212 Monthltj Review of Literature. [August, 



the date noted ia the old map of Queen Elizabeth's gallery, which recorded, that 

 the first discovery of land, whether of Newfoundland or Labrador, occurred on 

 the 24th June, 1497 — two years before ever Amerigo Vespucci crossed the 

 Atlantic. 



Though Sebastian appears to have been the hero of the voyage of discovery 

 under the first patent — he must have been very young, for he was living sixty- 

 one years after — there is no good reason for quite throwing John, the father, 

 overboard, as the writer, who is furiously critical, is disposed to do. He doubts 

 if he ever accompanied the expedition ; but till we have further evidence, we 

 must abide by the words of the second patent, which expressly ascribe the 

 discovery to John. Of what was done under the second patent little is known 

 beyond the fact of the sailing of an expedition under the command of Sebastian. 

 John, the father, died before it sailed. There are reports of his being stopped 

 by the want of provisions in his career to the southward. 



From 1498 there appears a gap in the story of Sebastian till 1512, in which 

 latter year he is known to have entered the service of Spain. The writer, 

 indeed, eager to find employment for his protege, sends him on a voyage to 

 Maracaibo in 1499 — building, apparently, entirely upon the fact, that Hojeda, 

 who sailed from Spain that year in company with Amerigo Vespucci, met with 

 some English in the neighbourhood of Caquibacao, who could, it seems, be 

 nobody but Sebastian and his crews. In an old Bristol Calendar occurs — " 1499 : 

 This year Sebastian Cabot, borne in Bristoll, proferred his services to King 

 Henry for discovering new countries, which had noe greate or favourable enter- 

 tainment of the king, but he, with no extraordinary preparation, sett forth from 

 Bristoll, and made yreate discoverips." But we may readily believe here is some 

 confusion of date and circumstances — for of " these great discoveries" nothing 

 whatever is known. 



In short, Sebastian's history is a blank till 1512. In 1516 he returned to 

 England, and was the following year employed to discover the N. W. passage, 

 ■ of which voyage scarcely any thing is known but its failure. It was in this 

 voyage, and not in that of 1496, the writer concludes with some reason, that 

 Sebastian reached the latitude of &7}^. The failure of this expedition seems to 

 have shut him out from further engagements in English service. The next year 

 he was again in Spain, and continued in her service for thirty years, for the 

 most part actively employed in prosecuting discoveries, and establishing colonies 

 in South America. About the time of the accession of Edward VI. he came 

 finally to England, as to his native land, for though generally regarded as a 

 foreigner, it appears, on his own testimony', he was born in Bristol. Through 

 the whole of that reign he was in high favour with the court, was consulted on 

 naval matters, and had a considerable pension : and in equal respect with the 

 merchant adventurers, for he was appointed governor of the company. He lost 

 ground in Mary's time — Philip, it seems, resented his quitting the Spanish 

 service. The time of his death is not ascertained, nor is it known where he 

 was buried. 



As a memoir the book is, on the whole, but a puzzled account, though 

 brilliant in parts. The thorough industry of the writer has produced useful 

 results. Nothing can exceed the absurdities into which historians have run for 

 want of a little research. . The author is a shrewd and searching person, and 

 may do much real good in the path he has selected, and which he seems 

 inclined to pursue. He is apt to be precipitate, and has shewn want of temper. 

 Let him be upon his guard, otherwise it will quickly plunge him into more 

 blunders than he corrects — like the tinker, he will stop one hole and make two. 



London and Paris, a Novel, by the Author of the Castilian, the 



Exquisites, &c. 



This clever and observant Spaniard is a perfect camelion, reflecting with 

 enviable facility every shade and hut with which he comes in contact. London, 

 Paris, Madrid — he is every where at home ; and his object here is to delineate 

 a few of the more remarkable peculiarities, in certain classes, which have struck 



