Geographical Collections* 29f 



sdmost fancy that it is a dream ; and yet the result is based on principles 

 quite as certain as those which govern the conduct of men in their ordinary? 

 pursuits. There are many elements of disorder now operating in Spanish 

 America, but these are merely the dregs left by the old Spanish despotism ; 

 and the Anglo-American republic is a pole-star to guide the people in their 

 course towards freedom and prosperity. Nearly all social improvements 

 spring from the reciprocal influence of condensed numbers and diffused 

 intelligence. What, then, will be the state of society in America two 

 centuries hence, when a thousand, or two thousand millions of civilized men 

 are crowded into a space comparatively so narrow, and when this immense 

 mass of human beings speak only two languages ! We take for granted 

 that the Portuguese will merge into the Spanish ; and it is clear to us that 

 the Russian will never obtain a footing in the New World. Such a state of 

 things may be said to undo the curse of Babel, and restore the great mass 

 of mankind to their pristine facility of intercourse ; for the languages spoken 

 by the communities of Europe and Asia will be as unimportant then, in the 

 general scale of the globe, as the dialects of Hungary, Finland, and Bohemia, 

 are in Europe at this day. History shews that wealth, power, science, 

 literature, all follow in the train of numbers, general intelligence, and 

 freedom. The same causes which transferred the sceptre of civilization 

 from the banks of the Euphrates and the Nile to western Europe, must, in 

 the course of no long period, carry it from the latter to the plains of the 

 Mississippi and the Amazon. When we reflect on these changes, which 

 are not more extraordinary than they are near and certain, the conviction is 

 forced upon us, that society, after all its advances, is yet but in its infancy ; 

 that the habitable world, when its productive powers are regarded, may be 

 said hitherto to have been an untenanted waste ; and that we have at 

 present only an imperfect glimpse of the state of things under which the 

 true destiny of man, and the grand scheme of Providence in this lower world, 

 is to receive its full development. We are quite aware that some will 

 smile at these speculations ; but if any one suspects us of drawing on our 

 fancy, we would just request him to examine thoroughly the condition and 

 past progress of the North American republic. Let him look at its amazing 

 strides in wealth, intelligence, and social improvement ; at its indestructible 

 liberty ; and, above all, at the prodigious growth of its population ; and let 

 him answer the question to himself, " What power can stop the tide of 

 civilization which is pouring from this single source over an unoccupied 

 world ? " Let him trace the laws on which this progress depends, and let 

 him then apply them to unfold the future history of society in the New 



Continent From an excellent article on America, hy Mr Maclaren, in the 



New Edition of the Encycl. Britannica. 



Rochs in the Atlantic It was found lately, by a vessel coming to England 



from America, when passing over the supposed situation of some rocks, 

 called " Hervagault's breakers," that the thermometer indicated a decrease 

 of 13° in the temperature of the sea. Previous to this, it had been steady 

 at 72° ; and, on passing to the N. E., it again rose to the same temperature. 

 Unfortunately, no soundings were tried for, as no change was observed in 

 the natural blue colour of the sea. An incident of this nature might add to 

 the probability of the existence of these rocks, if it were not for the numerous 

 ice islands which have been frequently seen in the part of the ocean where 

 these dangers are supposed to lie. They have not been heard of since the 

 year 1723, at which time they are reported to have been seen by M. 

 Hervagault, on his way home from America, in the Conquerant of Nantes.* 

 They are described by him as being about two hundred yards apart from 

 each other ; that the sea broke over them in three different places, and 

 between each that it appeared clear. M. Hervagault states also, that he 

 passed between them. jmiqat.rimm'imi(i!fii^^^i^Si^i^' 



