Tales from American History

BOY'S AND GIRL'S LIBRARY,-N°. XI.

PUBLISHERS' ADVERTISEMENT.

THE publishers of the "Boy's and Girl's Library" beg leave to solicit the attention of the public, and especially of parents and teachers, to the contents of the following pages, which they believe to fall. naturally and appropriately within the design of a juvenile library, and to present to the youthful American reader much useful information, combined with a desirable portion of entertainment. Every one knows how important and valuable is a competent knowledge of history,-how indispensable to the formation of a cultivated mind,-and surely the first and most essential portion of historical knowledge to be acquired, is that which relates to our own country. The volume now published contains brief and simple, but interesting narratives of the various enterprises of discovery which resulted in the colonization of North America; with descriptive notices of the aboriginal inhabitants, their habits, arts, and manners; the progress of civili

zation and improvement; and characteristic_anecdotes of several of the most prominent among the early colonists and conquerors. Another volume by the same author will shortly be published, containing a history of the discovery and conquest of Mexico and Peru; and a third, the subject of which will be the discovery of South America, and the life and voyages of Columbus, will conclude this portion of the series.

From the established reputation of the author of these Tales, and the extensive sale of her "American Popular Lessons," and other elementary works, the publishers anticipate for this and the two volumes just mentioned, a reception highly favourable, and a proportionate increase of patronage for the previous and succeeding numbers of the LIBRARY. The success which has already attended its publication, has encouraged them to enter into engagements with several able writers, for a number of original works of purely American character, in the subjects and execution of which the utmost attention will be given to the inculcation of useful knowledge and sound precepts of morality and religion; while proper care will be taken to adapt them to the explanation and diffusion of those principles which belong to our own admirable and successful institutions and form of government.

PREFACE.

THE present volume of Tales from American History is the last of a series commenced about four years since. The design their author had in view was to afford to children entertainment combined with knowledge relative to the general history of mankind, and to that of North America in particular, and to inculcate by example sound principles of morality. Recorded truths have ever been considered by the writer of these tales the best instructers, not only in science and philosophy, but also of morals-the most impressive teachers, not only of practical and worldly wisdom, but of that comprehensive philanthropy which "seeketh not her own" exclusively, but which defers all transitory self-interests in public and private life to the genuine, permanent interests of all who may be nearly or remotely affected by human action.

The history of European discovery, conquest, and colonization in America, presents many distressing and revolting features; but its darkest passages are often relieved by the conversion of seeming

evil into good in the progress of events, and affords edifying manifestations of that great Power which orders all things well. The author of these Tales has followed the succession of events, from the atrocities of Spanish rapacity and cruelty, down to the enlightened and useful enterprises of Captain Franklin in the nineteenth century. The detail is not wanting in noble instances of individ ual worth in men who have filled lofty stations, and whose characters and actions have materially affected the destinies of the American people; and the narrative throughout illustrates that melioration of the human condition which has been effected in the last three centuries.

The history of the United States has been left untouched, because the facts contained in that history are too various and extensive to be comprehended in the plan and scope of these little volumes.

This volume and the preceding numbers of the series are recommended to teachers. They are peculiarly adapted to the use of schools by division into convenient sections, and the addition of appropriate questions.

AUTHOR OF "POPULAR LESSONS."

New-York, May, 1833.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Pope Alexander VI. apportions the two Hemispheres of

the Earth to Spain and Portugal-The Portuguese

establish Settlements in India-Albuquerque, Viceroy of

India-Magellan accompanies Albuquerque to India—

Albuquerque, a great Warrior-Magellan returns to

Europe, and is intrusted with an Expedition of Discovery

by the Emperor Charies V.-Patagonians-Magellan

discovers the Strait of Magellan