AMERICAN. 239 



Brazil. In 1831, the latter, on returning to Portugal, abdicated the 

 throne, in favor of his son, Pedro II. ; who is now the reigning 

 emperor. 



Guiana was settled, about 1634, by a party of Englishmen and 

 Frenchmen; and the British took formal possession of it, in 1650. 

 It was taken by the Dutch, in 1667 ; and ceded to them, in exchange 

 for New York. Other settlements were afterwards formed, by the 

 Spaniards, English, French, and Portuguese ; of which our limits 

 allow no farther mention. 



5. New Grenada, was first visited by Columbus, in 1502 ; on 

 his fourth voyage. In 1508, it was mostly granted to Ojeda and 

 Nicnessa : but in 1514, it was granted anew to Avila, under the name 

 of Terra Firma. In 1536, Benalcazar, one of Pizarro's officers, 

 invaded the southern part of it; and, in 1547, it was completely 

 subdued, and made a captain generalship, dependent on the Spanish 

 crown. In 1718, it was erected into the viceroyalty of New Grenada; 

 and such it continued most of the time, until the Revolution ; by 

 which, in 181 1, it declared itself independent. It was again subjected 

 to Spain, in 1816, by the victories of Morillo ; but again emancipated, 

 in 1819, by Bolivar, who effected its union with Venezuela, to form 

 the republic of Colombia. In 1830, dissatisfaction having arisen, this 

 republic was divided ; when New Grenada again became a separate 

 and independent republic ; of which Marquez is now president. 



Venezuela, after being colonized by the Spaniards, was sold, by 

 Charles V., to the Weltzers, a German mercantile company: but, 

 in 1550, it was erected into the captain generalship of Caraccas. 

 From this time, it remained under the Spanish government, until 

 1806 ; when General Miranda attempted to effect a revolution ; but 

 failed. In '1810, a Junta Suprema, or Congress, was convened in 

 Caraccas; which, in 1811, declared the country independent, under 

 the title of the Confederation of Venezuela. In the war which 

 followed, Venezuela was defended by Bolivar; and, in 1819, he 

 effected its union with New Grenada ; as has just been mentioned. 

 In 1829, Venezuela again declared itself independent; and General 

 Paez was chosen its president. He was succeeded, in 1835, by Dr. 

 Vargas ; but has since been reappointed to this office. 



Equador, was a part of the empire of the Peruvian Indians ; and 

 after the Spaniards took the city of Quito, in 1534, it still remained 

 attached to Peru; till in 1564, it was erected into the Presidency of 

 Quito, dependent only on the Spanish crown. From 1717 to 1722, 

 it was united with New Grenada; after which, it continued distinct, 

 till the Revolution; which began in 1809, and ended in 1822, in the 

 union of Quito with the republic of Colombia. In 1831, Quito was 

 made a separate and independent republic, called Equador, (or Equa- 

 tor), of which Rocafuerte is now president. 



Peru, was a distinct kingdom, long before the Spanish invasion. 

 The Peruvian Indians attributed their civilization to Manco Capac, 

 who is supposed to have lived in the early part of the twelfth century. 

 His successors were the Incas or kings of Peru; till in 1525, Fran- 

 cisco Pizarro and Diego Almagro sailed from Panama, with a small 

 force ; and taking advantage of a civil war, soon subdued the country ; 



