REVIEWS—GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 451 
this volume of Mr. R. A. Wilson as one calculated in any respect to 
supersede the singularly fascinating work of Prescott. As a critique, 
however, upon that and other Mexican Histories, written by one who 
has explored the localities where the principal scenes of Cortes’s tri- 
umphs and reverses took place, and who has reconsidered the unques- 
tionably exagerated narratives of the earlier Spanish authorities, with 
reference to the possibilities and probabilities suggested by the actual 
scene of historical events: the book may be read with interest and 
profit by the historical student. Prescott by no means overlooks the 
exagerative spirit of even the best of his old Spanish authorities. In 
one passage, for example, when speaking of Tlascula, which Cortes, 
in his letter to the Emperor, compares to Granada, he adds:—“ The 
truth is, that Cortez, like Columbus, saw objects through the warm 
medium of his own imagination, giving them a higher tone of coloring 
and larger dimensions than were strictly warranted by the fact.” 
But the charm of Prescott’s version of the old highly toned narra- 
tives leaves an impression of reality which is scarcely affected by such 
guarded warnings of their dubious character ; and such a book as the 
one under review has its value in drawing attention, and giving weight 
and due importance to them. A less ambitious name than that of 
«A New History of the Conquest of Mexico,” would have more 
correctly described what is in reality only notes and reflections of a 
Mexican Tourist, upon the History of the Conquest and the Antiqui- 
ties of the country. Such a designation of the work would, more- 
over, have disarmed criticism, and have admitted of a fairer estimate 
of the actual merits of the work than it has hitherto received. As it 
is, the author cannot complain, if the comparison with the carefully 
elaborated, and singularly fascinating volumes of Prescott, lead to a 
depreciation of the New History, even by those who believe as we do, | 
that with all his candour and laborious diligence in the recovery and 
collation of original authorities, the high colouring of Prescott’s mag- 
nificent scenes of the Conquest, not ‘unfrequently partakes of the 
seductive charms of romance. D. W. 
Geological Survey of Canada. Report of Progress for the year 1858, 
_ Montreal: Printed by John Lovell. 1859. 
Our notices of the various Reports issued by the Geological Sur- 
vey, may appear to distant readers to be somewhat after date ; but 
