MANECDOTES OF SIR FRANCIS DRAKE, THE FIRST ́ ́* gnorw ent ni BRITISH CIRCUMNAVIGATOR.

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WE owe to the sable race the first || town of the Symerons, situated on ideas which determined Sir Francis the side of a hill, and encompassed with a ditch and mud wall, and there they lived in great neatness and plenty. The Symerons importuned Drake to prolong his abode; but either thinking greater numbers unnecessary, or fearing, that if any differences should arise, he and his men would be overborne by a vast disparity of armed hands, he prudently declined the invitation.

Sun

As soon as circumstances permit

Drake t to navigate the unknown Pacific Ocean. On the 5th September, 1542. Drake set out with two small vessels towards Rio Grande, and touching upon the main land, engaged two of the Symerons, or fugitive Negroes, to come on board his ship, leaving two of his men as hostages for their safety. From the Symerons, Drake had the mortification of learning that he had come too late in the season, as the rainsted, he departed; the Symerons leadhad commenced. He therefore built ing him through rural shades, and a fort of earth and timber; and leav- the foliage of lofty woods, so effectuing his brother and part of his con- ally screening his people from the pany with the Symerons, he set out sun, that they were less incommoded with three pinnaces toward Rio de by the heat than if they had travella Hacha. After many desperate led through England in the summer adventures, the pinnaces returned to months. Four of the Symerons that their messmates at the wooden fort, were best acquainted with the way, and found them suffering from cawent about a mile before the main lenture and other diseases of a hot body, and cut off branches as marks climate. In their march southwards, to direct their progress, for there was they found plenty of provisions for no beaten track. Then followed their company, all being now restor- twelve Symerons; after whom came ed to health. One day, however, the English, and other Symerons they killed only an otter; the Negroes closed the rear. In this order, on were about to dress it, and when the 11th of February, 1573, they arDrake expressed some repugnance, rived at the top of a very high hill, Pedro, the chief Symeron, asked, on the summit of which grew a tree Are you a man of war, yet doubt of wonderful magnitude, in which this to be fitting meat, that hath steps were cut for more easy ascent to blood in it?" the stupendous height. The branches had been formed into an alcove, to which Drake having climbed with

On the third day of their march, the 6th of February, they came to a Vol. LV. No. XXI.

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some of the Symerons, they shewed | July," says Strype," Sir Francis

da Silva, the Portuguese pilot, was perhaps the boldest enterprise ever attempted by man: his navigating ships along the coast of Brazil, and carrying them through the straits of Magellan, in a shorter time than any succeeding navigator; his keeping the sea in a storm of thirty days together; his ability in exploring the coasts of Chili, Peru, and New Spain, where no English ship had yet sailed; his accuracy in discovering the track of the ship from the East Indies, and his consummate sagacity in taking a new course home to avoid His pursuers, cannot be sufficiently admired. His knowledge of the theory of the globe is manifested in his attempt to return home by a northern passage; and when disappointed in this courageous effort, how prompt were his resources in seeking out, and finding, a new country where he might careen his ship, refresh his 9017992 to 210J

men, take in wood and water, and supply himself with stores of provision, for the vast navigation he was about to encounter! And such were his foresight and wisdom in providing against contingencies, that he lost but one man by sickness during the long run from the coast of New Spain to the Ladrones, in which Commodore Anson had half his men swept away with scurvy and other diseases of the climates. In the very long voyage from the Ladrones, through the most dangerous seas in the known world, except one accident upon a rock, he sailed to Java unembarrassed; from Java to Sierra Leona, on the coast of Africa, without being obstructed by any difficulty, except the inconvenience occasioned by scarcity of water, and without touching at any port; an exploit never performed by any navigator before or since.

-er onze A GLIMPSE OF SPAIN IN 1824. The sun of freedom, though par- but its real intention was to shew the tially clouded, can never be obscured, high-spirited Boyards, by ocular unless human nature shall sink to the proofs, that complicated miseries are lowest degradation. These beauti- the inevitable concomitants of innoful corruscations illumine the favour-vation and revolt. The emperor was ed region of Great Britain; and in-averse to extreme proceedings against extinguishable, though struggling young enthusiasts, whose hereditary beams, flash out amidst the gloom power, rendered still more formidawhich involves the banks of the Ta-ble by conspicuous talents, address, gus, Douro, and Guadalquiver; nor and popularity, might have shaken are the genial influences unacknow- the throne. Indeed, if the frequent ledged in the vast hyperborean ter- appearance of wretchedness in every ritories 49m1i. variety, and the excess of vindictive Two young noblemen, suspected oppression, could damp the fervid of patriotic ardour, were commission- glow of patriotism in minds at once ed by the Emperor of all the Rus- intrepid and persevering, the agents 3ias to make accurate observations of Russia must have concluded, that upon the actual state of Spain in the in all cases it is wisest to bear the provinces of despotism with passive inThis was ostensibly an office of trust; activity.

ote from her capital. chains But the lofty and firm cou

bute, as necessitous objects occurred; and one had been ordered to Fonta

ever, their own exertions succoured the youth, who remained in a state of insensibility. One hastened to bring water from a rock-embedded spring; the other ran to gather fruits to moisten the parched lips of the interesting object; and when the first returned with the refreshing fluid in his cap, he saw a man of venerable aspect bending over the patient with looks of commiseration. He started on seeing a stranger, and rising stood irresolute, till the other Russian came and spoke to his friend. The foreign accents seemed to dispel his apprehensions, and with an air of calm dignity, he blessed them for their humane interposition.

rage of our envoys only learnt to temper zeal with prudence; checking encroachments upon their esta-rabia for expected dispatches. Howblished privileges, and claiming for themselves and their countrymen new immunities, suited to the progress of civilization. Such were the resolves they expressed to each other, when, with indignant sympathy, they beheld men of the most exalted soul, the most cultivated and brilliant endowinents, the purest character, led as doomed malefactors to toil with galley-slaves; delicate females of spotless reputation, who from infancy had been reared in all the ease, all the comforts of affluence, dragged in fetters to undergo unlimited imprisonment, for no offence except affinity to constitutional leaders, or merely for warbling stanzas in praise of their valour; and multitudes of helpless children were met in all quarters, lamenting the cruel fate of their once opulent family, and begging for a morsel of bread to save them from famishing. The philanthropic Muscovites daily sought out the victims of tyranny, and afforded them all the relief which circumstances permitted. Among the woody mountains of Guipuscoa, in passing a thicket, they heard a suppressed groan, and both with spontaneous impulse hastened to follow the sound. The complaint was uttered by a young man in a faded and tattered uniform, who lay extended in this forlorn place of concealment. His face was emaciated, his arm in a sling of goat-skin, and "We are Russians; we are men his vest marked with blood, that of honour, and neither spies nor inseemed to have oozed from a wound formers," said the strangers," and in his body. Our nobles had sent would prefer death to the baseness some of their servants to procure a of betraying even a criminal who shelter for houseless children they trusted to our good offices. Your found in their way; or to bring fur-language, your deportment, reverend ther supplies of provisions to distri-hermit, carry the tone of habitual

"I want strength to bear this youth to an asylum," he added, “ and an over-ruling Providence hath sent you to my aid. I discovered him early this morning, and, unable to remove him, I could only dress his wounds, and give him a simple cordial. His lacerations are deep and much inflamed by the privation of due care: yet, if he can be screened from the unwholesome nocturnal vapours, I hope his life may be prolonged. For his sake I will venture to shew you the retreat where I havę passed many months. Should you betray me, it can but anticipate the fast-approaching mortal decree of old age."

command, of conscious worth, of sugers within the entrance, and the tall

perior society, which your coarse cloak, leathern belt, and flowing silvered beard cannot disguise. Be assured, we have hearts to feel, and dispositions to alleviate the misfortunes that have estranged you from the haunts of men."

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9. In this devoted country," replied the hermit, so numerous are the victims to foreign and domestic treachery, so frequent the avowed persecutions that overwhelm the most meritorious sons of Iberia, that sequestration is sought as the only refuge; and if you will take this patient to my cave, I shall relate to you my story, with as much truth as though I stood in the visible presence of the Supreme Judge of all the earth. I go before you to shew the way."

Muscovites were obliged to stoop almost to the pebbly ground, as they endeavoured to bring forward their burden in the safest manner. Hav ing proceeded the length of a few feet, the cave was lofty and capacious; the hermit in silence directed them to his simple couch, and in silence they laid down their charge. An earthen jar of wine was produced by the host, and opening the lips of the patient, he inserted a few drops; then unbound his wounds to replace the dressings, lest they had shifted in his removal; applied unguents, gave him a little more wine, and left him to repose.

"Now, gentlemen,” he said, “hav. ing performed a higher duty, let me have the honour of welcoming you to my wild abode. If I were master of a palace, your humanity would entitle you to be received as distinguished guests. Time has been-but no matter-I must, even before I ask you to be seated, I must crave your aid to secure the mouth of this cavern. Will you have the goodness to pull the trees inward, while I push them to you without? I am accustomed to creep through the branches, and shall in that way rejoin you."

The Russian nobles laid the youth upon a blanket the hermit had brought to cover him; at a gentle pace they crossed a forest, and aseending a wooded hill, they kept sight of the hermit, whose military step convinced them he had been a brave partizan of liberty. Near the summit of the steep, the path became rocky: however, the invalid was borne along without much jolting; for the vigorous arms and generous solicitude of his bearers spared no attention in his behalf. They entered a parrow ravine overshadowed by evergreen oaks; at intervals they were almost enveloped by the obscurity of night, and the spray of rushing waters fell thick upon the leaves; while the noise of torrents was echoed through the cliffs. The hermit stopped at some fallen trees, and with much difficulty opened a passage to a low-browed cave. He bent his majestic figure to guide the stran-mit to bestow on them the more ex

These precautions being effected, the hermit placed nuts, figs, oranges, grapes, and bread, upon a rustic board, and cups of a similar descrip tion. He was going to fill the cup with wine, but the gentlemen begged to be excused. They had taken á hearty repast under the shade of a cork-tree, and drank health and hap pier auspices to the champions of freedom in the generous wine of Spain. They would take a few nuts for pastime, and entreated the her