plicity amounting almost to want of style. He crosses told of his making acquaintance at the table-d'hôte with his hands behind him, and balances on his heels: in con- an antiquary, who gives him a capital story, which our versation his voice is low and cold, and he seldom smiles. pilgrim can do no less than give to his readers. From Yet there is a certain benignity in his countenance, and Rouen, we suppose, he passes, through Paris; at least we an indefinable superiority and high breeding in his simple next see him established at the village of Auteuil, in a address, that would betray his rank after a few minute's maison de santé. Here he spends his time in studying conversation to any shrewd observer. It is only in his some of the immates of the house; lounging in the Bois manner toward the ladies of the party that he would be de Boulogne; sitting at his window receiving impressions immediately distinguishable from men of lower rank in from the passing objects, mirth, music, bridal, and burial; society." and meditating in Père la Chaise. A pedestrian excursion These "Pencillings by the Way" appear to be still in from Orleans to Tours along the banks of the Loire folthe course of publication. When completed, we should lows. A journey from Bourdeaux to Madrid in the dilisuggest their reprint in a collected shape. If all the let. gence, and a brief sojourn at the Spanish capital, are the ters resemble those we have read, there can be little boubt next principal events in the Pilgrimage; and, with the about their success in England-and none at all, we ima- journey from Madrid to Granada, furnish the opportunity gine, about their American popularity.

From the Spectator.

OUTRE-MER.

for some pleasant sketches of Spain and Spaniards. The ensuing scene is Italy-done far too slightly, if it were to be, touched at all; and the finale-a tour through Germany and down the Rhine-is huddled up in a few lines. In choosing the extracts, we shall have an eye to the maintenance of the opinion we have hazarded: and what

OPENING OF A TALE.

An American of elegant mind, literary habits, and a can be better than the two following passages? The first love of antiquity, chivalry, and old customs-with a is the opening of the antiquarian's gift; and heretofore greater knowledge of the European literature of the middle there has been but one man who could paint so happily ages than is, we imagine, usual amongst his matter-of-the luxury of laziness in the first paragraph, or give so fact countrymen-paid a first visit to the Old World, it slily the satirical touch at the close of the second. In the would appear, from internal evidence, some eight or nine piece of Monsieur D'Argentville, there is more of the pith years ago. A common tourist he certainly was not; neither of his prototype GOLDSMITH than IRVING always exhibits; can he be termed a scientific, a learned, or even a classical yet it seems to us to smack strongly of the Sketch-Book traveller, in the usual acceptation of the terms. The nevertheless. things which delight other men appear to have had small attraction for him. Balls, concerts, theatres, the galleries "In times of old, there lived in the city of Rouen a of art, the meetings of the learned, the assemblies of legis- tradesman named Martin Franc, who, by a series of mislators, the courts of rulers, are matters which he deemed fortunes, had been reduced from opulence to poverty. unworthy of record, if he thought them worthy of a visit. But poverty, which generally makes men humble and The scenes among which he loves to linger, are the Gothic laborious, only served to make him proud and lazy; and temple, the neglected, the deserted, or the ruined castle, in proportion as he grew poorer and poorer, he grew also once inhabited by Christian or Paynim knighthood, and the softer kind of landscape, when seen under a cheering, day to day, by now and then pawning a silken robe of his prouder and lazier. He contrived, however, to live on from a warm, or a sober atmosphere. The persons whom he wife, or selling a silver spoon, or some other trifle saved studies, or with whom he takes up, are mostly odd bodies; from the wreck of his better fortune; and passed his time wayfarers like himself, peasants with a dash of personal pleasantly enough in loitering about the market-place, and or national romance, quaint old gentlemen who have tales walking up and down on the sunny side of the street. to tell, or whose history is a tale of itself. His favourite stories are the humorous with a touch of the satirical, or the whole city for her beauty, her wit, and her virtue. "The fair Marguerite, his wife, was celebrated through the elegantly pensive-melancholy yet not despairing. In She was a brunette, with the blackest eye, the whitest short, A Pilgrimage to the Old World appears as if it were teeth, and the ripest nut-brown check in all Normandy; intended to be a kind of foreign Bracebridge Hall; with her figure was tali and stately, her hands and feet most far less elaboration and minuteness, indeed, but with an delicately moulded, and her swimming gait like the motion almost equal elegance of thought and language, albeit of a swan. rather more meagre. The Epistle to the Reader, and the the richest tradesmen in the city, and the envy of the In happier days she had been the delight of Pilgrim's account of himself, state distinctly that the fairest dames; and when she became poor, her fame was writer appears for the first time; and as we always expect not a little increased by her cruelty to several substantial to be believed when we make a statement in print, self- burghers, who, without consulting their wives, had geneinterest induces a faith even against evidence. But since rously offered to stand between her husband and bankthe Pilgrim cannot be WASHINGTON IRVING, he must be ruptey, and do all in their power to raise a worthy and his fetch or his double. Either the author of the Sketchrespectable family." Book-in his capacity of author-has received a warning, or there are "two Richmonds in the field."

THE SEXAGENARIAN.

The Pilgrim, we suppose, started from Havre. At all "The personage sketched in the preceding paragraph is events, he travelled through Normandy to Rouen, outside Monsieur d'Argentville, a sexagenarian, with whom I the diligence; describing his first impressions of the coun- became acquainted during my residence at the Maison de try through which he passed, and painting the vehicle Santé of Auteuil. I found him there, and left him there. which carried him. At Rouen, he rambles through the Nobody knew when he came he had been there from city at nightfall; emerges from a narrow alley in front of time immemorial; nor when he was going away-for he the Cathedral, and, for the first time in his life, as he tells, himself did not know; nor what ailed him-for though sees a specimen of Gothic architecture. His reverential he was always complaining, yet he grew neither better saunter through the building is described; and we are also nor worse, never consulted a physician, and ate vora

ciously three times a day. At table he was rather peevish, bow for ever beneath an iron yoke, "like cattle whose troubled his neighbours with his elbows, and uttered the despair is dumb?"

monosyllable pish! rather oftener than good breeding and "The dust of the Cid lies mingling with the dust of a due deference to the opinions of others seemed to justify. Old Castile; but his spirit is not buried with his ashes. As soon as he seated himself at table, he breathed into his It sleeps, but is not dead. The day will come when the tumbler, and wiped It out with a napkin; then wiped his foot of the tyrant shall be shaken from the neck of Spain; plate, his spoon, his knife and fork in succession, and each when a brave and generous people, though now ignorant, with great care. After this he placed the napkin under degraded, and much abused, shall "know their rights, and his chin, by way of bib and tucker; and these prepara- knowing, dare maintain." But I am no political seertions being completed, gave full swing to an appetite which I will dwell no longer on this theme." was not inappropriately denominated by one of our guests une faim canine.

THE PUERTA DEL SOL-MADRID.

What a

"The old gentleman's weak side was an affectation of "There, take that chair upon the balcony, and let us youth and gallantry. Though "written down old, with all look down upon the busy scene beneath us. the characters of age," yet at times he seemed to think continued roar the crowded thoroughfare sends up! himself in the heyday of life; and the assiduous court he Though three stories high, we can hardly hear the sound paid to a fair Countess, who was passing the summer at of our own voices. The London cries are whispers when the Maison de Santé, was the source of no little merriment compared with the cries of Madrid. to all but himself. He loved, too, to recal the golden age with a montera cap, brown jacket and breeches, and coarse "See, yonder stalks a gigantic peasant of New Castile, of his amours; and would discourse with prolix eloquence, and a faint twinkle in his watery eye, of his bonnes for-blue stockings, forcing his way through the crowd, and tunes in times of old, and the rigours that many a fair leading a donkey laden with charcoal, whose sonorous dame had suffered on his account. Indeed, his chief pride bray is in unison with the harsh voice of his master. Close seemed to be to make his hearers believe that he had been at his elbow goes a rosy-cheeked damsel selling calico. a dangerous man in his youth, and was not yet quite She is an Asturian, from the mountains of Santander.

safe."

The other extracts shall come from Spain.

SPAIN NATURAL, AND SPAIN POLITICAL,

How do you know? By her short yellow petticoats, her blue boddice, her coral necklace and ear-rings. Through the middle of the square struts a peasant of Old Castile, with his yellow leather jerkin strapped round his waist, his brown leggins and his blue garters, driving before him "My recollections of Spain are of the most lively and a set of gabbling turkies, and crying, at the top of his voice, delightful kind. The character of the soil and of its" Pao, pao, pavitos paos!" Next comes a Valentian, with inhabitants the stormy mountains and free spirits of the his loose linen trousers and sandal shoon, holding a huge North-the prodigal luxuriance and gay voluptuousness of sack of water-melons upon his shoulder with his left hand, the South-the history and traditions of the past, resemb- and with his right balancing high in air a specimen of his ling more the fables of romance than the solemn chronicle luscious fruit, upon which is perched a little pyramid of of events a soft and yet majestic language, that falls like the crimson pulp, while he tempts the passers-by with "A martial music on the ear, and a literature rich in the cala, y calando; una sandía vendo-o-o. Si esto es sanattractive lore of poetry and fiction,-these, but not these gree!" (By the slice-come and try it-water-melon for alone, are my reminiscences of Spain. With these I recal sale. This is the real blood!) His companion near him the thousand little circumstances and enjoyments which has a pair of scales thrown over his shoulder, and holds always give a colouring to our recollections of the past: both arms full of musk-melons. He chimes into the harthe clear sky, the pure, balmy air, the delicious fruits and monious ditty with the "Melo-melo-o-o-meloncitos; flowers, the wild fig and the aloe, the palm-tree and the aquí está el azúcar !" (Melons, melons; here is the real olive by the wayside,—all, all that makes existence so joy-sugar!) Behind them creeps a slow-moving Asturian, in pus, and renders the sons and daughters of that clime the heavy wooden shoes, crying water-cresses; and a peasant children of impulse and sensation. woman from the Guardarama Mountains, with a montera "As I write these words, a shade of sadness steals over cocked up in front, and a blue kerchief tied under her chin, me. When I think what that glorious land might be, and swings in each hand a bunch of live chickens, that hang by what it is—what nature intended it should be, and what the claws, head downwards, fluttering, scratching, crowing man has made it my heart sinks within me. My mind with all their might, while the good woman tries to drown instinctively reverts from the degradation of the present their voices in the discordant cry of "Quien me compra to the glory of the past; or, looking forward with strong un gallo-un pat de gallinas? (Who buys a cock-a brace misgivings, but with yet stronger hopes, interrogates the of hens-who buys?) That tall fellow in blue, with a future. pot of flowers upon his shoulder, is a wag, beyond all dis

"The banished armour of the Cid stands in the archives pute. See how cunningly he cocks his eye up at us, and of the Royal Museum of Madrid; and there, too, is seen cries, "Si yo tuviera balcon!" (If I only had a balcony!) the armour of Ferdinand and Isabel; of Guzman the "What next? A Manchego, with a sack of oil under Good, and Gonzalo de Cordova, and of other early cham- his arm; a Gallego, with a huge water-jar upon his shoulphons of Spain: but what hand shall now wield the sword ders; an Italian pedlar, with images of saints and Maof the Campeador, or lift up the banner of Leon and donnas; a razor grinder, with his wheel; a mender of Castile? The ruins of Christian castle and Moorish al- pots and kettles, making music as he goes, with a shovel cazar still look forth from the hills of Spain; but where, and a frying pan; and, in fine, a noisy, patch work, everO where is the spirit of freedom that once fired the children changing crowd, whose discordant cries mingle with the of the Goth? Where is the spirit of Bernardo del Carpio, rumbling of wheels, the clatter of hoofs, and the clang of and Perez de Vargas, and Alonzo de Aguilar? Shall it for church-bells, and make the Puerta del Sol, at certain hours ever sleep? Shall it never again beat high in the hearts of of the day, like a street in Babylon the Great."

their degenerate sons? Shall the descendants of Pelayo Besides the contents we have described, there are VOL. XXVIII, FEBRUARY, 1836.—17.

scattered throughout the volumes several notices of the conjectures of later writers, and he has tested the whole poetry and romances of the middle ages. They are by collating authorities, or weighing the possibilities of the written with taste, elegance, and discrimination, though case. The result of his labours is not a history, but a with a leaning to hoar antiquity. But these, with one sublimated chronicle. He has preserved the simplicity, or two other papers, might have been composed without the minuteness, the old-wife-like gossiping style, and the making a journey to the Old World. And-else we abundant anecdotes of individual adventure, that give such are cloyed with unvarying sweetness-some passages a charm to the old writers: whilst to these qualities he has in the second volume might have been dispensed with, superadded a, connexion which they never sought for, an being fitter for filling space than exciting interest.

From the Spectator.

THE CONQUEST OF FLORIDA.

eloquence which they could not have conceived, and an occasional pleasantry which their faith would not have allowed them to indulge. Something perhaps of life and vigor may have been lost in the process of throwing off grossness and impurity, but as we have never read the originals, we cannot decide upon the point.

THE reader of ROBERTSON is acquainted with the fact Notwithstanding this deficiency, the Conquest of Florida of the accidental discovery of Florida by PONCE DE LEON, is both agreeable and interesting. Had it possessed aniwhilst the veteran enthusiast was sailing in search of the mation and variety, it would have been a most extraordiFountain of Youth, which was to restore to him a blessing|nary production—a kind of tragic Odyssey, with a spice his gold could not purchase; and a brief allusion is made of the Iliad, divested of their continuity of action. Bating by the same historian to the adventures of ALVAR NUGNEZ the descent into Hell, and the transformations of Circe, the in that country. But, we believe, no full and popular ac- sights seen by DE SOTO's band were as wonderful as any count has yet appeared of the different disastrous expedi- beheld by Ulysses; their sufferings were certainly greater, tions undertaken by Spanish adventurers to colonize the their adventures and expedients equally strange; whilst regions that now form the most Southern part of the Uni-the battles and single combats interspersed throughout the ted States. Various causes have contributed to this ne- work may vie in number and detail with those before glect; but the principal ones may be ascribed to the cha- Troy. Nor is the Conquest altogether devoid of higher racter of the people, the poverty of their country, and the interest: the leader has much that is chivalrous in his ill-success of the attempts. CORTES and PIZARRO arrived character, with something that is heroic, and it is not prein extensive empires, amongst a half-civilized people, and sented to us without those minute traits that mark the inin gold-producing lands; where, by a succession of daring dividual. His principal followers, too, have their personal exploits and of treacheries which historians have not been characteristics, which distinguish them from one another; ashamed to denominate policy, they succeeded, according and in the laboured descriptions of their chroniclers we not to the indignant boast of CORTES to CHARLES the Fifth, only learn to recognize the men, but have the customs and "in giving him more kingdoms than his father left him manners of the time brought up before us, more especially provinces;" besides amassing no slight amount of riches that pride of pedigree which operated in the wastes of for themselves, and showing others a ready way to wealth. Florida as strongly as in Spain, and that lofty though forOn the other hand, HERNANDO DE SOTO and his predeces- mal courtesy which has been deemed peculiar to the sor were unfortunate; and their failure laid the foundation Spanish cavalier, and was not wanting in these marauders for no immediate success and no ultimate results. Hence, when their passions slumbered. There is also the germ whilst the exploits of the conquerors of Mexico and Peru of a connected story in the leading incidents of these unare the themes of historians, novelists, and poets, the ad- fortunate explorers. The beginning dates from their first ventures of the first discoverers of the Mississippi and of setting forth, radiant in all the purple and panoply which its fertile valley have been unnoticed, save in the pages of the spoils of Mexico and Peru or the sale of their Spanish contemporary chroniclers, though their courage and capa- properties could procure. The middle might be dated city were equally great and the hardships they underwent from the disastrous battle of Mauvila, in which a victory very probably greater. was gained, although with the loss of spoil and stores; but

The aim of Mr. THEODORE IRVING'S Conquest of Flori- we rather incline to fix it at the moment when DE SOTO, da (a misnomer, by the by, for Florida was not conquer-wandering in disguise through the camp, overhears a coned, but overrun), is to do justice to the memory of these firmation of the reports, that if he led his army to the sea, ill-treated adventurers,—more especially to HERNANDO DE with the idea of founding a city and colonizing the country, Soro. The circumstance which incited him to under. the majority, sick of their toils and ill-success, would return take the task was an accidental meeting with GARCILASO to Spain: for from this time he became a changed man, DE LA VEGA'S "Chronicle," whilst studying Spanish at moody, melancholy, and severe, guiding his conduct not so Madrid. "As I read," says Mr. IRVING, "I became in- much by policy as by a desire to prevent his men from sensibly engrossed by the extraordinary enterprise therein having an opportunity to disband, and leading them on a narrated. I dwelt with intense interest upon the hair-desperate adventure to the interior on a forlorn hope to disbrained adventures and daring exploits of steel-clad war-cover gold. The death of DE SOTO, from a fever brought riors, and the no less valiant and chivalrous deeds of on by fatigue, anxiety, and the climate, is the catastrophe: savage chieftains, which entitle this narrative to the high and the final event it gives rise to is the return to Panuco. praise bestowed upon it by Mr. SOUTHEY, of being one of after innumerable hardships, of the remnant of the most the most delightful works in the Spanish language." This gallant and well-appointed band that had ever set out to admiration, and probably a spice of family enthusiasm, colonize or conquer the New World.

led our author to inquire further, and he met with an ac- Of the details of their route no particulars can be fur count by a Portuguese adventurer who served in the ex-nished, for none are correctly ascertained; but there is pedition. These two works are the chief authorities of little question that the explorers reached those Prairies o Mr. IRVING: he has added something to the exploits from the far-off West with which the works of our author's re contemporary authors, he has endeavoured to throw some lations have made us so well acquainted; came in sight o ight on the route of the expedition from the researches or the Rocky Mountains; and discovered the Arkansas; from

near the embouchure of which river they descended the boured in vain. At length they succeeded in forcing two Mississippi to the sea. of the horses over, one of which belonged to the leader, The reader who has followed us in our notice must not Juan de Anasco, the other to Gonzalo de Silvestre. Both imagine that the points we have alluded to are very dis- of these cavaliers being among the number of those who tinctly marked, nor expect that the elements of heroic ac- could not swim, had already passed by the bridge. As tion are brought out with the strength of heroic song. A soon as their horses had landed they saddled and mounted few miscellaneous extracts will at once give him an idea them, in order to be ready for action, should an enemy apof the author's style, and of the sort of reading he will proach. meet with. Here are some disjointed bits from an episo

AN INDIAN'S EXPLOIT.

"Notwithstanding two horses had thus led the way, dical adventure of Juan de Anasco and his thirty lancers, no other, cither by coaxing or cudgelling, could be prewho were sent on an exploring expedition. They have vailed upon to follow Gomez Arias, the hardy chief of been travelling for six successive days through a hostile nineteen companions, who, entirely naked, had been lacountry, continually depending for their safety on the swift-bouring up to their waists in water more than four hours, ness of their horses, and the bridge of which the reader exposed to the keen North wind, and so thoroughly chilled hears is formed of felled trees sunk under the water. that their bodies were almost black. They were wearied "On the seventh day, Pedro de Atienza declared him- in body and vexed in spirit; and seeing all their exertions self to be ill. They made light of his declaration, and, not useless were almost driven to despair." to lose time, urged him forward. He continued from time to time to complain, but without being attended to until having ridden in this way for several hours, he fell dead "At another time a party of twenty horse and fifty foot beside his horse. His comrades were shocked at his sud- sallied out on a foraging expedition to gather maize. Af den death, and at their own want of sympathy in his suf- ter they had collected an ample supply, they placed themferings. There was no time to be lost, however, in cere-selves in an ambush in a hamlet about a league from their monials. They dug a grave with their hatchets upon the quarters, in hopes of entrapping some of the natives. In spot, buried him by the way-side, and then rode on, de- the upper part of what appeared to be a temple they placed ploring the loss of a brave soldier and well-tried comrade. a centry; who after some time descried an Indian moving "That night, after travelling twenty leagues, they en- stealthily across the public square, casting furtive glances, camped on the border of the great morass. It was so ex- as if he dreaded a concealed foe. tremely cold, in consequence of a keen North wind, that

"The sentinel giving the alarm, Diego de Soto, nephew they were compelled to kindle fires, at the risk of warning to the Governor, one of the best soldiers in the army, and the Indians of their vicinity. Twenty resolute men would an excellent horseman, spurred into the square to capture have been sufficient to dispute this pass and massacre every him. Diego Velasquez, Master of the Horse to the Goverone of them; as the savages would possess great advan-nor, followed at a hand-gallop, to aid De Soto in case of tages in their canoes over the Spaniards, who could not need.

avail themselves of their horses, and had neither archers "The Indian seeing them approach trusted for safety to nor cross-bows to dislodge the enemy. Thus troubled and that fleetness of foot for which his countrymen were reanxious, one-third of their number kept watch at a time, markable. Finding, however, that the horse gained upon while the others slept in order to recruit strength for the him, he took refuge under a tree, as the natives were acfatigues of the coming day.

"The Spaniards had slept but a few hours when they were awakened by the sufferings of Juan de Soto, who had been the companion of Pedro Atienza, and who died almost as suddenly, being overcome by excessive fatigue.

customed to do when they had no lances to defend them. selves from the horse. Here, fixing an arrow in his bow, he awaited the approach of his enemy. Diego de Soto galloped up to the tree, but not being able to ride under it, wheeled close beside it, and made a thrust with his lance

"Some of the troops fled from the neighbourhood of the over his left arm at the Indian as he dashed by. The lat corpse, declaring that the plague had broken out among ter evaded the blow, and drawing his arrow to the head them and caused these sudden deaths. Gomez Arias, discharged it the moment the horse was abreast of him. vexed at their panic, cried out, " If you fly from us, whither The shaft entered just between the girth and the stirrupwill you go? You are not on the river-banks of Seville, leather, the wounded animal went stumbling forward fifnor in its olive groves." Ashamed of their alarms, the teen or twenty paces and fell dead. fugitives returned and joined in prayers for the dead, but would not aid in interring the body, insisting that their companion had died of the dreaded pestilence.

"Diego Velasquez spurred to the relief of his comrade, and passing the tree, made a plunge with his lance as De Soto had done. The same event followed. The Indian "When the day dawned they prepared to pass the mo- dodged the lance, discharged another arrow just behind rass. Eight Spaniards who could not swim proceeded to the stirrup-leather, and sent the horse tumbling to take its the bridge, and having replaced its railing carried over the place beside its companion. The two cavaliers sprang saddles of their horses and the clothes of their companions. upon their feet and advanced upon the Indian lance in The remainder, perfectly naked, vaulted upon their horses, hand. The savage, however, contented himself with his and endeavoured to force them into the water; but it was good fortune, and made off for the woods."

INDIAN ARCHERY.

so cold that they shrank back. The soldiers then attached ropes to their halters, and four or five swam to the middle of the current, attempting to drag the horses after "Some few days after the misfortune of these two horsethem; others struck them behind with long poles. The men, Simon Rodriguez and Roque de Yelves set out on animals, however, planted their feet firmly in the ground, horseback to gather some fruit that grew in a wood skirt. and could not be moved. ing the village. Not satisfied with plucking it from the "Two or three were at length urged into the stream; lower branches, seated in their saddles, they climbed the bat when they come to the deep water the cold was so tree to gather it from the topmost boughs, fancying it of great that they turned back, dragging the swimmers af better flavour. While thus employed, Roque de Yelves ter them. For more than three hours the latter thus la-gave the alarm of Indians at hand, and throwing himself

from the tree, ran to recover his horse; but an arrow with their journey, the troops continued to press forward, traa barb of flint entered between his shoulders and came velling all day, and arriving at their place of encampment out at his breast-he fell forward and lay stretched upon just before nightfall, drenched with rain and covered with the earth. Rodriguez was too much terrified to descend. mud. They had then to go in quest of food, and were They shot at him like a wild beast, and he fell dead, generally compelled to obtain it by force of arms, and pierced by three arrows. Scarcely had he touched the sometimes at the expense of many lives. ground when they scalped him and bore off the trophy in "The rivers became swollen by the rains; even the triumph. The arrival of his comrades saved the scalp of brooks were no longer fordable, so that almost every day poor de Yelves. He related the event in few words, and the soldiers were obliged to make rafts to cross them. At making confession, immediately expired. The horses of some of the rivers they were detained seven or eight days, the slain Spaniards had fled towards the camp. Upon the by the unceasing opposition of their enemies and the want thigh of one of them was perceived a drop of blood. He of sufficient materials for constructing rafts. Often too, at was taken to a farrier, who, seeing that the wound was no night, they had no place to lie upon-the ground being greater than that made by the puncture of a lancet, said covered with mud and water. The cavalry passed the there was nothing to cure. On the following morning the night sitting upon their horses, and the water was up to horse died. The Spaniards suspecting that he had been the knees of the infantry. For clothing they had merely struck by an arrow, opened the body at the wound, and jackets of chamois and other skins, belted round them, tracing it, found a shaft which had passed through the which served for shirt, doublet, and coat, and was almost thigh and entrails and lodged in the hollow of the breast. always wet through. They were in general bare legged, They were perfectly amazed at the result of the examina- without shoes or sandals. tion, for an arquebuse could scarcely have sent a ball so far."

WANTONNESS OF WEARINESS.

"Both men and horses began to sicken and die under such dreadful privations. Every day two, three, and "In the course of their weary march throughout this of this journey, and almost all the Indian servants perishat one time, seven Spaniards fell victims to the hardships desolate tract, a foot-soldier, calling to a horseman who ed. There were no means of carrying the sick and dying, was his friend, drew forth from his wallet a linen bag, in for many of the horses were infirm, and those that were which were six pounds of pearls, probably filched from one well were reserved to repel the constant attacks of a vigiof the Indian sepulchres. These he offered as a gift to lant enemy. The sick, therefore, dragged their steps forhis comrade, being heartily tired of carrying them on his ward as long as they could, and often died by the way; back, though he had a pair of broad shoulders, capable of while the survivors, in their haste to proceed, scarcely bearing the burden of a mule. The horsemen refused to stayed to bury them, but left them half covered with earth,

accept so thoughtless an offer. "Keep them yourself," and sometimes entirely unburied. Yet, in spite of sick

said he; "you have most need of them. The Governor intends shortly to send messengers to Havana, where you can forward these presents and have them sold, and obtain three or four horses with the proceeds; so that then you will have no further need to travel on foot."

nels and keep up their camp-guards at night in order to ness and exhaustion, the army never failed to post sentiprevent surprise."

In an address full of good and grateful feeling, Mr. THEODORE IRVING dedicates his volumes to his uncle "Juan Terron was piqued at having his offer refused. WASHINGTON, acknowledging, amongst weightier obliga“Well,” said he, "if you will not have them, I swear I will not carry them, and they shall remain here." So say- work. We have not perceived any marked traces in parts tions, his assistance in the composition of the present ing, he untied the bag, and whirling it round, as if he were of the author of the Sketch Book; but there is such a sowing seed, scattered the pearls in all directions among the thickets and herbage. Then putting up the bag in his general family likeness, that we presume he has, in artist wallet, as if it were more valuable than the pearls, he phrase, "gone over it;" a suspicion strengthened by the marched on, leaving his comrade and other bystanders asequality of the composition. tonished at his folly.

From the Spectator. HORSE-SHOE ROBINSON

"The soldiers made a hasty search for the scattered pearls, and recovered thirty of them. When they beheld their great size and beauty, none of them being bored and discoloured, they lamented that so many had been lost; Is an historical novel, of considerable power and interest. for the whole would have sold in Spain for more than six Both these qualities, however, are displayed in the histothousand ducats. This egregious folly gave rise to a com-ry rather than in the fiction: had Mr. KENNEDY travelled mon proverb in the army, that "there are no pearls for over well-known ground, and taken up a familiar subject, Juan Terron." which required creative genius and constructive skill, he

We must pass the illness and death of DE SOTO; the would certainly have been thought heavy, and perhaps unaccount of the precautions adopted by his troops to pre-readable. The wild scenery of such half-settled countries vent the discovery of his mortal sickness by the natives, as Virginia and Carolina, the habits of life and diversified lest they should attack them in consequence; and the characters of the remoter parts of the States some fifty years "maimed rites" with which he was first buried at mid- since, the stirring adventures and barbarities of Colonial night in a ready-dug excavation, and then taken up and partisan warfare, and the irregular troops by whom it was entombed in the channel of the Mississippi, to render the chiefly waged, are subjects that give a truthful air and an discovery of his remains impossible. The last extract shall exciting antiquarianism to the work, altogether apart from be taken from its merit as a novel.

THE RETREAT.

The scene of the story is laid in the Southern States, in 1780, about the time when the American General GATES

"The winter now set in with great rigour: it was ac- was defeated by Lord CORNWALLIS, and the cause of indecompanied with heavy rains, violent gales, and extreme pendence was, apparently crushed. The most important, cold; yet in their eagerness to arrive at the termination of the most active, and the busiest character in the novel, is