WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA 285 



drained, canals dug, and flourishing settlements 

 established. From the shores of the Atlantic an 

 immense column of knowledge has rolled into the 

 interior. The Mississippi, the Ohio, the Mis- 

 souri, and their tributary streams, have been won- 

 derfully benefited by it. It now seems as if it 

 were advancing towards the stony mountains and 

 probably will not become stationary till it reaches 

 the Pacific Ocean. This almost immeasurable 

 territory affords a shelter and a home to mankind 

 in general: Jew or Gentile, king's-man or repub- 

 lican, he meets with a friendly reception in the 

 United States. His opinions, his persecutions, 

 his errors, or mistakes, however they may have 

 injured him in other countries, are dead, and of 

 no avail on his arrival here. Provided he keeps 

 the peace, he is sure to be at rest. 



Politicians of other countries imagine that in- 

 testine feuds will cause a division in this com- 

 monwealth; at present there certainly appears 

 to be no reason for such a conjecture. Heaven 

 forbid that it should happen ! The world at large 

 would suffer by it. For ages yet to come, may this 

 great commonwealth continue to be the United 

 States of North America. 



The sun was now within a week or two of 

 passing into the southern hemisphere, and the 

 mornings and evenings were too cold to be com- 

 fortable. I embarked for the island of Antigua, 

 with the intention of calling at the different 

 islands in the Carribean sea, on my way once 

 more towards the wilds of Guiana. 



