rod is attached to the church, is contrary to every principle with which we are acquainted. It projects above the spire, it is true; but in its descent, instead of running along by the nearest rout on the outside, and avoiding coming in contact with any other substance of an equal conducting power, it descends immediately under the tin covering of the roof, and runs along it until it reaches the top of the wall, where it emerges and goes down by the wall, to which it is affixed by iron hooks. By this improper method, should a larger quantity of electric fluid than the size of the rod can easily contain ever happen to strike it, there is a great part of the iron surrounded with other metallic substances which will serve as conductors for the remainder, and convey it along the roof to the eminent danger of the building."

LETTER XXI.

THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA-VARIOUS EXPEDITIONS TO CANADA FROM FRANCE AND ENGLAND-THE FOUNDATION OF QUEBEC THE FINAL CONQUEST OF THE COUNTRY BY GENERAL WOLFE..

FROM the want of an adventurous disposition in the primitive inhabitants of the earth, and from other causes, the early history of almost every country in the world is involved in obscurity; and of America, especially, so little was known before its discovery by Columbus in 1492, that it was emphatically called "the New World." Seven years after this important event, Cabot, an Italian, was commissioned by Henry the Seventh of England to attempt further discoveries on the new continent. He was placed in command of a squadron of six ships; and, being furnished with every article which was deemed necessary for such an important undertaking, embarked early in the Spring of 1497, and, in June following, discovered Newfoundland. He afterwards saw and named the island of St. John, and still pursuing a westerly course, arrived in a short time at the Continent, along the coast of which he sailed as far

as 67 and a half degrees of N. latitude. He returned without making any attempt towards effecting a settlement in the New World: And what is still more remarkable, after fitting out an expedition at such an immense expence, the English gave up the further pursuit of discovery for half a century. But the report of Cabot's successful enterprise must have been extensively circulated; for, in 1506, Denys, a Frenchman, sailed from Honfleur to Newfoundland, and thence proceeded down the Gulph of St. Lawrence. He drew a map of the Gulph and of the adjacent coast, took some fish on the Great Fishing-Bank, and returned to France the same season. Two years afterwards, Thomas Aubert departed from Dieppe, and was the first who had the courage to sail up the St. Lawrence. He forcibly carried off some of the natives, and exhibited them as curiosities in all the principal towns of France.

In 1517, no less than 50 Spanish, French and Portuguese ships appear to have been employed in the fishery of Newfoundland.

The Spanish conquests in South America made a great noise over all Europe, and the facilities which the mines of those immense regions afforded of rapidly acquiring fortunes, produced a great degree of carelessness in the public mind about those countries which could open a field only for the peaceful pursuits of agriculture and the gradual advancement of commerce. On this account, we find very little attention was paid to North Ame

rica for a number of years. Newfoundland, it is true, attracted some small share of attention; and individuals of various nations commenced settlements upon it, nearly a century before any attempts at colonization were made on the Northern Continent: In 1522, there were fifty houses erected on different parts of the island.

In 1535, Jacques Cartier, a native of St. Malo, sailed up the St. Lawrence, to the distance of 900 miles, till his passage was intercepted by an immense cataract, probably the Falls of Niagara. He took possession of the territory, in the name of "his most Christian Majesty ;" formed alliances with the inhabitants; built a fort, and wintered in the country, which he called "NEW FRANCE." In the course of his return down the river, he visited a large Indian settlement, called "Hochelaga:" It occupied the ground on which the city of MONTREAL now stands; which is a corruption from MOUNT ROYAL, the name originally conferred on it by Cartier. He also gave the name of ST. LAWRENCE to the River of Canada, from the circumstance of his having entered it on the festival of that Saint. The natives, whenever he met with them, treated him with the greatest hospitality, and their intercourse was tolerably free: For having taken a voyage the preceding year to the coast of America, he observed the precaution of bringing two of the natives back with him to France; who, having by the time of his second voyage obtained a considerable knowledge of the French language, were now able to

serve as interpreters between him and their countrymen. On this occasion, he formed an intimacy with one of their Chiefs, called Donnaconna, from whom he experienced much kindness and attention; in return for which, Cartier was cruel enough to carry him to France against his inclinations. It would seem, that his expedition brought him neither honour nor advantage; for when he arrived in his native country, his discoveries were deemed of little importance and his services very sparingly remunerated. He was so much reduced in his circumstances, that, only five years after his return from that country, he accompanied, in the humble capacity of Pilot, Monsieur Roberval, who was appointed the Viceroy of Canada in 1540. On the arrival of the Viceroy in the River of St. Lawrence, he built a Fort; and, after he had wintered about four leagues above the Island of Orleans, returned to France, leaving the command of the garrison to Cartier. In two years he came back to Canada, with a large re-inforcement, and attempted to find out a North West passage to the East Indies. In 1549, he again returned to France, and, after a short stay, sailed a third time for America, accompanied by his brother and a numerous train of adventurers. This voyage, however, did not terminate so successfully as those by which it was preceded. No tidings were ever heard either of the Viceroy or his companions, and they were supposed to have perished on their way. The French Government were so much discouraged by