inclusive, neither of these names, nor any similar one, is to be found. In so important an expedition, projected and solely directed by Gibbons, he would, from his associations, have employed, as ship-master, none but a church-member and a freeman of Massachusetts.*

"Captain Shapley told me," says the pseudo De Fonte, "his owner was a fine gentleman, and major-general of the largest colony in New England, called the Maltachusetts." Here are

a couple of anachronisms. In 1640, Massachusetts was usually called New England, and was not, until three or four years later, obliged to regard herself as one of the New England colonies. In 1640, the title of major-general had not been conferred on Gibbons, nor on any other man. In his "Wonder-working Providences," Johnson says, "Major Edward Gibbons," thus designating his rank, when he was simply sergeant-major, or commanding officer of the regiment of Suffolk, "hath now [1652] the office of major-general also." In the preceding page, he makes Thomas Dudley the first major-general; and Hubbard (p. 373) confirms the statement of the priority of Dudley, giving 1644 as the date of the earliest election. The elevation of Gibbons did not, according to Johnson, his intimate acquaintance, occur before 1649, near ten years after the pretended expedition must have sailed.

But there is yet in reserve that argument which Mr. Samuel Weller's father esteemed most of all, an alibi. "The owner," says the Letter, "and the whole ship's company, came on board, the 30th." The owner was Edward Gibbons, and the time was July 30th, 1640.

A ship from Boston, moored, on that day, in that part of the earth, should, in order to get through the ice, for one or two thousand miles west of Baffin's Bay (which must have thawed the previous summer), have sailed as early as April, 1639; or, if her voyage were round Cape Horn, not after October of the same year. A competent navigator, in our own times, bound to keep an appointment in the vicinity of Behring's Straits, would not dare to start a month later than October to reach his destination by the middle of the following July, in our usual

* The name of Shapley is believed to occur, on this side of the ocean, for the first time, 2d of April, 1641, when Nicholas Shapleigh, described in the deed," of King's Ware, in the county of Devon," receives conveyance of all the grantor's estate in New England. He was probably a creditor, and did not come over for some time, for livery of seisin is, a few days after, witnessed by E. Godfrey, Roger Gard, sometime Mayor of Acomenticus, and one more. The land, of course, was in Maine.

This, however, is not entirely accurate. John Humfrey was the first major-general, in 1641. He went home to England in a few months after his appointment and probably the place remained vacant till Dudley's elevation to it.

course. For the return voyage, supposing the adventurer to have come by a north passage, he would have to push through it in August, the only month which could be thought of for such service, and would be happy to reach Massachusetts Bay in November; or, if he came by our modern route, he could hardly reach the end of his voyage before March, 1641.

Where, then, between these limits of time, was Edward Gibbons, the "fine gentleman" who was owner of the vessel met by De Fonte, and a passenger in her? For if, during any part of the interval, we can find him in Massachusetts, then De Fonte is a phantom, and the writer of his "Letter" was a knave.

We have two guides in following his motions; one, the Records of the General Court of Massachusetts; the other, the slender first volume of Boston Records.

From the first it appears, that, on the 13th day of March, 1639, Gibbons was representative for Boston, with two others. As, for the next forty years, the town had only two, if he was one, he could less be spared for so distant an excursion; and he was one in May, and again in September, of the same year. It being, at the last date, hazardous to undertake the passage in climes beyond the solar road," the credulous reader of De Fonte must suppose him to have taken the circuit by the southern extremity of our continent. But no; for we find, that, in March, 1640, he was sent, with two other gifted brethren, to reduce some schismatics, who had been driven from the church of Boston, and had pretended to set up public worship at Newport. In the May following, he is again at his post in the Massachusetts legislature. In November of the same year, he heads an expedition; but it is only as far as Dorchester, whither he goes with "a guard of twelve musketeers," to meet the sachem, Miantunnomo. In October, 1641, and through the six following years, he is still on the Boston seat in the General Court, and without any such manifestations of importance, as a negotiation with a "Prince of Chili," and the gift from him of a costly "diamond ring," might naturally have tempted him to assume.

According to the Boston Records, at the meeting of the freemen of the town, when "Captain Edward Gibbons " was first elected to the General Court of the colony, he was also made a selectman. The clerk attests, that he was present at the selectmen's meetings, May 27th, July 29th, August 6th, September 30th, October 28th, and November 25th, 1639; that, with Governor Winthrop, Bellingham, and others, he was reelected to that office December 16th of the same year; that he attended meetings on the 30th day of the same month, and on January 27th, February 24th, March 30th (on which last day the records mention his sale of an estate), April 27th, and

July 2d, of the succeeding year; and that on the 28th of September he was chosen once more to the same office, and was engaged in its duties on that day, and on the following October 26th. It is unnecessary to follow him into the next year. It is plain, that he has only from July 2d of the Julian year, (or 12th by the Gregorian, which his generous enemy, Admiral De Fonte used) till the 17th of the same month (or the 7th by Boston reckoning), that is, five days, in which to meet the Spanish magnifico beyond Queen Charlotte's Sound. And after the friendly separation, July 30th, his "diamond ring" must do the office of Aladdin's lamp, and bring him back, with his cask of wine, in fifty days, to his selectman's seat in Boston.

Dr. Snow, the learned and modest historian of Boston, conjectures (p. 89) the origin of this marvel of De Fonte to have been, in a real voyage of Gibbons from Boston to Bermuda, in a pinnace of thirty tons, in October, 1636. It was disastrously protracted, so that he did not return till June, 1637. In "Winthrop's History" (i. 226) may be seen a simple report of it, written at the time, and a preposterously wonderful one is given in Mather's “ Magnalia," book vi. “ Thaumaturgus."

In connexion with that part of the same article on "Nautical Discovery in the North-west," in which we spoke of the discovery of the Columbia River, by Captain Gray, we have been referred, by Mr. Sparks, to the fact, that the first suggestion of a trading voyage to the Northwest Coast appears to have been made by John Ledyard. In Sparks's Life of that enterprising American traveller (pp. 133 et seq.), is a full account of his endeavours to effect such a voyage as early as 1783. He had then recently returned from Cook's last voyage round the world, during which he had visited some of the Russian Settlements on the Northwest Coast, and become acquainted with the fur trade carried on by the Russians with the natives. His quick and sagacious observation pointed out to him the advantages that might be derived from this trade to the United States; and, as soon as he returned to his native country, he made various efforts to persuade some of the merchants to engage in such an expedition. At length Robert Morris approved his plan, and authorized him to put it in execution.

Ledyard spent several months in searching for a suitable vessel, in the principal ports of the United States. No vessel could be procured, and the project was abandoned. He then went to Europe, where he likewise failed, after having nearly attained his object. All this was done, before any voyage of

the kind had been undertaken, either in Europe or America. While inquiring for a vessel, he was in Boston, more than two years before Captains Kenrick and Gray sailed from that port to the Northwest Coast; and it is probable, that the first ideas of the voyage were derived from information communicated by him. It may be remarked, that the early voyages were fitted out and conducted precisely on the plan, which he had proposed, and the success corresponded with his anticipations. The narrative of these particulars, as contained in his Life, is curious and interesting; and it leaves no room to doubt, that John Ledyard was the first projector of this branch of trade.

NOTE

TO ARTICLE VII. OF THE LAST NUMBER.

In our notice of Mr. Du Ponceau's work upon the Chinese Language (North American Review, Vol. XLVIII. 'p. 288), we introduced an extract, containing the remark, that the two ships, with which Captain White went to Cochin-China in 1819, were said to be the first American vessels, that had ascended the river Donnai, in that kingdom. This statement rests upon the authority of Captain White himself, who says, in the preface to his work; "It is presumed, that no American ever prosecuted any important speculation in the country, previous to the joint adventure of the brig Franklin and ship Marmion. At least it is very certain, that they were the first American ships that ever ascended the Donnai River, and displayed the stars and stripes before the city of Saigon.'

We have since received the following memorandum, from John Prince, Esquire, of Jamaica Plain, who was part-owner of the first American ship that visited that country;

"The ship Arab, Benjamin Lander, master, owned by John Derby, John Prince, and Samuel G. Derby, sailed from Boston for CochinChina, 17th March, 1803, with 40,000 Spanish dollars, and other goods $2311-28; and, not succeeding, went to Manilla, and returned from thence in the summer of 1804."

We have to express our thanks to Mr. Prince, for this interesting fact in the history of American commerce; which has been unexpectedly elicited by our discussion of a literary topic, having no apparent connexion with it.

In the same article, the reader is requested to make the following correction, at p. 309, line 1; for characters, read words.

QUARTERLY LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.

AGRICULTURE.

Summary of the Principal Chinese Treatises upon the Culture of the Mulberry and the Rearing of Silk Worms. Translated from the Chinese. Washington: Peter Force. 8vo. pp. 198.

ARCHITECTURE.

The Builder's Guide, illustrated by sixty-six Engravings which exhibit the Orders of Architecture, and other elements of the Art. By Asher Benjamin, Architect. Boston: Perkins & Marvin. Philadelphia: Henry Perkins. 4to. pp. 83.

BIOGRAPHY.

The Life of Cardinal Cheverus, Archbishop of Bordeaux, and formerly Bishop of Boston in Massachusetts. From the French of J. Huen-Dubourg, Priest, and late Professor of Theology. Boston: James Munroe & Co. 12mo. pp. 389.

The Life of George Washington. By Jared Sparks. Boston: Ferdinand Andrews. 8vo. pp. 562.

EDUCATION.

A Manual of Conchology, according to the System laid down by Lamarck; with the late Improvements by De Blainville. Exemplified and Arranged for the Use of Students. By Thomas Wyatt, M. A. New York: Harper & Brothers. 8vo. pp. 191.

English Grammar for Beginners, on the Inductive Method of Instruction. By John L. Parkhurst. New York: Gould & Newman.

The Elements of Guitar-Playing; including a Complete System of Fingering founded on Chord Positions. Together with a General View of the Rudiments of Harmony; adapted to the Formation of Guitar Accompaniments. By James Ballard. New York: Geib & Walker.

Pub. Terentii Afri Andria Adelphique. Ex Editione Westerhovianâ. Accedunt Notæ Anglica. Curâ C. K, Dillaway, A. M. Boston: Perkins & Marvin. Philadelphia: Henry Perkins. 18mo. pp. 186.

Mr. Dillaway's editions of the Latin Classics, have been repeatedly noticed with approbation. This little volume contains two of the best plays of Terence, in a very neat and convenient form, with brief explanatory notes, in English. The plays are very correctly printed, and cannot fail of being an attractive book to the young student. Mr. Dillaway's commentaries show taste and judgment, and a competent knowledge of the author's peculiarities both of sentiment and diction.

Fables de la Fontaine, avec des Notes Historiques, Mythologiques, et Grammaticales, à l'Usage des Colléges et des Écoles. Par F. Sales, Maître de Français et d'Espagñol à l'Université de Harvard. Boston: Jâques Munroe & Cie. 12mo. Pp. 336.

No. 103.

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