Theory that thefe fons of chiefs were hostages for the mutineers. ceived! Is it credible? Would they not rather have confounded him with the others, who had committed the outrage and wreaked their vengeance on him? There is only one plaufible theory, one which we have never yet feen broached, and yet it forcibly croffes our minds in looking at this fubject. If he did take these chiefs' fons, was it as hoftages for the good treatment of the mutineers, whom he landed fomewhere about here, very probably on this island, intending to pick them up on his return voyage? If fo, Garcia's reception proves that the exchange was a voluntary one, and the charge of treachery disappears; and he who took fuch measures to preserve the lives of the men who endeavoured to fubvert all authority can furely not be called cruel. The ejection from the fleet of the mutineers was the mildeft as well as the fafest thing that could be done, and, we fee, was executed with as much mildness as was confiftent with a sense of duty. It is a remarkable fact, that if there is one perfonal trait in Sebaftian Cabot's life more gentleness. prominent than another, it is his gentleness. Cabot's To a phyfiognomist his portrait will at once exonerate him from fuch a charge; there is no cruelty written on that brow, or gleaming from thofe mild eyes. We dismiss these calumnies, therefore, with one remark. His portrait. Spain, and is reinstated in office. On Cabot's return to Spain the Emperor, He returns to who had meanwhile fuperfeded the company, and taken all the expenses on himself, reinstated him at once in his high and honourable office; and when, afterwards, Cabot went to England, made inceffant and most importunate interceffions, through his ambaffador, to get him to return and fettle in Spain. This completes, we think, his vindication. Cabot puts into the Rio de la Plata. CHAPTER VIII. Continues his researches on the La Plata; builds forts; afcends the Paraguay; conquers the attacking Guarani Indians; Garcia's arrival; its confequences; Cabot wins the love of the natives; cultivates the foil; ftudies the natural history of the country; makes laws; adminifters justice; confolidates his power. Treachery of Garcia's men; natives carry Fort San Spiritus and deftroy them and that portion of Cabot's men who were there. Endeavour of the Indians to surprise Cabot; he beats them off. Embarks for Spain; refumes his high post and its emoluments for eighteen years. Returns to his native place, Bristol, and settles there; probable reasons why. Spanish Ambassador demands his return of King Edward and his council; Cabot's interview and reply. Spain strikes off his penfion; King Edward grants him one. HOUGH Cabot, by his firmness, had diffipated the mutiny, he did not feel himself juftified in profecuting the long and perilous voyage originally contemplated without confulting his auguft employer; he therefore put into the Rio de la Plata, and from thence fent home a ftatement of all that had occurred. Sends home to counteract the state mutineers. The expelled commanders were men of ments of the high rank, and great influence at home. Miguel de Rodas had been with Magellan in his ship the "Victory," which circumnavigated the globe. The Emperor had given him a penfion for life and a device for his coat-of-arms, commemorative of that achieve ment. Martin Mendez had been in the fame ship, and the device prepared for him was of a yet more flattering description. Probably their accidental affociation with fo great an enterprise had given them a reputation far beyond their defert; at all events, they were men whom Cabot could not afford to despise. The Plata Meanwhile our intrepid navigator had lost no time. His immediate predeceffor as Pilotmajor, De Solis, had discovered this vaft river, previously whose mouth is an inlet of 150 miles in width, and on an island in it had loft his life, Cabot pushed his way up to this spot, and discovered by "Decades," iii. Herrera, lib. ix. cap. iii. R. Eden's "Ifle of Martin Garcia," the fcene of the death of De Solis. Gomara, cap. lxxxix. finding a vast body of water ftill descending, and precious metals more abundant among the natives the higher he went, he, hoping to be able to fend home a favourable report, profecuted his researches before he fent home his meffengers. One of his three ships had been lost on the voyage, and the men, who faved themselves by fwimming, were now diftributed between the two ships and the caravel. Pushing his way then boldly up this broad but fhallow inlet, whofe intricate navigation and violent pamperos make it to this hour the dread of the navigator, he reached an island, which still bears the name he gave to it, St. Gabriel. The low fhelving fhores on either hand gave fuch fhallow water that he cared not to take his fhips near the mainland. Near St. Gabriel was another island, where poor De Solis lay buried. He had reached thus far when, in an unfortunate dispute with the natives, he was fet upon, killed, together with fifty of his men, and eaten; though how they managed to eat him and alfo to bury him. |