I 1 o i^z/rtfiTji cj America. Grav'iHutcr. 



not much more informed before Charles V. introduced at Madrid the learned men of 

 Flanders and Germany. It is then very poflible that the Chevalier Bchem made very in- 

 terefting difcovcrics in geography in 14.85, without the public being acquainted with 

 them. If he had brought back from his expedition gold or diamonds, the news would 

 have been fpread in a few weeks ; but fimple geographical knowledge was not of a nature 

 to intcreft men of this turn of mind. 



5. 1 he long ftay which Chriftopher Columbus made at Madeira makes his interview witli 

 Behem more than prob.iblc. It is impoflible that he fliould have negledled feeing a man fo 

 interclling, and who could give him every kind of information ior the execution of the plan he 

 had formed. The mariners who accompanied the Chevalier Cehem might alfo have fpread 

 reports at Madeira and tl-.e Azores concerning the difcovery which they had been witnefles 

 of. What ought to confirm us in this is, that Mariana fays himfelf (book xxvi". chap, iii.) 

 that a certain velTel going to Africa was thrown by a gale of wind upon certain unknown 

 lands; and that the failors, at their return to Madeira, had communicated to Chriftopher 

 Columbus the circumftances of their voyage. All authors agree that this learned man had 

 fome information rcfpecling the weflern fiiores ; but they fpeak in a very vague manner. 

 The expedition of the Chevalier Cehem explains this myftery. 



6. This aftronomer could not be jealous of the difeoveries of Columbus, becaufe the lad 

 had been farther north, and that in a time when they did not know the whole extent of the 

 New World; and when geographical knowledge was extremely bounded, it might be believed 

 that the country difeovered by Columbus had no conneftion with that dlfcovered by Behem. 



It appears however certain, that Echem difeovered this continent before Columbus; and 

 -that this queftion, which is only curious in Europe, becomes interefting to the American 

 patriot. The Grecians have carefully preferved the fabulous hiftory of their firft founders, 

 and have raifed altars to them: Why are not Behem, Chriftopher Columbus, and Vcfpucius 

 deferving of ftatues in the public fquares of American cities.' Thefe precious monuments 

 would tranfmit to pofterity the gratitude which thefe bcnefaftors of mankind fliould infpire. 

 Without knowing it, they have laid the foundation of the happinefs of many millions of 

 inhabitants; and Sefoftris, Phul, Cyrus, Thcfeus, and Romulus, the founders of the greateft 

 empires, will be forgotten before the ferviees rendered by thefe illuftrious navigators can be 

 effaced from the memory of man. 



IV. 



Dcfcr'tpt'ton of a GravimeUi; or Injlniment for meafiirhig the Specific Gravity of Sc/iJs and Fluids. 



By Citizen Gvr-IUN *. 



E, 



/VER fince the art of chemiftry, by an approach to the accurate fciences, has fhewn 

 that the phenomena of combinations produced or deftroycd are not the refult of occult 

 qualities, but of a rupture of equilibrium determined by fortes which afford the hope of ad- 

 meafurement by computation, philofophers have been aware of the neceflity of conducling 

 their experimenu with precifion, that they might take account of all the circumftances 



• Read to the National Inftitutc on the nth Germinal, in the 4rh year of the Republic. It is iiifcrted in the 

 Cwcnty-firft volume of the Annates dc Chimic. Tliis tranflatioa is nearly verbil. 



which 



