corner of the wide world. Do they not chasten it with their iron scourge? Peter the Cruel reigns in Castile. His subjects have been butchered like herds for the slaughter. Nobles, princes, his own brother, nay, the very wife of his bosom, have helped to make up his account of midnight murder! In Arragon, though the alliance of that country is necessary to us, yet there also reigns a prince who dyes his very robes of royalty in human blood. France has her king a captive. Her own hand has made the grave of her own children; whilst the hand of conquest presses her down to the very earth. In England there is faction. In Rome two popes cause fearful divisions. The Guelphs and Gibbelines render Florence a scene of war and fury. In Germany two emperors contend fiercely as rivals for a crown. Tamerlane has overrun all Asia. The very earth is watered with blood, which falls on its thirsty surface like rain, that makes it teem with increase from human sacrifices. In Granada, the Moors maintain an empire; and there, and elsewhere, do they continually rise up in arms to molest the Christians. Where then is peace to be found on earth? Where will old Manuel de Castro, who sorrows for these miseries, but most of all for his dear country, where will be find a quiet grave?'

"Do not talk thus, my beloved father,' said Ines; have better thoughts. But now you expressed warm hopes that your mission to the court of Arragon would be attended with success. That country, uniting with Portugal, would finally restore peace and happiness to Castile, by driving from its throne a cruel and blood-thirsty prince.'

"I did say as much,' replied Don Manuel, but I fear thy resolution.'

"Ines looked surprised. My resolu tion?' she said. What have I to do with this?'

"Thou!" exclaimed Don Manuel, 'thou art said to influence Don Pedro of Portugal in a manner no one else living dare hope to do. The terms with Arragon cannot go forward without his sanction; and I fear thou wilt not give them thy support with the prince.'

You think hardly of me, sir,' said Ines. Tell me, what are these terms? for being sanctioned by you I have warrant for their worthiness; and then prove me, if I love not my native country so as to desire the accomplishment of such terms with Arragon as may give to Castile the support of two united crowns.'

United crowns they will be,' said Don Manuel, if the terms are carried into

effect. They propose the alliance in favour of Castile to go forward after the union of the royal houses; the infanta of Arragon to become the wife of Don Pedro of Portugal, who shall then make war on his own account, since, by his mother's side, he has some claims on the crown of Castile.'

"Ines de Castro replied not a word. A deadly paleness overspread her features. Her limbs trembled, and refused her support. She sank on a cushion that was near her. Shocked, and even indignant, at observing this agitation in his daughter, on the mention of the proposed marriage of Don Pedro with the princess of Arragon, Don Manuel seemed to lose, in a moment, those tender feelings which had filled his heart on first meeting her. With a stern air, and in accents that showed how little he sympathised with her feelings, he severely upbraided his child for indulging an affection for a prince alike removed from her by the sacred ties of the church and by his station; for though he did not doubt the honour of her mind, yet he feared its firmness; and that, unable herself to wed the prince, she would use her influence to prevent his espousing another. As his daughter was godmother to the son of the heir-apparent, an office then held of great consequence and privilege, Don Manuel dared not remove her from the court, else he would not have scrupled to do so on the instant, when he now so evidently saw the danger to which she was exposed by her affection.

"Ines appeared to labour under feelings which she endeavoured to conceal, but could not conquer; and, in return to her father's repeated questions, she could only assure him he judged her harshly, unkindly; pleaded her agitation in excuse, and allowed there was something preyed on her spirits, and rendered her unhappy; yet conjured him, as he regarded her life or peace, not to urge her to confess the cause.

"Astonished, confounded, yet determined in his purpose, Don Manuel, after repeatedly commanding his daughter to see Don Pedro as little as possible, but if she did see him, to advise the marriage with the infanta, prepared to take his leave. I go, Ines,' said he; 'think upon my words. Think if thou canst bear to lose a father's blessing, to abide a father's curse! I leave, perhaps, in your hands the fate of Castile. Think of that, the fate of thy country. Wouldst thou see her bleed while it was in thy power to save her from destruction? If this marriage goes forward, all will unite for the glorious work of deliverance. Who that has one generous

feeling would let his own selfish passions interfere? Dispel this weakness; for I suspect it lurks in thee. Thou canst never wed Don Pedro ;-kneel then at his feet, and, if thou hast the power with him for which men give thee credit, use it to save thy country.'

We regret that our limits prevent us from giving the description of Hamet's exposure in the arena of the bull-fight, or of the interview between Alphonso and the Talba, or Moorish seer, who, by the way, was as much a warrior as a sage-but we will do better, we will advise all those of our readers who are as much in love with romances as we were once wont to be, to read and judge for themselves, and we promise them that they will have no reason to repent the perusal.

THE WESTERN WORLD-The United States. Vol. I. London, 1830 Longman and Co. In this volume the public are presented with the 13th number of Dr. Lardner's Cabinet Cyclopædia. The author, in his introduction, devotes it to the consideration of the United States "in their early establishment, their progress as colonies, their successful resistance to the parent state; and, lastly, the splendid career they have entered upon since their independence was permanently established." Such is the promise of the author, and we congratulate him on the manner in which he has realized that promise. While the arrangement is easy and simple, the style is extremely animated, though light. The lapse of years, and the succession of events follow each other in a manner so natural, and are given in a language so unaffected, that nothing appears extraordinary, nothing laboured or out of place; while the whole volume is invested with a peculiar airiness and interest, which, disdaining the heavy monotony of manner that so often pervades works of historical detail, captivates while it instructs, and engages without fatiguing.

We cannot reflect but with wonder on the rapid rise and progress of American importance: very little more than two centuries ago was the settlement of Virginia effected, for we can only regard the unsuccessful attempts of Sir Humphrey Gilbert, in 1578, or of Sir Walter Raleigh, in 1584, as the dawning of that spirit of enterprize which blazed forth in 1606; and which, as it received a wider support, was carried on with a more persevering zeal. From that time to the present a very short period has elapsed; short, when we speak of a nation's age, and yet America is strong in war,

high in the scale of commercial greatness, and full of internal resources.

In the earlier pages of his volume, the author gives us a succinct, and very amusing historical sketch of the aboriginal inhabitants, and from this portion of the work shall we make a few extracts. In describing the manner in which they bring up their children from infancy, and in which age imparts its instruction to youth, he says, The Indians never chastise their children, especially the boys; thinking that it would damp their spirits, check their love of independence, and cool their martial ardour, which they wish above all things to encourage. Reason,' say they,

will guide our children when they come to the use of it; and, before that, their faults cannot be very great.' They avoid compulsory measures, and allow the boys to act with uncontrolled freedom; but endeavour by example, instruction, and advice, to train them to diligence and skill in hunting; to animate them with patience, courage, and fortitude in war; and to inspire them with contempt of danger, pain, and death, qualities of the highest order in the estimation of an Indian.

66

By gentleness and persuasion they endeavour to imbue the minds of their children with virtuous sentiments, according to their notions of virtue. The aged chiefs are zealous in their patriotic labour, and the squaws (wives) give their cordial co-operation.

"Ishuchenau, an old Kaura warrior, often admonished the group of young auditors who gathered around him of their faults, and exhorted them never to tell a lie, and never to steal, except from an enemy, whom it is just to injure in every possible way.

When you become men,' said he, be brave and cunning in war, and defend your hunting grounds against all encroachments: never suffer your squaws and little ones to want; protect them and strangers from insult. Ön no occasion betray a friend; be revenged on your enemies; drink not the poisonous strong water of the white people, for it is sent by the bad spirit to destroy the Indians. Fear not death; none but cowards fear to die. Obey and venerate old people, particularly your parents. Fear and propitiate the bad spirit, that he may do you no harm; love and adore the Good Spirit, who made us all, who supplies our hunting grounds, and keeps all alive.' After recounting his achievements, he was wont to add, Like a decayed prairie tree, I stand alone: the friends of my youth, the companions of my sports, my toils, and my dangers, rest their heads on the bosom of our mother. My sun is fast descending

behind the western hills, and I feel it will soon be night with me.' Then with hands and eyes lifted towards heaven, he thanked the Great Spirit for having spared him so long, to show the young men the true path to glory and fame."-Page 25.

In picturing their resignation, he observes, "The Indians bear disease with composure; and when far advanced in life often long for the hour of dissolution. It is better,' said an aged sachem, 'to sit than to stand, to sleep than to be awake, to be dead than alive.' The dying man exhorts his children to be industrious, kind to their friends, but implacable to their enemies. He rejoices in the hope of immortality. He is going to the land of spirits, that happy place where there is plenty of game and no want, where the path is smooth and the sky clear."-Page 28.

When showing the manner in which a foe is despatched, he states, that "at times, an Indian warrior, when about to kill and scalp a prostrate enemy, addresses him in such terms as the following:

"My name is Cashegra: I am a famous warrior, and am going to kill you. When you reach the land of spirits, you will see the ghost of my father: tell him it was Cashegra sent you there.' The uplifted tomahawk then descends upon his victim." -Page 32.

There are some misstatements in this volume, and we instance the following. While speaking of Charlestown, the author says: "It was long unhealthy; but since the adjacent country has been cleared and cultivated, it is as salubrious as any other part of the province."-Page 62. Now it is well known that Charlestown, during the warmer months of the year, is even more infested with yellow fever than are our colonies in the same hemisphere; indeed it is so unhealthy, that few who can afford to quit it, remain there during this period. But there are inaccuracies which appear so trivial, that they cannot be said to detract from the general merit of the work, which will no doubt be much and justly admired.

A NARRATIVE OF THE CAPTIVITY AND ADVENTURES OF JOHN TANNER, (U. S. Interpreter at the Sant de St. Marie,) DURING

THIRTY YEARS RESIDENCE AMONG THE INDIANS, IN THE INTERIOR OF NORTH AMERICA. By Edwin James, M. D. 8vo. London, 1830. Baldwin and Cradock. This work, which has only lately fallen under our notice, contains a curious and amusing narrative, which may well repay the perusal, but it represents nature in its wild and savage form, destitute of all that is endearing and dignified in civilized life.

The contemplative reader will, however, draw a useful lesson from the recitals with which it abounds. He will view in them a powerful antidote to vanity, and that impatient and vexatious murmuring against the restrictions of social and constitutional order under which we live. He will perceive that man, left to the free indulgence of natural and unbridled licence, soon humbles himself almost to a level with the brute. He will find that the highest gratifications of savage life are based upon those reckless and disorderly passions which, despite a state of cultivation and refinement, are perpetually invading even the decorums of intellectual societies. Let us instance gambling and drunkenness. Ere we do so, however, we will afford our readers a brief outline of the narrative. John Tanner, a boy of eleven years of age, was stolen from his parents by a party of the native Indians of America, whose leader, it seems, was desirous of presenting to his wife a captive to supply the place of a child she had lost. With these, his adopted parents, he remained for the space of about two years, when he happened to engage the fancy, and was purchased by a woman of some rank in a neighbouring tribe; here he became a hunter, and by degrees adopting the wild customs of those with whom he lived, soon lost, in the example of savage life before him, every trace of civilization. He was naturally daring and skilful, and very early became capable of as much endurance as the most hardy of his associates. On revisiting the scenes of his childhood after a lapse of thirty years, he was recognized by his family, and immediately formed the determination of settling among them. The Indians refused permission to his wife and children to join him, but by the friendly interference of some traders, their re-union was effected; the wife, bowever, joined in a plot for the murder of her lord, which was attempted by a young Indian, who having wounded, and left him for dead, carried off the wife and daughters. He was stolen from his parents in 1789, and returned to his birth-place in 1819. The following extracts will serve to exemplify our leading observations; and may, at the same time, be received as fair specimens of the description of merit to which the work is entitled.

"Late in the fall, we went to Ke-nu-kaune-she-way-bo-ant, where game was then plenty, and where we determined to spend the winter. Here, for the first time, I joined deeply with Wa-me-gon-a-biew, and other Indians, in gambling, a vice scarce less hurtful to them than drunkenness. One of the games we used was that of the moc

casin, which is played by any number of persons, but usually in small parties. Four moccasins are used, and in one of them some small object, such as a little stick, or a small piece of cloth, is hid by one of the betting parties. The moccasins are laid down beside each other, and one of the adverse party is then to touch two of the moccasins with his finger, or a stick. If the one he first touches has the hidden thing in it, the player loses eight to the opposite party; if it is not in the second he touches, but in one of the two passed over, he loses two. If it is not in the one he touches first, and is in the last, he wins eight. The Crees play this game differently, putting the hand successively into all the moccasins, endeavour ing to come last to that which contains the article; but, if the hand is thrust first into the one containing it, he loses eight. They fix the value of articles staked by agreement: for instance, they sometimes call a beaver skin, or a blanket, ten; sometimes a horse is one hundred. With strangers they are apt to play high; in such cases, a horse is

sometimes valued at ten.

"But it is the game called Bug-ga-sauk, or Beg-ga-sah, that they play with the most intense interest, and the most hurtful consequences. The beg-ga-sah-nuk are small pieces of wood, bone, or sometimes brass, made by cutting up an old kettle. One side they stain or colour black, the other they aim to have bright. These may vary in number, but can never be fewer than nine; they are put together in a large wooden bowl, or tray, kept for the purpose. The two parties, sometimes twenty or thirty, sit down opposite each other, or in a circle. The play consists in striking the edge of the bowl in such a manner as to throw all the beg-ga-sah-nuk into the air, and on the manner in which they fall into the tray depends his gain or loss. If his stroke has been to a certain extent fortunate, the player strikes again, and again, as in the game of billiards, until he misses, when it passes to the next. The parties soon become much excited, and a frequent cause of quarrelling is, that one often snatches the tray from his neighbour, before the latter is satisfied that the throw has been against him.

"Old and sensible people among them are much opposed to this game, and it was never until this winter that Net-no-kwa suffered me to join in it. In the beginning our party had some success, but we returned to it again and again, until we were stripped of every thing. When we had nothing more to lose, the band which had played against us removed and camped at a distance, and, as is usual, boasted much of their success. When I heard of this, I

called together the men of our party, and proposed to them, that by way of making an effort to regain our lost property, and put an end to their insolent boasting, we would go and shoot at a mark with them. We accordingly raised some property among our friends, and went, in a body, to visit them. Seeing that we had brought some. thing, they consented to play with us. So we set down to Beg-ga sab, and in the course of the evening, re-took as much of our lost property as enabled us to offer, next morning, a very handsome bet, on the result of a trial of shooting the mark. We staked every thing we could command; they were loath to engage us, but could not decently decline. We fixed a mark at the distance of one hundred yards, and I shot first, placing my ball nearly in the centre. one of either party came near me; of course I won, and we thus regained the greater part of what we had lost during the winter." -P. 118-15.

Not

"The Indians were now about assembling at Pembinah, to dispose of their peltries, and have their usual drunken frolic. I had but just arrived at the encampment of our band, when they began to start; some going forward by land, and leaving the women to bring on their loads in the canoes. I tried to persuade Wa-me-gon-a-biew and others, which were particularly my friends, not to join in this foolish and destructive indulgence, but I could not prevail upon them; they all went on in advance of me. I moved slowly along, hunting and making dry meat, and did not reach Pembinah, until most of the men of the band had passed several days there in drinking. As soon as I arrived, some Indians came to tell me that Wa-me-gon-a-biew had lost his nose; another had a large piece bitten out of his cheek; one was injured in one way, another in another.

"I learned that my brother, as I always called Wa-me-gon-a-biew, had but just arrived, when he happened to go into a lodge where a young man, a son of Tabush-shish, was beating an old woman. Wa-me-gon a-biew held his arms; but presently old Ta bush-shish coming in, and in his drunkenness, probably misapprehended the nature of my brother's interference, seized him by the hair, and bit his nose off. At this stage of the affair, Be-gwa-is, an old chief who had always been very friendly to us, came in, and seeing that a scuffle was going on, thought it necessary to join in it. Wa-me gon-a-biew perceiving the loss of his nose, suddenly raised his hands, though still stooping his head, and seizing by the hair the head that was nearest him, bit the nose off. It happened to be that of our

friend Be-gwa-is. After his rage had a little abated, he recognised his friend, and exclaimed, Wah! my cousin! Be-gwa-is was a kind and good man, and being perfectly aware of the erroneous impression under which Wa-me-gon-a-biew had acted, never for one moment betrayed any thing like anger or resentment, towards the man who bad thus been the unwilling cause of his mutilation. I am an old man,' said he, and it is but a short time that they will laugh at me for the loss of my nose.'

"For my own part, I felt much irritated against Ta-bush-shish, inasmuch as I doubt ed whether he had not taken the present opportunity to wreak an old grudge upon Wa-me-gou-a-biew. I went into my brother's lodge, and sat by him; his face and all his clothes were covered with blood. For sometime he said nothing; and when he spoke I found that he was perfectly sober. 'To-morrow,' said he, I will cry with my children, and the next day I will go and see Ta-bush-shish. We must die together, as I am not willing to live, when I must always expect to be ridiculed.' I told him I would join him in any attempt to kill Tabush-shish, and held myself in readiness accordingly. But a little sober reflection, and the day's time he had given himself to cry with his children, diverted Wa-me-gona-biew from his bloody intention, and like Be-gwa-is, he resolved to bear his loss as well as he could.'-P. 64-5.

THE PRESENT STATE OF AUSTRALIA. By Robert Dawson, Esq. late Chief Agent of the Australian Agricultural Company. 8vo. London, 1830. Smith, Elder, and Co.

We regret that we have not been able earlier to notice this volume. There are so many reasons for viewing with jealousy and distrust the statements of those who write on the distant advantages and remote prospects of those settlements which are to be peopled by means of emigration from the parent country, that when we meet with a work on the subject which is at once comprehensive, impartial, and accurate, we cannot but hail its appearance as a national good. And such, in our estimation, is the one before us. The style is simple, the narrative engaging, and the descriptions clear and faithful. Those who peruse this volume for mere amusement cannot fail to be gratified. But he who searches it for practical information on the subject of emigration to Australia, will find that it embraces, in a very wide extent, almost every inquiry he would wish solved. Climate, soil, scenery, pasturage, flocks, herds, crops, &c. are all treated in detail.

And the seasons, the character and disposition of the natives, with a variety of interesting and general information, are given in language so easy and unostentatious, that it is peculiarly calculated to lead and instruct. We assure its author that he possesses our hearty good wishes.

THE COMIC ANNUAL. By Thomas Hood.
C. Tilt, 1831.

Mr. Hood is somewhat late in the field, but this arises, we presume, rather from design than accident, from a wish to allow the excitement produced in the minds of the public on the appearance of the other Comic Annuals to subside before he ventured to make his periodical debut. He has, however, little to fear from either, all are good in their way; but as, like minor orbs, they draw their light and influence from the fertility of his genius, he may rest perfectly contented with the assurance that, while the public, like the idolators of Peru, have their own sun to worship, their adora. tion will never be extended to any of the lesser lights. His observations, as applied to one of his opponents, are just and piquant; and that such conduct as he deprecates should be still pursued, is really inexplicable. But if it is excellent to have a giant's strength, so is it unmanly to use it like a giant, particularly when a helpless female is the object of attack. It appears that Miss Sheridan, the young and lively editoress of a rival publication replete with elegance and modest wit, entitled the "Comic Offering," slyly hinted that the publications of Mr. Hood did not always exhibit that chaste and refined spirit which can alone render them worthy of female patronage. This intimation was given in the form of a mild, and good-natured double-entendre; and nothing manifests so clearly that the lash told, as the outrageous passion into which our silly friend immediately threw himself. He evidently writhes and winces beneath the thong, and we trust that its application will not fail to have the desired effect.

The contents of the present volume are certainly, for the most part, free from this defect, and the English language is turned and twisted into all forms and meanings with the editor's customary facility. The cuts, with one or two exceptions, amuse us much. The "Hole Holyday," delineating a young urchin peeping from his prison grate at his school companions with their hoops and balls, is very laughable. The "Step Father" is perhaps the next in merit. On the whole, however, they are not so replete with elegant humour, as are those of the "Comic Offering." We had