are subject to our observation: and thus would be destroyed the hypothesis of the Præ-Adamites, which is built upon arguments as absurd in themselves, as they are incompatible with the sacred truths of revealed religion.

If we observe the disposition of the numerous small islands lying between China and New Guinea, almost contiguous to each other, there are some grounds for the supposition that they were not always islands; and a convulsion, which could rend asunder such a portion of the earth, might as easily have effaced those communications with America, which had then fulfilled the designs of Providence by affording a passage to the Ark's contents. The alteration of climate, the fortuitous mixture of breed, and the peculiarities of their exotic association, would produce, in the same genera, those infinite varieties of species, which are now esteemed peculiar to the regions of America. Similar variations were, long ago, observed in Africa; arising from the promiscuous meeting of the different animals which, in its arid deserts, took place at the partial waters. The circumstance was observed by Aristotle, and gave rise to the proverb, Semper aliquid novi Africa affert.

The Spaniards, who stocked America with European animals, found that they increased with amazing rapidity, and were soon spread from the islands throughout the neighbouring continent. Benzo observes, "Ibidem omne genus quadrupedum, pecu

dumque ex Hispaniâ transvectum ad propagandam stirpem, magno proventu sobolescit: et Hispani nonnulli sex octóve millia animalium in pecuariis atque armentis possident." This was as early as the beginning of the sixteenth century; and the fact proves how soon exotic animals became assimilated to a genial climate.

From all that has been said, and from much more that might be deduced from analogy, and confirmed by experience, we may confidently refer the population of the new world to the early ages of the old; to a people who, although they might be ignorant of what semi-barbaric societies are now familiar with, knew what might put the most civilised nations to the blush. It is impossible to form any accurate ideas of the state of society in ages before the invention of letters, and so far removed beyond all tradition. If we receive the most moderate account of the first empires, according to the precise terms of description which are now familiar to us, we grossly exaggerate the picture: if, on the other hand, we deny all arts to men who were ignorant of those which now seem to be the springs of civilisation, we equally misrepresent the truth.

Mighty are the changes which, in little more than three hundred years, have been effected in the fourth vast quarter of the earth; and the mind is lost in contemplating what may probably happen there in future ages. Freedom has been proclaimed; independence has been established there; and, as the

first steps to civilisation were originally made on the banks of the Euphrates, the Tigris, and the Persian Gulph, where the ruins of Nineveh, Babylon, and Susa attest the early sway of mighty empires, Columbia, in the spirit of her own institution, may one day send back her genius to kindle up the light of liberty in Asia, and to break the rayless night of despotism which now broods over that entire quarter of the globe. It is what she owes to the sacred cause of liberty, by which she has herself been exalted: it is but a reasonable tax upon the birth-right which she has thence received.

May we not trace some obscure glances cast at America from the Mount of Vision? as if it were from a consciousness of the future relationship between that undiscovered land, and Asia. David says, "If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost part of the west." Thus Malachi : "From the rising of the sun, even unto the going down of the same, my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering." And since the Hebrews gave the name of islands to all countries beyond the sea, perhaps the words of Isaiah may be applied: Surely the isles shall wait for me." Again, in the last chapter of the same Prophet: "I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory. And I will set a sign among them, and will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud,

that draw the bow; to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off; that have not heard my fame, neither have they seen my glory: and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles."

Let America, then, from her western hills, reflect back the morning light which she received from Asia; and thus explain why the eyes of eastern seers came, before Columbus, to these distant lands.

CHAPTER III.

THE INDIANS.

THE testimony of all early navigators corroborates the opinion of Columbus, that the natives found upon the islands of Jamaica, Cuba, Hispaniola, Porto Rico, and, according to Las Casas, upon Trinidad also, were scions from the same root; differing materially from the inhabitants of those windward and smaller islands which prolong the great chain of the Antilles to the Southern Continent. The Mexican empire was probably the officina gentium;—its territories, in a teeming climate, where man was but a weed, would soon swarm with human life, and naturally seek to disburthen themselves upon those adjacent islands which offered the tempting lure of peace and fertility. Yucatan and Florida would present the nearest points from which to embark; and a navigation neither long nor difficult would disperse the settlers throughout the greater Antilles, where they would keep up their intercourse with each other, and with the parent stock upon the main.

Columbus, when he discovered Cuba, found, in one of its villages, a mass of bees' wax, which he carried with him to Spain as a curiosity; for he could discover no trace of that substance in any other part of the island; and he afterwards had reason to believe