experience, and he may therefore P. 58. 6 Why did Montezuma be relied on, so far as his remarks admit Cortes into his capital, and extend. This form of the work subject himself to the grossest inis destined for domestick use, and dignities, when he might unquestwe recommend the perusal of it ionably have expelled, if not anto fathers and mothers. Not, in- nihilated, his army ?

? Antonio deed, that they should employ it De Solis, the Spanish historioto play the quack upon their own grapher, says : « The very efchildren ; for those unfortunates, fects of it have since discovwho have mothers that give med- ered, that God took the reins icine, are almost invariably un- into his own hand on purpose to healthy, and the greatest part per- tame that monster; making his ish in early life. But we offer this unusual gentleness instrumental book to aid the obliteration of vul- to the first introduction of the gar prejudices, to point out to pa- Spaniards, a beginning from whence rents the symptoms of indisposi- afterward resulted the conversion of tion which should alarm them, and those heathen nations.” Conquest above all, to instruct them by what Mexico, ii. 141. We ought to management of diet and regimen adore that Providence, which we their offspring are to be rendered cannot comprehend ; but it is imhealthy, vigorous, and beautiful. pious to insult it by assigning

The execution of this edition such reasons for its measures, as appears to excel that of any med- are contradicted by facts. The ical book, which has been printed natural causes of the abject subin Boston. In typographical cor- mission of Montezuma may perrectness it equals the English edi- haps be traced to a long and tradi

on, to which, in other respects, tionary expectation of the subjecit is decidedly superiour,

tion of the Mexican empire to a foreign power ; to the predictions of soothsayers, with their exposi

tions of recent and present omens; ART. 21.

to the forebodings of a superstiConcluded from p. 260.

tious mind ; to the astonishment American Annals ; or a chronologie excited by the view of a new race

cal history of America. By Abiel of men with unknown and surHolmes, D.D.

prising implements of war ;

and to the extraordinary success WHEREVER the Spanish inva- of the Spanish arms from the first ders trod, their footsteps were moment of the arrival of Cortes on marked with blood. In this all the Mexican coast.” writers agree, such as were eyewitnesses, and relate an unvarnish- One cause

more substantial ed tale, and such as paint in the should be assigned, which has hasstrongest colours. They all like- tened the downfal of many other wise describe the pusillanimous nations, viz. the arbitrary and cruel conduct, the vile superstitions, and proceedings of a tyrant towards cruel customs of the Mexicans. the various nations subject to his We shall quote a passage from Dr. power. How many thousand of Holmes's Annals, which breathes the natives of this region were in an evangelical spirit, and shows the army of Cortes, compared something like political reflection. with the few Spaniards that were

a

with him! He had uncommon sa- as they always expect, whose engacity, as well as valour, and larged conceptions enable them to made the best use of their hatred throw just observations upon huto serve his purposes. They wish- man nature, or give extensive ed to humble the proud monarch, views of mankind. After all we who could shake his rod over can say of the rise and progress of them for his amusement, as well these United States, there is no as to gratisy his rage ; and by eventful period, till the revolution. their assistance he overthrew the There is not enough in our histoMexican empire.

ry to arrest the attention of readWe shall quote another passage ers in general, or to make a very from the American Annals, which splendid volume, though Robertought to be compared with the re- son himself made an attempt upon flection of Antonio de Solis. the subject. We congratulate the

author of the American Annals « In 1551. Bartholomew de la for what he has done ; he has Casas, having zealously laboured made them less tiresome and bar, fifty years for the liberty,comforts, ren, than they have commonly and salvation of the natives of A- been exhibited. merica, returned discouraged to Spain, at the age of seventy-seven “ The first plantation of the U. years."

nited States was in 1585. Sir R.

Greenville left at Roanoke the The work of our Annalist will English colony." P. 96. be considered by many as more dry, meagre, and insipid, when he This, it seems, was part of a comes to treat of the affairs of feet which Sir Walter Raleigh New-England, than of Spanish sent to Virginia, and which went America, where he could animate back to England the year followhis materials, collected from old ing. He was not easily discours accounts, with passages from Rob- aged, and sent a second colertson, Clavigero, or the author of ony. Soon after this colony European settlements, supposed to returned to England, and for a be the late Dr. Campbell. The time frustrated the expectations of

, documents are accurate, but not a man, whose spirit, virtue, and interesting, which relate to these romantick generosity will be ever colonies. We have had en of remembered. Few great men invincible industry to drudge in can be compared with Sir Walter the mine for materials, but where Ralcigh. Dr. H. says, this termia do we find the men of science to pu- nated the exertions of Sir Walter jify them? Our fathers were men Raleigh ; but this is not consistent of excellent characters ; but, af- with his relation of affairs in 1602. ter they had subdued the wilder- “ Sir Walter Raleigh, not aban.. ness and formed thcir settlements, doning all hope of the Virginia what great transactions are there colony, made one effort more," &c. for the subject of history, or even The prior discouragement hapto enrich the work of an humble pened in 1587. compiler? In their annals there We are also informed, that the is no variety to charm, no very first English child, born in Amersplendid events to celebrate, no ica, was baptised August 1587,

, sich information to be obtained, by the name of Virginia." Sueli

was now

minutia,and even triling anecdotes, the first planters attended, and may be entertaining and interest- were made free of the colony. ing in a book of annals, though we This was the first general court, should not expect them upon the which the freemen attended in historick page.

We learn too, person. It was now enacted, that th the first child born in New. the freemen should in future have England was Peregrine White. power to choose assistants, when There is a quaintness in the name, they were to be chosen ; and the as well as in that of Seaborn, which assistants were empowered to was given to a child of Mr.Cotton, choose out of their own number born on the passage to N.England. the governour and deputy govern.

We hear also, that the Rev. Mr. our, who, with the assistants, were Bentley is about collecting a very empowered to make laws, and apparticular account of the first point officers for the execution of cradle, in which a child was rocked, them.

This measure born soon after our fathers landed fully assented to by the general in Salem.

vote of the people ; but when the

general court convened, early the « In 1602 Gosnold sailed further next year, it rescinded this rule, northward, & discovered Cape Cod. and ordained, that the governour, They landed on an island, which deputy governour, and assistants, they called Martha's Vineyard." should be chosen by the freemen

alone." P. 257. We cannot so well account for this name, as that the Elizabeth The author refers us toChalmers' Islands should be so called. In- Political Annals for this and seve. deed we much doubt of its then ral other documents, which may bearing this name. In some old be depended upon, because they accounts it is called Martin's are taken from the Plantation of. vineyard. We shall leave this fice. The late GovernourHutchin. matter to be disputed by the old- son frequently said, in conversacolony antiquarians, who may be tion with his friends, that a comas much amused by viewing the plete history of the colonies could pebblestones as the rocks of our not be written, this side of the Atshores. One thing is evident, that lantick, for want of these papers ; the island now called Martha's that the writer must go to GreatVineyard is not the island Gosnold Britain and there search the files landed upon. From traditionary of this office. To these Chalmers accounts, from an old Dutch map had access, and he certainly has of the coast, and from some posi- made a book, worthy the perusal tive evidence, the island so called of all who would make themselves by them is now called Noman's acquainted with the affairs of Aland.

merica. We learn also this fact, As another specimen of Dr. that private gentlemen as well as Holmes's style, and method of re- the officers of government, when lating things, we select the follow- we were under the crown, had ing passage :

their directions to give every kind

of information concerning the state “ The first general court of the of the colonies ; that a regular Massachusetts colony was holden correspondence was kept up be at Boston. At this court many of tween the secretary of the lords

note. “ He gave 500l. out of his was taken is near New-London. estate in England to trustees in It is well to mention, that the New-England for the upholding American Academy of Arts and and promoting the kingdom of our Sciences are about giving an acLord Jesus Christ in those parts of count of this mineral. We are the earth ;" which donation was glad to learn that they are BUSILI considered as made to Harvard employed. College and the grammar-school In our review of the American in Cambridge, and by virtue of a Annals we mean to be equally decree in chancery was paid in candid and just. It is our opinion 1710, &c. &c.

that the work would appear more This account of the Hopkinton perfect, were there not such a profund is just, till he mentions the fusion of compliments and acknowlliberality of the general court.' edgments to every one, who has But it is a great mistake to say, favoured the author with a book, that the court made any addition to manuscript, or observation. It dethe funds. There is a difference tracts from the worth of the praise, between an act, which enabled the when gratitude is expressed to trustees to receive their just dues, those who richly deserve it, if every which was the only thing done, and little trifling acquisition is made to give credit for a donation. The the subject of a note, or considered funds accumulated by the value of as an important literary docuthe estate; and an application being, ment. made to the general court, they These hints may serve to benefit were put upon such a foundation, the author. We really think, he that the trustees can draw for so deserves much credit for his lamuch money as enables them to bours, and that these Annals will give very considerable encourage be regarded by the judicious ament to young gentlemen, who mong the useful publications, which reside in Cambridge for the sake have issued from the American of pursuing their theological stu- press. dies. We certainly object against putting that upon the score of benevolence, which was only an ac:

ART. 32. of justice. În page 358 a very unnecessary

The Pleasures of the Imagination compliment is introduced to a gen

a poem in three books. By Dr. tleman, who is called F.R.S. Dr. Akenside. Portland, T. B. Wait. H. may recollect, that these letters 8vo. mean the London Society ;....this is A VERY neat, not to say elea very different society from the gant, edition of one of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, which most beautiful poems in the Engis always distinguished by F.R.S.E. lish language ; and we believe Supposing the gentleman, howeve very correctly printed. We do er, to be a member of either socie- not altogether like the form, large ty, why is he brought forth to octavo, which, in so thin a volume, prove a thing, which

looks awkwardly. If printed in doubts ? Many gentlemen have 12mo. or 18mo. it would have seen the Columbium, and it is well made, we think, a better appearknown that “it attracted much no. ance. In other respects it is a tice," and that the place where it handsome edition.

a

no

one