Arrival of Columbus on the Shores of America & astonishment of the Natives. London Published by Harvey & Darton, Gracechurch St. 1 Oct 1820 LETTERS TO A CHILD, ON THE SUBJECT OF MARITIME DISCOVERY. BY EMILY TAYLOR. the Heav'n-conducted prow. Of navigation bold, that fearless braves The burning line, and dares the wintry pole. THOMSON. London: PRINTED FOR HARVEY AND DARTON, GRACECHURCH-STREET. 1820. PREFACE. THE following sheets are literally what they pro fess to be, "Letters to a Child, on the progress of maritime discovery." In compiling them, I have found it difficult to make a selection of such particu lars as seemed the least common-place; at the same time that it was necessary to arrange these with attention to chronological order, and to notice whatever appeared most likely to prove interesting to children, though it might take off from any preten sions to originality. Of course, indeed, these are almost excluded by the nature of the work. It was chiefly my wish to call the attention of a child to the steps by which our knowledge of geography has been attained. This opens a source of practical instruction, as well as of interest; and, in the hands of a wise and judicious instructor, I cannot help hoping my little volume may be made the first step to a course of much more valuable reading. Since it has pleased Heaven to fix our lot at a time when a great and general intercourse between brethren of all parts of the earth is arrying on, it is surely right early to excite in a child's mind a feeling of interest and fellowship in the concerns of that large community into which it is born; and is not |