tent of ground covered by the lava, was computed to be ninety miles long, by forty-two in breadth; the depth of the lava being from sixteen to twenty fathoms. Twelve rivers were dried up, twenty-one villages were de stroyed, and two hundred and twenty-four persons lost their lives After this eruption, two new islands were thrown up in the sea; one of about three miles in circumference, and about a mile in height, at the distance of a hundred miles south-west from Iceland, in one hundred fathoms water. The other lay to the north-west, between Iceland and Greenland. Both these islands subsequently disappeared.

Iceland abounds also with hot and boiling springs, called geysers, some of which throw the water into the air to the surprising height of from two hundred to three hundred feet. These are, indeed, the most remarkable phenomena in Iceland. The great geyser, or principal fountain of this kind, rises from a tube or funnel, seventy-eight feet in perpendicular depth, and from eight to ten feet in diameter at the bottom, but gradually widening till it terminates in a capacious basin. The jets take place at intervals of about six hours; and when the water, in a violent state of ebulition, begins to rise and fill the basin, subterraneous noises, like the distant roar of cannon, may be heard, the earth is slightly shaken, and the agitation increases, till at length a column of water is suddenly thrown up, to a vast height, as already stated. After playing for a time like an immense artificial fountain, a column of steam rushes up with great violence, and a thundering noise terminates the eruption. As the hot waters have an incrusting quality; in some places they taste or sulphur, in others not, but when drank as soon as cold, they taste like common boiled water. This island is committed to a governor, who resides at Bassa-stadr; he has under him a bailiff, two laymen, a sheriff, and twenty-two sysselmen, or magistrates, who superintend small districts; and almost everything is decided according to the laws of Denmark, to whom it belongs.

At a period when most parts of continental Europe were in a state of rude ignorance, the inhabitants of this remote island were well acquainted with poetry and history. The most flourishing period of Icelandic literature appears to have been from the twelfth to the end of the thirteenth century; but even during the last three centuries, Iceland has produced several eminently learned men. At present there is no want of disposi tion on the part of the people to apply to literature, but they wisely attest more to solid branches of learning than to the lays and legends of their ancient sages. Domestic education is universal; there are few among them who cannot read and write, and many among the better class would be distinguished by their taste and learning in the most cultivated society

THE HISTORY OF AMERICA.

s vast continent comprises nearly one half of the habitable globe, it is supposed by some who have given the matter a particular investigation, to have been partially known to the ancients; but, be that as it may, the glory of its discovery in modern history belongs to Christoval Colon, a native of the republic of Genoa, better known to us as Christopher Columbus. This enterprising man, after many fruitless attempts to obtain assistance to enable him to prosecute his elaborate speculations in geography, discovered the island of St. Salvador, Oct. 12th, 1492; and six years afterwards he reached the main continent at the mouth of the Orinoco, August 1st, 1498.

The discovery of the north continent of America belongs to the family of the Cabots, Venetian by birth, but who were residing in Bristol. The father and three sons set out in the year 1497, stimulated by the fame of Columbus, and under the patronage of Henry VII. of England. They discovered several islands, and coasted the whole of the main-land of the northern continent down to the Floridas. Strange as it may appear, the honour of giving a name to these immense discoveries, was gained by Amerigo Vespucci, a Florentine, who accompanied Alonzo de Ojeda, as pilot, and on returning published the first account of the several countries; from which circumstance the newly-discovered world was called America. The Brazilian coast was first approached by Alvarez de Cabral, a Portuguese admiral, in 1500; and Florida by Ponce de Leon, a Spaniard, in 1512. In the eastern part of the peninsula, called Yucatan, the natives were found clothed in cotton garments, and exhibiting other marks of civdization, by Hernandez Cordova, A. D. 1517. The expedition which followed this discovery led to the conquest of Mexico.

The spirit of discovery was now active, and all the great European courts emulated one another in affording facilities to carry into effect the enterprising efforts of numerous able and adventurous navigators, who successively prosecuted the attempt, and immortalized their names by the successes which they gained. The history of the principal colonies and states which arose from these discoveries will be given in due

course.

America is divided into North and South. The principal colonies of the first were made by England and France; those of the South by Spain and Portugal. The distinguishing spirit of the respective mother coun tries seems to have been infused into the infant states; for while the southern division is rent by crude aspirants after liberty, the greater part of North America stands conspicuous—a mighty nation, growing in all the essentials of greatness, and already worthy to rival the leading European states. The vigour of the United States is that of youth; while the strength of the European dynasties assimilates very closely to the condition of Age—some of them strong, it is true, in their gray hairs, but others effete, and tottering to decay.

BRITISH POSSESSIONS.

CANADA.

This is the most important province possessed by Great Britain in North America. Its history is closely interwoven with that of the United States, with the people of which it has been, both under its original and present masters, in almost constant collision. Founded by the French, in 1608, the colonists were for many years in danger of being overwhelmed by the native Indians, with whom at length they entered into treaties, which enabled them to annoy very materially the neighbouring states under the British jurisdiction. Twenty years after the founding of Quebec, the right of trading with Canada was granted exclusively to a company of French merchants, who, in the following years, were dispossessed of Quebec by Sir David Keith. This conquest remained in the hands of the British til it was ceded at the treaty of St. Germaine.

In 1663 the West India Company obtained the exclusive right of com merce for forty years, and Canada for thirty years enjoyed tranquillity, and its concomitant, prosperity; which were interrupted by a bold but unsuccessful expedition of the people of New England, consisting of one thousand two hundred or one thousand three hundred men under the command of Sir William Phipps. This attempt was repeated about seventeen years afterwards (1711), on a larger scale, but shared the same result, al though four thousand veteran British troops were employed.

Little occurs in the affairs of Canada deserving notice, till the breaking out of the continental war, in 1756, when Canada became the theatre of military scenes, which ended, three years afterwards, in the conquest of it by the British. The English general, Wolfe, though defeated in his first operations by the French, at length, after an action sustained by equal gallantry on both sides, obtained possession of Quebec. In this exploit the opposing generals, Montcalm and Wolfe, are equally renowned for spirit and courage; one did not survive the mortification of defeatthe other only lived to hear the shouts of victory. This conquest was ratified to the English by the treaty of 1763. Since that period it long enjoyed comparative peace; for with the exception of one unsuccessful expedition sent against it during the revolutionary war, under General Montgomery, who was killed, Canada was exempt from military operations till the last American war, when it became the theatre of several bloody frays, but resisted, by means of the British troops, the reiterated attacks of the Americans. Canada is now rising in importance. The facility of commerce is increased, and it may be hoped that this colony will be a valuable acquisition to the British crown

Sir Charles Metcalfe, the present governor, who was appointed on the death of Sir Charles Bagot, in 1813, is a man of great experience and ability. "From the first moment of his assumption of the vice-regal of· fice," says the Montreal Gazette, "Sir Charles Metcalfe, who had been used to represent the crown of England with honour and success, in other parts of the globe, found himself, and most naturally so, in a state of antagonism,' as they very correctly phrase it, with those who were converting Canada into a democracy, and nullifying the royal power. He found the whole power of the provinces united and centralized by the act of Lord Sydenham, and the royal and paternal influence abdicated by that of Sir Charles Bagot. He found a democracy concentrated in one cham ber and ruled by one cabal; claiming the right despotically to introduc

mto the other chamber any number of new members necessary to register its decrees—ay, and exercising it, too; demanding that the power of the crown and of the mother country should be a mere nullity, and asserting that the only duty of their representative was to transfer its patronage to them for the purpose of perpetually confirming their own. Such was the system which Sir Charles Metcalfe found in full operation; to which, from the first, he intimated himself to be in a state of antagonism;' to which he opposed himself under the great difficulties which circumstances had arrayed against him; against which he has now taken his stand, and called on everything that is loyal and constitutional, on every man who loves the British connexions and respects the principles of constitutional liberty as distinguished from mere deinocracy, to rally around him."

We make no mention in this place of the internal insurrections and piratical invasions of Canada in the years 1838 and 1839, but refer the reader to the "History of England," p. 739, and the "History of the United States," p. et seq.

NEWFOUNDLAND.

This large island of North America, situated near the Gulf of St. Lawrence, is supposed to have been first discovered by the Norwegians, about the beginning of the 11th century; be it so or not, it was not generally made known till John Cabot visited it in 1497, and gave it its present name. Immediately after this, we find that an extensive fishery was carried on, by the Portuguese and French, on the neighbouring banks; but no sucsuccessful attempt at a settlement was made till 1623, when Lord Baltimore established a colony on the south-east part of the island, and appointed his son governor. In 1633 some colonists arrived from Ireland, and in 1634 a few English settlers came over, having the authority of a parliamentary grant. The Newfoundland fishery has for nearly a century been the occasion of disputes between the English, French, and Americans; though for a great portion of the time the English were enabled to monopolize the trade. Since the peace of 1815, however, it has been very different; the French and Americans enjoying the greatest share of it.

The other British Possessions in North America are New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, and Prince Edward's Island; but want of space prevents us from entering on the particular history of either.

GREENLAND.

Under the name of Greenland is denoted the most easterly parts of America, stretching towards the North Pole, and likewise some islands to the northward of the continent of Europe, lying in very high latitudes. This country is divided into West and East Greenland. West Greenland had long been considered to be a part of the continent of America, but recent geographers seem to think it an island. It is bounded on the west by Batin's bay, on the south by Davis' straits, and on the east by he North Atlantic Ocean.

This country was first peopled by Europeans from Iceland, headed by Eric Rande in the eighth century; and a regular intercourse was mainained between Norway and Greenland till the year 1406; from that ime all correspondence was cut off, and all knowledge of Greenland

buried in oblivion. It is supposed that a nation called Schrellings, whose descendants still inhabit the western part, got the better of the settlers and exterminated them. All that can be learned from the most authentic records is, that Greenland was divided into two districts, called West Bygd, and East Bygd; that the western division contained four parishes, and one hundred villages; and the eastern district was still more flourishing. This colony, in ancient times, certainly comprehended twelve extensive parishes, one hundred and ninety villages, a bishop's see, and two monasteries. Many attempts have been made to re-discover the east country, without effect, by the Danes and the English. The land has been seen, but the ice has always prevented any approach to the shore.

The Greenland Company, at Bergen, in Norway, transported a colour to the west coast; and in 1712, the Rev. Hans Egede, and others, endeavoured to reach the eastern district by coasting, but were obliged to return, owing to continual storms. That part of West Greenland which is now settled by the Danes and Norwegians, lies between the 64th and 68th degrees of north latitude; and thus far, it is said, the climate is temperate. To the northward of the 68th degree, the cold is prodigiously intense; and towards the end of August all the coast is covered with ice, which never thaws till April or May, and sometimes June. Thunder and lightning rarely happen; but the aurora borealis is very frequent and splendidly luminous. The Greenlanders are constantly employed either in fishing or hunting; at sea they pursue the whale, morse, seal, fish, and sea-fowl, and on shore they hunt the rein-deer.

THE HISTORY OF MEXICO.

This rich and interesting country may be regarded as altogether a Spanish colony, though it is no longer dependent on Spain, having become a federal republic. Discovered by Fernando Cortez, A. D. 1519, it was by him taken possession of in the name of the Spanish government. The exploits by which he made himself master of this country, seem rather to belong to romance than history; the circumstances of the age, and the nature and character of the opposing powers, throw an air of universal interest over operations so multiform and diversified—as the conquest of a great and powerful state by a body of men hitherto unseen by them, possessing all the advantages of skill and experience in war, and resolution and enterprize in action.

The first conquest made by Cortez was on the river Tabasco; after which, landing at St. Juan de Ulloa, he erected a fort, where he received two ambassadors sent by the emperor of Mexico with offers of assistance. A haughty answer was the reply of Cortez; and gifts of the most costly character were heaped upon him by the natives, in the hope of conciliating peace and preventing his further advance. Dangers, however, encom passed his steps. Sedition broke out in his own camp, which he had the address not only to quell, but turn to his own advantage. A new town was founded, called La Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz. Still a more alarming mutiny showed itself, which he again converted into the means of executing a measure fraught with imminent risk, but calculated to superinduce the deadly courage of despair. This measure was the destruction of the fleet. Soon after this, being joined by one of the native caciques, with a force of little more than one thousand men, fifteen horses, and six cannons, he entered the state of the Tlascalans, whom, after a desperate