch, and French. The whole Eastern part of South America forms one large empire, called the Empire of Brazil, and comprehends very nearly one half of the peninsula. To the W. of it, and to the S. of Colombia, are Peru and Upper Peru, or Bolivia as it is sometimes styled; |