vent; and it is a curious instance of the neglect which falls on fine pictures in such places, that a beautiful fresco of Andrea del Sarto, in chiaroscuro, remains on the walls, where it was long exposed to the fading influence of the sun. It is now covered by an indifferent picture of Raffaello del Garbo, which serves it as a screen. All the galleries of this academy are sufficiently interesting, as containing many noble specimens of the arts, as they existed in the great days of Italian genius. There is also a gallery filled with casts from the antique, admirably executed in plaster of Paris. In the Academia delle Belle Arti is the school of that art so purely Florentine, La Scuola di Lavori in Scagliuola; and the studio, or work-room, of its present amiable and eminent professor, signore Pietro Stoppione.'

The Palazzo Pitti, the principal residence of the count of Tuscany, vast and noble as it is,' says lady Morgan, and most wonderful as the house of a merchant in the middle ages, is still the most notable for its precious collections of pictures, the chefs-d'œuvre of the Tuscan, Florentine, and Roman school. Here is Michael Angelo's picture of the Three Fates. They are Shakspeare's Weird Sisters. Here glows the divine beauty of Raphael's famous Madonna della Sedia, so known to the world by the countless copies and engravings, the sure proof of its excellence. Here too are some of Salvator Rosa's finest sea-pieces, with those calm skies and waters, and brilliant lights, so contrasted to the force, gloom, and energy of his Catiline conspiracy. Here also is the noble Cleopatra of Guido, that true woman's painter-laureate! and here, in short, are hundreds of pictures, some of supreme merit, and all of interest, by the names attached to them, or the likenesses they preserve. Among the latter is, Titian's superb portrait of cardinal Ippolito de' Medici, the elegant voluptuary and princely virtuoso: Luther playing on the Spinette; his strong marked and somewhat vulgar face turned to wards a priest, who accompanies him on the guitar, evidently asking his opinion of a chromatic transition, through which he has just modulated; Luther's wife, who has exchanged her nun's veil for a smart Flemish hat and feather, more lady-like and less hideous than in any other of her pictures, is their sole auditress.' Numberless portraits of the ladies of the Medici family, particularly in the latter times, loaded with gold and jewels, simple and commonplace looking-women, such as one meets making up the mass of assemblies, all very fine and all alike.' I could not trace among their prim countenances the brilliancy of talent for which the accomplished and unfortunate Isabella was so celebrated, nor the ferocious genius of Catherine, nor the cold dull iniquity of Marie de Medici; yet some of them were handsome.'

The university of Florence was founded in 1438. In 1542 was instituted the Academia Florentina, for making translations from the Greek and Latin classics; the Academia della Crusca was intended to improve and reduce to a standard the Tuscan language; the two were united some time back, and now bear the name

of the Florentine Academy. Here are also schools, and an academy of the fine arts, where nearly thirty pupils receive gratuitous instruction. The Georgofili is a royal agricultural society. Of the libraries, the largest is the Magliabechiana of 90,000 volumes; the next the Marcelliana of 40,000. The museum of natural history is extensive and well arranged; there is also a botanic garden. Dante, Machiavel, Guicciardini, Americus Vesputius, and other distinguished characters were born here.

Florence is surrounded by a wall, and defended by two citadels. It has two theatres, and beautiful promenades, as well in the Boboli gardens, as along the banks of the Arno. It is the see of an archbishop, and was a place of great trade from the thirteenth to the fifteenth century; at present its productive industry is confined to a few manufactures, such as satin, taffetas, damask, straw hats, jewellery, and precious stones; the woollen manufactures are adapted only to the common people, among whom are included many Jews, who principally conduct its trade. Population 75,000. Leghorn is its harbour.

Mr. Eustace, in his Classical Tour, thus describes the general appearance of this far-famed city:

Florence is seated in a vale, intersected by the Arno, graced by numberless hills, and bordered, at no great distance, by mountains of various forms rising gradually towards the Appennines. The whole vale is one continued grove and garden, where the beauty of the country is enlivened by the animation of the town, and the fertility of the soil redoubled by the industry of its cultivators. White villas gleam through the orchards on every side, and large populous hamlets border the roads and almost line the banks of the river. Such is the scene of comfort and prosperity that surrounds the Tuscan capital (alas! how different now), raised originally by the genius of liberty, and restored by the grand duke Leopold. Happy will it be for the inhabitants if its charms can resist the blasts from hell which have passed the Alps and the Appennines, and now brood in tempest over the Val d'Arno.

"The city itself spreads along the side of the river, which forms one of its greatest ornaments, and contributes not a little to its fame. Its streets are well paved, or rather flagged, wider than usual in southern climates; and its houses in general solid and rather stately. It has several squares, and many churches and palaces, so that its appearance is airy, clean, and sometimes rising towards grandeur. I do not, however, think that the number of great edifices corresponds with the reputation of the city, or with the figure which it has so long made in the annals of modern history; it is, indeed, to be considered, that we came directly from Rome, and that the glories of that capital, when fresh upon the mind, must naturally eclipse the inferior splendor of every other city.'

The cathedral and some other churches, in the edification or restoration of which Michael Angelo bore a part, are next described; then the

Palazzi, and afterwards the gallery, now,' says

he, stripped of its honors.' The delightful environs of Florence next engage Mr. Eustace, ever powerful for description. Amongst these Vallombrosa, the supposed original of Milton's description of Eden, claimed first the traveller's attention. The sketch of this picturesque spot, the account of the abbey, its inhabitants, and their hospitality, is here given with much spirit and precision.

FLORENTIA, in ancient geography, a town of Etruria, on the Arnus, of great note in the wars of Sylla, now called Florenza, or Fiorenza, by the Italians, and Florence by the English. See FLORENCE.

FLORENTIN, or St. Florentin, a town of France in Champagne, situated at the conflux of the Armance and Armançon; it has some cotton manufactures, and 3000 inhabitants. Thirteen miles north-east of Auxerre, and twenty-four south-west of Troyes.

FLORENTINĖS, the people of Florence. Dr. Moore gives the following account of the amusements of the Florentines. Besides the conversazionis, which they have as in other towns of Italy, the nobility meet every day at a house called the casino. This society is much on the same footing with the clubs in London. The members are elected by ballot. They go at any time that is convenient. They play at billiards, cards, and other games, or continue conversing, as they think proper. They are served with tea, coffee, lemonade, ices, or what other refreshments they choose; and each person pays for what he calls for. There is one material difference between this and the English clubs, that women as well as men are members. The company of both sexes behave with more frankness and familiarity to strangers, as well as to each other, than is customary in public assemblies in other parts of Italy.' Dr Moore adds, 'that, at the opera, they pay much more attention to the dancing than to the music, though it is at best mere athletic jumping, compared with the elegant dancing of the French.'

FLORES, one of the Azores, so named from the multitude of flowers found growing spontaneously on it. It is thirty miles long, nine broad, and contains two towns, several villages, and about 1400 inhabitants. It exports wheat and salt pork, and has excellent poultry. Cattle are also numerous, but they are small. Santa Cruz is the capital. Lagena on the east coast is also a thriving town. Long. 30° 55'. W. lat. 39°

34'. N.

FLORIAN (John Peter Claris de), a popular modern French writer, was born at the chateau of that name in Languedoc, in 1755. His father was a gentleman of fortune, who spared no expense on his education; and being related to Voltaire, he obtained for him through that person's interest the rank of page to the duke of Penthievre. The duke soon gave him a commission in the army, but, observing the success of his literary efforts, judiciously confined him to literature, and furnished him with a library. His first production was Galathea, which was followed by the two volumes of his Theatre, the sacred drama of Ruth, and a succession of very successful dramas and novels. Under Robes

pierre he was arrested and dragged to prison for having affixed to his Numa some verses in praise of the queen, and while in this situation he composed the first book of his Guillaume Tell, and a poem called Ebrahim. On his release he fell into a decline, which terminated his life on the 13th of September 1794.

FLORID STYLE, a style too much enriched with figures and flowers of rhetoric.

FLORIDA, a country of North America, bounded on the north by Georgia, on the east by the Atlantic, on the south by the Gulfs of Mexico and Florida, and on the west by the Mississippi. It was the most southerly province of the British empire in America before the war of independence.

It was first discovered in 1479, by Sebastian Cabot, a Venetian in the English service; whence a right to it was claimed by the kings of England; and it was included with Georgia in the charter granted by Charles II. to Carolina. In 1512 Florida was more fully discovered by Ponce de Leon, an able navigator, but who undertook his voyage from the most absurd motives. The Indians of the Caribbee Islands had among them a tradition, that somewhere on the continent there was a fountain whose waters had the property of restoring youth to all old men who tasted them. The romantic imaginations of the Spaniards were delighted with this idea. Many embarked in voyages to find out this imaginary fountain, who were never afterwards heard of. Their superstitious countrymen never imagined that these people had perished. They concluded that they did not return, only because they had drunk of the immortalising liquor, and had discovered a spot so delightful, that they did not choose to leave it. Ponce de Leon set out with this extravagant view, as well as others, fully persuaded of the existence of a third world, the conquest of which was to immortalise his name. In the attempt to discover this country, he rediscovered Florida; but returned to the place from whence he came, visibly more advanced in years than when he set out. For some time this country was neglected by the Spaniards, and some Frenchmen settled in it. But the new colony being neglected by the ministry, and Philip II. of Spain pretending to be the sole proprietor of America, fitted out a fleet at Cadiz to destroy them. The tyrant's orders were executed with barbarity. The French entrenchments were forced, and most of the people killed. The prisoners were hanged on trees, with this inscription,- Not as Frenchmen, but as Heretics. This cruelty was soon after revenged by Dominic de Gourgues, a skilful and intrepid seaman of Gascony, an enemy to the Spaniards, and passionately fond of glory and hazard. He sold his estate, built some ships, and with a select band of bold adventurers embarked for Florida. He drove the Spaniards from all their posts with incredible valor and activity, defeated them in every rencounter-and, by way of retaliation, hung the prisoners on trees with this inscription,- Not as Spaniards, but as Assassins.' He then blew up the forts he had taken, and returned home. This patriotic and heroic act of justice certainly merited reward, but no

notice whatever was taken of Gourgues by the French government. Florida was conquered in 1539, by the Spaniards under Ferdinand de Soto, not without a great deal of bloodshed, as the natives were very warlike, and made a vigorous resistance. The settlement, however, was not fully established till 1665, when St. Augustine was founded. In 1586 this place was taken and pillaged by Sir Francis Drake. In 1665 it was taken and plundered by Davis, and a body of buccaneers. In 1702 an attempt was made upon it by colonel More, governor of Carolina. He set out with 500 English and 700 Indians, and, having reached St. Augustine, he besieged it for three months; at the end of which, the Spaniards having sent some ships to its relief, he was obliged to retire. In 1740 another attempt was made by general Oglethorpe, but he was forced to raise the siege with loss; and Florida continued in the hands of the Spaniards till 1763, when it was ceded to Great Britain. During the American war it was again reduced by the Spaniards, in 1781, and was guaranteed to the crown of Spain at the peace, in 1783.

The length of this country, following the coast, has been estimated at about 800 miles. Its breadth is various. The broadest part of West Florida is about 130 miles, while the narrow peninsula of East Florida extends from south to north 400 miles. The shape of the country is irregular, and nearly resembles the letter L. It was divided by the British government into East and West Florida.

FLORIDA, WEST, as designated by Great Britain, is situated between the Mississippi on the west, and the Appalachicola on the east, and is a strip of land running along the Gulf of Mexico for 400 miles. All the west coast of the peninsula of Florida is low, sandy, and lined by a reef. The Gulf of Ponce de Leon (Chatham Bay of the English), is much infested by the accumulation of sand. Cerasecos (Charlotte Harbour of the English), is an extensive inlet with many islands before it, forming several channels, in the deepest of which, named Boca Grande, the depth is fifteen feet. The inlet receives the river Caloosa. Palm Sound, within Palm and Clam Islands, is only navigable by long boats. Espiritu Santo Bay is a considerable gulf with a channel in twenty feet deep. St. Martin's Keys are the southernmost of a chain of islands that line the coast to the river St. Juan. This part of the coast is so shoal, that a canoe can scarcely approach it. The river Apalacha falls into a bay of the same name, at the fort of St. Mark. The coast from the Apalacha to Pensacola is tolerably fit for cultivation; but from this last place to the Mobile it is sandy and barren, producing only dwarf pines and cedars. The river Apalachicola, or Chattahoche, falls into St. George's Sound, within the island of this name, which is two leagues from the main, and four leagues long, but very narrow. The Bay or lagoon of St. Joseph is enclosed on the south by the curving peninsula of which Cape St. Blaize is the extreme point. St. Rose Island, twenty miles long but very narrow, has plenty of fresh water: its west end forms the east side of the entrance to Pensacola Bay. Santa Maria Galvez,

or Pensacola Bay, is a large inlet, entirely landlocked, the entrance two miles wide, with sixteen or twenty-four feet depth, and within thirty to thirty-five feet, according as the water is elevated or depressed by the strength of the winds. Several rivers fall into this inlet, of which the largest is the Shambe, and is navigable for sloops a few miles, and for canoes a considerable distance.

The town of Pensacola, the capital of the province, is on a plain on the west side of the bay, and is defended by a fort on a sand hill, close under which all vessels must pass to the town.

While Florida was an English possession, Pensacola carried on a considerable trade; but, under the restrictive system and indolence of the Spaniards, it fell into insignificance and poverty-the only branch of industry attended to, because it requires little labor, being the rearing of cattle. The sole trade was to New Orleans, and did not occupy above four or five schooners, of ten to twenty-five tons, which kept along shore to the mouth of the Mobile, where they entered the sounds, between the islands and the main, to Lake Pontchartrain: from this lake they entered the river St. John, which communicates by a short canal to New Orleans. The length of this internal navigation is but fifty leagues, and it is usually accomplished in two days, while the outer passage to New Orleans, by the mouths of the Mississippi, is ninety leagues, and from the strong adverse current and prevailing winds from the west is often lengthened to forty days. The climate of Pensacola is so healthy that invalids are sent hither from Louisiana.

The river Alabama, or Mobile, falls into a large gulf, whose entrance is between a long peninsula on the east, and Isle Dauphin on the west. The town of Mobile, at the mouth of the river, is built on the side of a hill.

The coast, west of Mobile Bay, is lined by low sandy islands, covered with cypress trees; their names in succession are,-Isle Dauphin, where the French formed their first settlements, Masseo, Horn, Dog, vaisseau, from having a harbour for vessels of burden, Cat, &c. Farther west a great number of alluvion islands front the entrance of Lake Pontchartrain and the Bay of St. Esprit. The channels between these islands have in general but ten to twelve feet, and the depth of Lake Pontchartrain decreases annually, so that it is probable a few years will convert it into a marsh, as well as Lakes Maurepas and Borgne, the former communicating with the Mississippi by Iberville River, which is quite dry in summer, its bed being twelve feet above the lowest level of the Mississippi; but in spring, when the river rises, it discharges a part of its waters by the Iberville into Lake Pontchartrain. Biloxi, on the main land within Vaisseaux Island, was one of the first establishments of the French in Louisiana.

FLORIDA, EAST, is separated from Georgia by the river St. Mary, and includes the peninsula and tract of coast on the gulf of Mexico to the river Apalachicola. The Eastern, or Atlantic Coast, of the peninsula, is lined by islands, forming an interior navigation through lagoons or inlets. The principal rivers on this coast are the St. Juan and Indian, the former rises in a swamp

in the heart of the peninsula, and pursues a northern course in a broad navigable stream, expanding into lakes, of which Lake George is fifteen miles broad, and fifteen to twenty feet deep, with many beautiful islands, covered with orange, palm, and magnolia trees. Near Long Lake, which communicates with the St. Juan by a creek, is a warm mineral spring of great volume; the St. Juan is crossed by a bar at its mouth with fifteen feet. Indian or Hillsborough River runs from north to south parallel to the coast; its mouth is crossed by a bar with but five feet.

St. Augustine, the chief town of East Florida, is on the main opposite the north end of Anastasia Island. It consists of four streets, intersecting each other at right angles; is fortified by bastions, encompassed by a ditch and wall, and defended by the castle of St. John, mounting fifty guns. The entrance to the harbour is crossed by a bar, with only five feet at low water and ten at high. St. Anastasia Island is six leagues long, and affords good building stone, which is not to be had on the main.

From Cape Florida, near the south-east extremity of the peninsula, a great belt of keys and reefs curves round the promontory into the gulf of Mexico, bearing the general name of the Martyrs, or Florida Keys; the numerous channels or inlets between them are only fit for small craft. Almost all these keys are covered with the mangrove, and frequented by turtle; all of them have received names from the English, when in possession of Florida. The only farther notice they deserve is, that on the north end of Old Matacumbe, an islet four miles long and two broad, is a harbour for vessels of seven or eight feet, where fresh water may be procured from a natural well, in a rock four feet deep. On Key Hueso, or West, which is seven miles long, is also a good harbour, with four fathoms at the west end, and at the south-west several wells of tolerable water. The dry tortugas (turtle) are a cluster of keys, forming the western extreme of the Florida Keys. Punta Blanco, or Cape Sable, is the south-west point of the peninsula of Florida, doubling which we enter the gulf of Mexico.

The Floridas abound in vegetable productions of the most luxuriant and rank growth. They are said to produce eight different kinds of oak, white and black walnut, hickory, chestnuts, three kinds of mulberry, four of the magnolia, orange, and fig trees, persimmon and sycamore; as also a vast variety of plums, and other indigenous fruits, such as limes, prunes, peaches, figs, grapes, melons, &c. Olives are also cultivated with success; and St. John's River, and some of the lakes, are bordered with orange groves. The annona, lime, and mahoe, are indigenous, as also many medicinal plants.

West Florida is the most fertile in grain: wheat, oats, barley, rice, peas, buck-wheat, and rye, flourish. The climate is various.

In winter it seldom freezes, nor is the cold ever so severe as to injure the orange tree. In West Florida the mercury seldom falls below 30° of Fahrenheit, and seldom rises above 94° in the shade. The climate towards the west is more

temperate. On the eastern coast the trade winds prevail, and cool the air in summer; but in the west the air is refreshed by breezes from the Apalachian Mountains, which are still more cool and temperate. During the summer heavy gales of wind beat against the east side of the peninsula, while the interior is subject to dreadful squalls. Along the gulf storms and hurricanes are common just before and after the autumnal equinox; but thunder and lightning are less frequent and violent than in the neighbouring territory of Georgia, or in the Carolinas. In the forests and deserts are found the panther, wild cat, buffalo, fox, hare, goat, rabbit, otter, racoon, flying squirrel, armadillo, opossum, guano, and several sorts of serpents. Birds are in great variety, and numerous: among others, are found the crane, heron, goose, wild duck, pigeon, partridge, thrush, jay, hawk, maccaw, and a great number of others. The rivers abound in fish, but are at the same time infested with voracious alligators.

From the first of July to the middle of October fevers are prevalent. They are usually preceded by heavy rains, and sultry weather. Those of plethoric habits, and sanguine constitutions, are the most liable to be attacked. Inflammatory fevers, of domestic origin, are rarely experienced. The yellow fever occasionally makes its appearance; but it has always been traced to the islands, particularly to the Havannah. Intermittents are endemical, and often prove tedious; but they commonly yield to the prescriptions of skilful physicians.

In 1810 a revolution took place in West Florida, and agents were despatched to Washington, who had an interview with the American president, for the purpose of being admitted into the confederation of the United States. In the mean time the American government took means for occupying the country, conformable to a claim which they had been urging since the year 1801. In that year they had purchased Louisiana from the French, of which they contended that West Florida formed a part. It was declared by the treaty to be ceded with the same extent that it had in the hands of Spain, and as it had been ceded by Spain to France. The terms of this cession gave rise to a claim on the part of the United States to the country west of the Perdido River; and, to prevent the occupation of this territory by any other power, the government of the union took possession, in 1811, of the principal posts, except the town and fort of Mobile, which was surrendered to their forces in the following. year. East Florida, however, remained in the undisturbed possession of the Spanish authorities, with the exception of some revolutionary movements of no long continuance, until the second war between the United States and Great Britain. In 1814 a British expedition having been fitted out from Pensacola against the American territories, General Jackson resolved to take possession of the place. Accordingly, with a small body of regulars and some mounted volunteers, he marched from Mobile, and, after a show of resistance from the Spaniards and British, carried the town. The fort of Barrancas was soon afterwards destroyed

by the British, and general Jackson having no authority to rebuild it, evacuated the place, and returned to Mobile. A similar disregard of the duties of neutrality on the part of the Spanish government, drew upon this province another invasion in 1818. The Seminole Indians, with whom the United States were at war, residing within the limits of Florida, and making their incursions thence without restraint from the Spaniards, it became necessary, for the purpose of chastising them, to cross the territorial line, and subsequently possession was taken by general Jackson of Fort St. Marks and Pensacola. The American troops remained in these posts until November, 1818, when they were restored by the government of the United States to Spain. A negotiation, which had been for a long time pending, for the transfer of the whole province to the United States, was consummated by treaty in 1819; and, after many vexatious delays, the treaty was ratified by Spain in October, 1820, and finally by the United States in the month of February, 1821. Possession was delivered to general Jackson, the commissioner of the United States, in July, 1821, and the province now forms one of the territories of the United States.

FLORIDA, GULF OF, is a common name for the channel between the peninsula of Florida, and the Bahama Isles, north of Cuba.

Through this gulf the celebrated stream, sometimes called the gulf, sometimes the FLORIDASTREAM, first inake sits way to the north-east along

the coast of America.

Various attempts have been made to account for this current, and as it is an object of general interest in natural history, though we have noticed it in another place (see AMERICA, Index) we conceive it may gratify our readers to present them with a concise view of its causes from an able paper in the Edinburgh Philosophical Journal, for 1820. It is known, that the tides in the ocean are produced by the combined actions of the sun and moon, causing the waters, in general, when their course is not obstructed by continents, islands, &c., to take a westerly direction. The winds in the tropical climates, from nearly the same cause, blow generally the same way. It is also observed by navigators, that when a wind blows for any length of time, in a given direction, the waters of the sea move in the same direction, forming a current, at least at the surface, more or less strong, according to circumstances, setting in that direction. The whole body of the waters of the Atlantic, then, must have a general tendency to move from the coasts of Europe and Africa, towards the shores of America, which must be modified in its effects, according to the different conformations of the coasts and other combining circumstances. If we examine the coast of North America, we shall find, that its direction is nearly that of the meridian, or north and south, at least from about New York to Cape Sable in East Florida. Therefore, the mass of waters coming from the east, will strike it nearly at right angles, which, after high water, will gradually retire into the ocean towards the east, without producing any considerable current along the coast, or any ac

cumulation in a particular place, as it otherwise would have done, if that coast had been more oblique to the direction of the tide, though the Bahama Islands, and shallows, must prove a considerable obstruction to the flood-tide setting di.ectly westerly, near Florida, and will have some tendency to cause it to flow more to the north.

'If we now turn our attention to the northern coast of South America, we shall find that it follows nearly the direction of a parallel of latitude, or east and west, and of course, very oblique to the tide coming from the east; and, therefore, it is natural to suppose, that a current will be produced, setting westward, from Cape St. Roque, along the shores of Guiana, Cumana, Terra Firma, the Musquito Shore., &c, towards Cape Catouche in Yucatan. This, indeed, is verified by observation, for it is found, that the flood-tide combined with a current, runs along these coasts, generally at about the rate of two or three miles an hour. This current setting along the Caribbean Sea, will enter the Gulf of Mexico between Cape Antonio, in Cuba, and Cape Catouche, in Yucatan, and must, of course, raise the waters of that Gulf, to a considerable height above the general level of the ocean. A part of these waters after the time of high water, will fall back into the Caribbean Sea; and there actually has been observed a current off Cape Antonio, setting eastward along the south coast of Cuba. Indeed it has been asserted, by Captain Manderson of the Royal Navy, in his Observations on the Gulf Stream, that the waters about Cape Antonio, move sometimes one way, sometimes another, and are sometimes stationary,' which may be expected, according as it is flood-tide, ebb-tide, or high water.

From what we have already advanced, it is clear that the waters between Cuba and Yucatan, must be higher than those between Cuba and Florida; and, therefore, the mass of waters carried into the Gulf of Mexico, in the manner already mentioned, must flow out between Cuba and East Florida. If we also take into consideration the number of great rivers, and among them the Mississippi, itself like a sea, that falls into the Gulf of Mexico, which is, comparatively speaking, small, their waters must endeavour to extend themselves over a portion of sea greater than that gulf; and since, from the accumulation of water coming from the Caribbean Sea, depending on causes already pointed out, the waters of the Mississippi, and other rivers, falling into the Gulf of Mexico from the west and north, cannot extend themselves over that sea towards the south, they must flow along its northern shore towards the east. That the waters of great rivers do flow to a considerable distance in the ocean, can be easily proved. In Columbus's first voyage to America, he found his vessel in fresh water, at the mouth of the Orinoco, before he discovered land, whence he inferred, he was near some great continent, which alone could produce such a stream. In Macleod's voyage to China, a stream of fresh water was found at a considerable distance from the shores of Java, and the British fleet, which blockaded Toulon, occasionally took in fresh water at the mouth of