success, until Ferdinand of Spain, through the | was present, possessing more impudence than wit, urgent solicitations of his queen, Isabella, granted and jealous of Columbus because he was a forColumbus the requisite means. On the third of eigner and so highly honored by his master, abAugust, 1492, he sailed from Palos with three ruptly asked him whether he thought that in case small ships, and with a confident enthusiasm turn- he had not discovered the Indies, there were not ed his prow westward in search of lands un-other men who would have been capable of the known. enterprise? Columbus, looking with proper conHe first touched at the Canaries, where he re- tempt upon the fellow, deigned no reply, but tafitted his crazy ships, and, with provisions for only king an egg, invited the company to make it stand twelve months, steered from thence a due west upon one end. All attempted it, but in vain, course. He had no chart for a guide, and he whereupon he struck it upon the table so as to found that the needle of his compass varied. This break the end, and left it standing upon the browas discovered when he was about two hundred ken part. This, in the most simple manner, illusleagues west of the Canaries, and so terrified were trated the fact, that when he had once shown the his men at the phenomenon, that it required all his way to the New World, it was a very easy thing address and talent to prevent mutiny. But he to follow. The rebuke was felt, and the courtier succeeded in quelling their disquietude, for the held his peace. "This anecdote," says Irving, present, but after an absence of a month from the "rests on the authority of the Italian historian Canaries, both officers and men revolted. Colum- Benzoni. It has been condemned as trivial, but bus was obliged to yield in a measure, and prom-the simplicity of the reproof constituted its seised them that if land did not appear within three verity, and was characteristic of the practical sadays he would turn his vessel homeward. But gacity of Columbus. The universal popularity ere the time had expired land appeared. Colum- of the anecdote is a proof of its merit." bus was the first who saw it, and when all beheld the joyful sight, their insolence was changed to sincere repentance. As they neared the shore, and felt the warm land-breeze redolent with the perfume of fruit and flower, a hymn of adoration arose from that solitary flotilla, and the great navigator poured out his earnest thanksgivings to God who gave him such a signal triumph. Columbus made two other voyages to America, and, in the latter (1498) discovered the continent, at the mouth of the Oronoke. Other adventurers, dazzled by his fame, followed in his track, and among them was Americus Vespucius, after whose name this country is wrongly called. Besides these adventurers, other powerful enemies arose, jealous of the fame of Columbus, and decried his services, and impugned his motives. So much influence had they with the Spanish court, that in his third voyage, and soon after he discovered the continent, he was sent back to Spain San Salvador, one of the Bahama islands, was the one first discovered, and after touching at Cuba, St. Domingo, and Hispaniola, (on one of which he left a small colony of men,) he turned his vessels homeward. In the May following, in irons. For a time the tide of fortune set less than a year from the time he sailed from Spain, Columbus reached Europe, his efforts crowned with complete success, and bearing the joyful intelligence of the discovery of a new world where nature was revealed in all the glory of her pristine beauty. All Europe was filled with amazement at the announcement, and the son of the poor wool-comber of Genoa was laden with every honor that power could bestow. His patroness, Isabella, received him with open arms; the very courts that denied him aid, solicited his presence, and at the tables of the noblest he became an honored guest. strongly against him, but, conscious of his good deeds, the value of his labors, and the purity of his motives, this great and good man bore all of his adversities like a true philosopher as he was. But he lived to triumph over his cowardly enemies, and when, in 1506, he peacefully descended into the tomb, the voice of calumny was silent, and powerful friends had arisen, ready to add fresh laurels to his wreath of fame. NOBODY. Among many others of the grandees of Spain, EVERY one's experience must have convinced Pedro Gonzales de Mendoza, the Grand Cardinal him that there is no such arrant rascal in existof Spain, invited Columbus to a banquet. He gave ence as nobody. The fellow is never easy but him the most honorable place at table, and, not- when in mischief. Is the street-door left on the withstanding etiquette to its fullest extent was jar at midnight, a plate-chest ransacked, a jewelat that time punctiliously observed, he served box stolen or mislaid, a window broken, an orhim with ceremonies which were observed to-chard robbed, or a slander spread abroad, ten to ward sovereigns. It was at that banquet that the anecdote of the egg is said to have occurred, which scene is graphically delineated in the frontispiece to the present number. A courtier whol one Nobody is the guilty party. Of all the offenhalf at least are committed by this incorrigible ces that are daily committed against society, one Blackwood's Mag. scamp. "Their knapsacks spread, arms and ammunition had been cleaned and in- on the top of a hill. The British were received with two or three warm rounds by the Delawares, who, as their ground, became untenable, withdrew to a wood on Lord Stirling's left, where they formed. The assailants, now in sight, proved to be two brigades, of four regiments each, under the command of General Grant. They proceeded to occupy the elevation opposite Lord Stirling, at a distance of three hundred yards. Their light troops came one hundred and fifty yards nearer, with a view to gain possession of a superior eminence on his left. As they marched up this hill, they were met by the deadly fire of Kichline's rifle corps, who had just reached the ground in time to protect this important point, and who, as I was recently informed by an old man, then and yet living near the spot, mowed them down as fast as they appeared. The Americans brought up two field-pieces to oppose the ten of their opponents. A sharp cannonade ensued, and was vigorously sustained on both sides, to a late hour; until when, let us shift the scene. While the Americans were occupied, as we have seen, on the previous evening, there was, toward dusk, an unusual stir among the troops in the British right wing. The regiments already at Flatlands, under Earl Percy, were joined at nightfall by those under Lord Cornwallis and General Clinton, who left the Hessians masters at Flatbush. The dark forms of the tall soldiery, the play of their muskets in the moonlight, the whispered order and firm tread of discipline, all announced some sudden or adventurous movement. One by one, the companies filed off in the direction of New-Lots, and before night was far advanced, Flatlands was deserted. As they moved farther and farther away from the American lines, the furrows became relaxed on the brows of the British commanders, and toward daybreak, half a triumph already gleamed in the eye of Clinton who led the van. At half past two o'clock, passing clouds obscured the harvest moon; the night waxed gloomy, and the air chill. Suddenly, a sharp report of musketry, in the direction of Yellow Hook, alarmed the American camp. It was a startling sound, in the stillness of the morning, and the troops sprang to their arms, as the reveillé summoned each man to his duty. Many a brave lad awoke from dreams of peaceful home, of the fatherhouse, and its loved inmates, where, in presence of the glad crops, the warlike sounds that lulled him to sleep seemed but as dream-notes, and the Shortly after daylight, the Hessians at Flatdanger he anticipated one that was passed. He bush opened a moderate cannonade upon Genehad obeyed the watchword of liberty, which call- ral Sullivan, who, with a strong detachment, had ed him to the hardships of war; but his heart told advanced on the direct road from Brooklyn thithhim life was sweet, and his cottage-home a para-er, and now occupied the breastworks thrown up dise. The drum rattled in his ear, and aroused him to the stern reality he feared not, courted not. by General Greene, for the defence of this important pass. Colonels Miles and Williams were strongly posted on the Bedford road. At half past eight, Count Donop was detached to attack the hill, by General De Heister, who soon followed with the centre of the army. Ere the alarm ceased beating, the men had seized their muskets. Word had been passed from the remote picquets on the coast, that the enemy were approaching. Lord Stirling was in- With levelled pieces and eyes fixed on the enstantly directed by General Putnam to march emy, the Americans stood firm on their vantage with the two nearest regiments to their rencoun- ground, nerved for the assault, and prepared to ter. These proved to be the Pennsylvania and enact a second drama of Bunker's Hill. From Maryland troops, under Colonels Haslet and Small- behind breastwork and tree, soldier and rifleman wood; with whom, proceeding over the uneven looked down upon the ascending foe, with a feelground in the direction of the attack, he found ing of conscious security; when lo! a report of himself on the road to the Narrows, toward day- artillery, in the rear of their left, flew with its own break, and soon met Colonel Atlee with his Del-velocity along the line. A second volley revealaware regiment, retiring before the British, with ed to them, with fearful truth, that the enemy had the picquets to whose aid they had advanced. turned their left flank, and placed them between Stationing this officer on the left of the road by two fires. Horror, dismay, confusion, ensued! which the enemy were approaching, Lord Stirling The advancing Hessians were no longer faced by formed his two regiments along an advantageous the whole band stationed to oppose them; and ridge, ascending from the road to a piece of wood vain the efforts of General Sullivan to rally the dispersing continentals, who hastened to regain the camp, while there yet was time. It was, alas, too late! As regiment after regiment emerged from the wood, they encountered the bayonets of the British, and all retreat was cut off. Driven back into the forest, after desperate efforts to cleave their way through the close ranks of the enemy, they were met by the Hessians, a part of whom were at the same time detached toward Bedford, in which quarter the cannon of Clinton announced that he also was attacking the American rear. The British pushed their line beyond the Flatbush road, and when our brave troops found their only outlet was through the enemy, skirmish after skirmish ensued, in which they displayed signal bravery. Many forced their way through the camp, some escaped into the woods, and many were slain. Colonel Parry was shot through the head, while encouraging his men. six several times to the charge, and nearly dislodging the British commander, who, but for the arrival of large reinforcements, would have been driven from his station. This band of four hundred, composed, say the British accounts, of youths, the flower of the best families in Maryland, sustained severe loss. But the object was attained, and the regiments, whose retreat it was designed to favour, effected their escape over marsh and creek, with the loss of a single man drowned. In his official report, Lord Howe speaks of numbers who perished in crossing the inlet. But this, I am convinced, is incorrect. The selfdevoted heroes of this exploit were surrounded, and made prisoners of war. We may readily conceive with what feelings their brethren in the camp beheld the undeserved ill fortune of the troops engaged in the action. General Putnam, a warrior of the true stamp, conI leave the reader to imagine the disastrous strained to remain within the fortifications, and consequences of this surprise to the Americans, so little prepared for the events of the day, as to when, hemmed in by the surpassing numbers, and be only able, where the enemy appeared, to deco-operating wings of the British, they saw inev- tach troops to meet them, saw with dismay the itable death or capture, on every side. Here, manœuvre which made them masters of the field. striking again through the wood, and lured by an His efforts had all along been directed to Geneenticing path, which promised safety, they rushed ral Grant's motions. For the defence in front, he from its shelter upon the drawn sabres of the relied on General Sullivan to provide, and great enemy; there, retiring to its recesses before a was his surprise, on seeing the enemy turn that superior force, they fell upon the levelled mus-officer's flank. As the engagement between Lord kets of the Hessians; bullets and balls sought victims in every direction; and many a brave soldier sank to die beneath the tall forest tree, offering up with his parting breath, a prayer for his country, consecrated by his life-blood. Against the hottest of the enemy's fire, General Sullivan, on the heights above Flatbush, made a brave resistance for three hours. Here the slaughter was thickest on the side of the assailants. Fairly covered by the imperfect entrenchment, the Americans poured many a deadly volley upon the approaching foe. The old man, already mentioned, well remembers seeing a pit wherein large numbers of the Hessians, who fell here, were buried; and from another source, I learn, that, to stimulate the commander of these foreign mercenaries, he had been offered a golden substitute for every missing man. Stirling and General Grant grew warmer, his attention was attracted by the broadside which the British frigate Roebuck opened upon the Redhook battery in his rear. Too late aware of his mistake, he was compelled to await the issue. At this juncture, General Washington reached the lines, and beheld, with infinite grief, the discomfiture of his beloved troops. Wringing his hands, he is said, when he saw no aid could reach them, to have given vent to the keenest anguish. From the height he stood upon, the movements of both parties were revealed to him. Here, was seen Lord Stirling, gallantly attacking Cornwallis; there, a troop of Americans, escaping with thinned numbers through the British ranks, were pursued to the very entrenchments. By the creek, soldiers plunging into the unknown depths of its waters, or struggling through the miry bog, were fired upon by the foe; toward Flatbush, the Hessians and British were combining to enfold, in a still narrower circle, the few and undaunted continentals. Leaving Generals Clinton and Percy to intercept the Americans in this quarter, Lord Cornwallis proceeded toward the scene of General Grant's engagement with Lord Stirling. We left this gallant officer bravely opposing a superior Lest the foregoing imperfect description should force. He continued the resistance until eleven have left obscure some of the details of this afo'clock, when, hearing a sharp firing in the direc-fair, let me briefly recapitulate its successive distion of Brooklyn, it flashed upon him that the asters. I have supposed the reader to be, where British were getting between him and the Ameri- all would have chosen to stand on that occasion, can lines. Discovering the position of Lord Corn- on the American side. A glance at the motions wallis, he instantly saw, that unless they forded of the British, will show how admirably their mathe creek near the Yellow Mills, the troops under noeuvres were planned and executed. The suchim must all become prisoners. The reader will cess of the concerted movement was insured by see that he had some distance to gain, before this the unforeseen malady of General Greene. All could be effected. Hastening back, he found the the passes to Brooklyn were defended, save one; enemy much stronger than he anticipated; and, and it was by this that the troops, which decided that his main body might escape, he determined the fortunes of the day, and were the same we in person to attack Lord Cornwallis, who was left filing off from Flatland to New-Lots, on the posted at a house near the upper mill. This previous night, turned the American flank. The movement he performed with the utmost gallant- road from Jamaica to Bedford was left unprotect ry, leading half of Smallwood's regiment five or led; the enemy early ascertained this fact; and, to enable them to profit by our neglect, General Grant's advance, which was a diversion, had been devised. The fleet and General de Heister cooperated with him in this manœuvre. General Putnam, taking this feint for a bona fide attack, was deceived; and the Americans were entrapped by forces superior in discipline, in tactics, in numbers, in good fortune, but not in courage; for though eleven hundred were either killed or taken, near four thousand fought their way back to the camp. To the absence of General Greene, who had studied, and would doubtless have guarded, all the approaches to the camp, and to the want of a general commanding officer throughout the day, may this disaster be attributed. General Putnam could not leave his lines, and the double care of New York and Long Island devolved upon the commander-in-chief. General Woodhull, who had been ordered to guard the road from Bedford to Jamaica, with the Long Island militia, remained at Jamaica. The neglect which lost us the day, cost him his life. Riding home, after disbanding the volunteers under his command, he was captured by the British, and infamously cut to pieces, on his refusing to say, "God save the king." Nine thousand men, with all their stores and ammunitions, crossed the East river during the night, unperceived by the enemy. For four-andtwenty hours previous, the commander-in-chief had not left the saddle. The immediate embarcation of the troops was under the direction of General M'Dougall, to whose vigilant activity high praise is due. Incurious popular opinion has admitted this to have been a shameful defeat. I trust that all who have watched the phases of the day, and the concurrence of good and evil fortune on the respective parts of the British and Americans, will acknowledge the injustice of this decision. One great advantage of the assailant lies in the choice of points for attack, presented by any extensive field. This was peculiarly the case in the battle of the twenty-seventh of August. The outer line of defence was disproportioned to the force employed; and the enemy's subsequent moves, compelling our army to retreat, proved the fortification within to have been planned on too small a scale for the defence of that part of the island. It was no disgraceful rout. We have shown, that the troops behaved with high spirit; and would that we might do justice to the distinImpartiality must award high praise, on this guished courage displayed by the bands under occasion, to the bravery of the enemy's troops, General Sullivan and Lord Stirling on this occawho followed so hotly in pursuit, that they were sion. In particular, may the attack of the latter with difficulty withheld from attacking the Amer-upon Lord Cornwallis, be singled out as a feat ican trenches. At night, the patriots within them of chivalrous gallantry; and the stand long maintold their missing brethren; and when their loss became known, and uncertainty veiled the fate of the absent ones, gloom and despondency pervaded the camp. The victorious British, on the contrary, hastened to secure the ground they had gained, and flushed with victory, passed the night in exultation. tained by the Marylanders, upon the hill, with flying colors, under the enemy's severest fire, be cited as examples of Spartan heroism. Some blame has been attached by Gordon to General Sullivan, for neglect of vigilance upon the unfortunate Jamaica road. This officer is defended by Judge Marshall, who observes, that the paucity of his troops, and the entire want of cavalry, forced him to rely upon General Woodhull for the defence of that pass. On the twenty-eighth, a violent rain kept the two armies in their respective encampments. That night, the enemy broke ground within about six hundred yards of Fort Greene, and on the fol- It may be asked, why a defeat has been selectlowing day were busily engaged in throwing up ed for my theme, in lieu of some one of the vicentrenchments. Their main force was advancing, tories of the revolution. I answer, that even a by slow but sure approaches, to besiege the Amer-reverse, when stamped by so much bravery, and ican fortifications, and their superior artillery incurred through such unforeseen ill-chance, is itwould doubtless soon silence our batteries. The self a high ecnomium upon the valor of our ancesadvanced sentinel of the British army was sur-tors. We have no stronger comment to offer prised, on the morning of the thirtieth, by the un- those who would stigmatize it, than our actual wonted stillness within the American lines. Cal-liberties. By falling, the infant learns to walk; ling a comrade or two around him, they proceeded by losses, the merchant learns to gain; by defeat, to reconnoitre. Emboldened by the silence, they and all history tends to prove it, an army is taught crept near the embankment, and cautiously peep-to conquer. Moreover, the reverses imbue us ing into our camp, perceived not a vestige of the with a saner spirit than the triumphs of the revoarmy to whose challenges they had listened the lution. They recall to mind the price of our libnight before. The alarm was given, and the party erty. If success flushes the brow of the victoriwho first rushed in, to take possession of the ous, and lends impetuosity to determination, deworks, saw in the midstream, out of gun-shot and feat still more powerfully operates to paralyze filled with well-pleased Americans, the last of the courage, and depression is its immediate, if not barges which had borne their comrades across lasting, result. It is, then, a manlier study, to the waters that night. Beyond it, in a small boat, mark the workings of the spirit which took breath there sat an American officer, of calm and digni- in discomfiture for renewed resistance at Harlem, fied mien. On his pale countenance the anxious where Leitch and Knowlton fell, and at White muscles were relaxing into a heavenly smile. Plains. Such a soul filled the breast of WashingThis bark bore Cesar and his fortunes; and a ton. His glory lay more in retrieving the war's prayer seemed to escape the lips of Washington, losses, throughout the long struggle, than even in as a glance at the distant shore told him the the laurels of Princeton, and Trenton, and York American army was beyond the reach of danger. This splendid retreat won civic crowns for the American hero; and its parallel is only to be [nery, and none of the meanest of our rural songsters. Such being the true traits of his character, we shall always with pleasure welcome this beautiful inoffensive stranger to our orchards, groves, and forests." found in the Spanish campaign of the conqueror of Gaul. But the favorable breeze, the calm water, and the thick fog which, toward two in the morning, veiled the Americans from the British, and yet left the river clear, seem direct interpositions of that gracious Providence, which, in after-days, guided our revolution to victory. I began this paper with the remark, that all knowledge is history. Who can now gaze upon our magnificent city, from Flatbush Hill, or wind his way among the populous streets, which intersect a portion of the old battle-ground, without owning that the chapter of past events I have reviewed, is the most instructive lesson we can derive from the metamorphosed present? I recently visited the localities of this conflict, on one of those genial days, when the opening heart sympathises with the heart-thaw of memory. Beneath the fight-scene, the dead are soon to rejoin those who perished there. A grave-garden has been laid out among the hills of Gowanus; and beneath the trees, quiet tomb-stones will soon be reflected in the lake, whose banks reechoed, sixty-two years since, the alarum of soldiers then mirrored in its placid bosom, now engulfed in the stream of eternity. NATURAL HISTORY. The Scarlet Tanager. The nest is built about the middle of May. It is placed on a horizontal branch of a tree, simple in its structure, being composed of dry vegetable fibres, without any elaborate lining with softer matters. The eggs are three in number, of a dull blue, colour, spotted with purple brown. The birds have only one brood during their sojourn in the United States; but as they depart as early as August, it is not unlikely that they may have an autumnal brood in the more tropical country to which they retire. THE SCARLET TANAGER. The male, when arrived at its full size and colTHIS bird makes its appearance in the middle our, is six inches and a half in length, and ten states of America about May, and finds its way as and a half in the stretch of the wings, being much far to the north as Canada. It is a bird of the better winged than those tropical species which wild woods rather than of the cultivated places, are not migratory. The clothing plumage is of though it visits the orchards, and sometimes a most brilliant scarlet, and the quills and tailbuilds in them. The usual note of the bird is feathers black, but sometimes with a little white short and jarring, and appears to come from a on the tips; the margins of the inner webs of the much greater distance than it really does, so that quills are also generally white or whitish; the hearing the bird is no very certain guide to a tail is much forked, which agrees with the habit sight of it. Occasionally, however, the male of the bird in snatching insects on the wing; the utters a more mellow note, though even that is bill is large and strong, and, like that of the rest not properly a song. The food of the bird is of the section, tumid; it is of a yellowish horn hornets, wasps, wild bees, and other large insects, colour, but subject to changes with the seasons. and toward the end of the season the berries of The moult commences about the first of August, some of the vacciniums, and other small wild the scarlet feathers being partially displaced by fruits. Wilson puts in a plea for the bird in the greenish yellow ones, which gives the bird a following passage: "Among all the birds that in- mottled appearance, and the whole change of the habit our woods, there is none that strikes the body-plumage has not taken place when the bird eye of a stranger, or even of a native, with so departs for the south. Where they retire, and much brilliancy as this. Seen among the green when they regain their scarlet livery, are not leaves, with the light falling strongly on his plu- known, but they have it perfect when they return mage, he really appears beautiful. If he has lit-to the north. This, however, is true of the matle melody in his notes, he has nothing in them to ture birds only: for the young of the preceding disgust. His manners are modest, easy, and in-year have some green mottlings when they first offensive. He commits no depredations on the property of the husbandman, but rather benefits him, by the daily destruction in spring of many The manners of these birds are fully as attractnoxious insects; and, when winter approaches, ive as their plumage, gay and beautiful as that is. he is no plundering dependant, but seeks, in a Both birds are very vigilant in watching and prodistant country, for that sustenance which the tecting the nest, and also in feeding the young, severity of the season denies to his industry in even after they are considerably grown. The folthis. He is a striking ornament to our rural sce-lowing anecdote, given by Wilson, is too charac come, though these soon disappear, and they shine out in all the splendor of their parents. |