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the world, is struck with nothing so much as the smallness of the spots under cultivation around a cabin which contains a numerous family of Indians.

Maize occupies the same region as the banana, but its cultivation may be extended over a much wider range of climate. It may be raised either in districts as hot as the coast of New Spain, or on the summits of mountains as high as the Pyre nees; its cultivation suffering from the cold in those countries only in which the mean temperature is under 46 degrees. Such is its amazing fecundity in a warm climate, that, even on indifferent soil, it returns sixty grains for one: one hundred and fifty for one are hardly more than a middling crop; and very fertile lands are said to yield even twice as much. Maize being the principal food of the people of Mexico, as well as of the domestic animals, its price consequently modifies that of most other kinds of provision; and a failure in the harvest of maize, whether from the want of rain or from premature frost, produces all the evil of a general scarcity. In the neighbour hood of mines, crowded both with men and with animals for the purpose of draught, a deficiency of the customary supply of maize leads to the most distressing consequences. Unfortunately, of all gramina cultivated by man, maize appears the most unequal in its produce; varying in its return in the same field from 50 to 300 for 1, according to the changes of humidity and the temperature of the season. In the hands, however, of a provident people, little cause would exist for apprehending danger from these fluctuations, since maize may be stored up and kept for several years. In general, one crop only in a year is raised, the sowing season being from June to August. It may be eaten either boiled or roasted, and is used in as many various shapes as the rice of India or China.-One of the chief objections to the extension of the culture of maize is its weight, with the consequent difficulty of conveyance. The grain is heavier in proportion to the quantity of nutritive substance than our wheat; and, if we find in this country of roads and canals that the price of grain is materially enhanced by the charge of carriage, how much more must this be the case in the rude and difficult communications of New Spain?

A chief impediment to the regular fertility of the soil of New Spain is the infrequency of rain. After we have passed the 28th degree of latitude to the southward, we find only two seasons, the rainy, from June to September or October; and the dry, which lasts during the other eight months of the year. This long continuance of drought compels the inhabitants in many parts to have recourse to artificial irrigations. When these are completely established, the fertility of the ground is surprizing,

surprizing, the returns of wheat being, in some situations, 30, 40, and even 50 to 1. Even in New California, the produce of wheat may be reckoned at the rate of 16 or 17 for 1; being double the average produce of the soil of France.

The last of the Mexican plants, of which our limits permit us to take notice, is the Maguey, a species of the Anana, cultis vated by the Indians for the sake of converting its juice into a spirituous liquor. It often becomes fit to yield juice at the age of eight years; and an incision being once made, the running may be continued, for two or three months, at the rate of three or four draughts daily. The quantity obtained is surprizing, particularly when we consider the bare and arid grounds on which this plant is generally cultivated. Its firm and vigorous leaves are not affected either by drought or hail, nor by the excessive cold which is prevalent in winter on the higher Cordilleras of Mexico. The juice is an agreeable acid, and is easily fermented on account of the sugar and mucilage which it contains. Its odour, when fit for drinking, is by no means agreeable: but, when this objection is removed by time and habit, its strengthening and nourishing qualities are such as to procure for it with many persons a preference over all other liquors; and its consumption in New Spain is carried to so considerable an amount, as to render the tax on it an object of importance to the revenue. The culture of the vine has been introduced into the Spanish colonies, and cannot fail to be attended with great success, as soon as it shall be freed from the discouragements which are imposed on it by the influence of those in the mother-country who wish to reserve to themselves a monopoly of the sale of European wine.

From the extracts which we have made, and the idea which we have endeavoured to convey of the general contents of this publication, as far as we have yet proceeded*, our readers, we trust, have been enabled to form an adequate conception of the importance of Baron Humboldt's information. We have seldom met with a writer who is more versed in the ideas which are suggested by a long habit of travelling, or more expert at applying the illustrations which a familiar acquaintance with various regions can alone supply. Though he is by no means deficient in the general views which arise in a comprehensive mind from the study of history, we are induced to think that, in general, his conclusions are more valuable when drawn from observations of the present than when derived from a consider

* The translation of Vols, iii. and iv., completing the work, has just reached us.

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ation of the past. Yet we have noticed with pleasure occasional passages (as Vol.1. p. 178.) which prompt us to qualify the nega tive part of this opinion, and which denote a philosophic knowlege of the structure of society. After having offered this encomium, the ungracious duty remains of making good our charge of deficiency in method and arrangement. The justice of this allegation can scarcely fail to be perceived on a perusal merely of the introduction, which is uncommonly long, and replete with miscellaneous matter. Throughout the whole book, the author's remarks on natural history are indiscriminately blended with his topical descriptions: names of persons, little known in this quarter of the globe, are often introduced without previous explanation; the table of contents is wholly deficient in regard to half of the work; and a title occupying in each page the space of eight lines, is needlessly repeated during 187 successive pages. The trespasses on typographical accuracy appear to be equally serious. Among many other errors, we have in one place (Vol. i. p. 101.) deaths' instead of births ;' in another, (Vol. ii. p.450.) more frequent,' where less frequent' would be more proper; and in a third, (p. 458.) from June to September' instead, as it appears from the context, of 'from September to June.' A stiffness, also, frequently disfigures the translation, arising from following literally the original collocation of the words, and from inattention in finding the suitable English phrase; as, for example, fruit is said (Vol. ii. p. 420.) to be collected' instead of gathered.' Such an assemblage of drawbacks will operate, we fear, considerably against the popularity of the book, both on the continent and among ourselves; especially when joined to the consideration that M. de Humboldt, travelling under the auspices of the Spanish government, and being received, throughout his progress, with flattering distinction, maybe supposed to lean to the favourable side in his observations both on public measures and on public characters. This suspicion will not be lessened by the circumstance of the dedication being addressed to the King of Spain. Yet, notwithstanding all these disadvantages, the reader who has patience to study the work, and to condense in his mind the scattered information contained in it, will experience a considerable addition to his stock of ideas, and will find that his labour has not been ungratefully exerted,

Of the magnificent plates and maps published with the original, a partial impression, on a reduced scale, has been struck off to accompany this translation.-The engravings are nine in number, and form a thin volume by themselves.-We hope to be able soon to report the remainder of the work,

ART.

ART. V. A Topographical Account of the Parish of Scampton, in the County of Lincoln, and of the Roman Antiquities lately discovered there; together with Anecdotes of the Family of Bolle. By the Rev. Cayley Illingworth, A.M. F.A.S. Archdeacon of Stow, and Rector of Scampton and Epworth in the County of Lincoln. 4to. pp. 65. l. 11s. 6d. Boards. Cadell and Davies. 1810. A FEW copies only of this volume were printed in the first instance, for private distribution: but the compiler was afterward induced to extend the circulation, by reasons which he has given in the following terms: In compliance with the repeated sollicitations of several learned friends and antiquaries, the Reverend Cayley Illingworth begs to lay before the public, his topographical account of Scampton; intending to apply the profits, arising from its sale, to the charitable fund for the widows and orphans of distressed clergymen in the county of Lincoln. The work not having been originally intended for publication, a plain and faithful detail of facts was much more considered by the compiler, than the exterior dress and ornament of language. In the same simple garb, therefore, he ventures to send it into the world; hoping that the eye of criticism will pass over trifling inaccuracies, whilst viewing the motives that have led to its appearance before the public.'

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The intentions of Mr. Illingworth in forwarding the research of antiquities, and contributing his mite' towards a history of his county, are truly commendable; and should his example, as he hopes, excite other gentlemen to make similar collections in their respective neighbourhoods,' Lincolnshire would then be furnished with particulars of its antiquities and topography, of which it might be justly proud. While the disinterestedness of the Archdeacon deserves praise for the application of the profits arising from the sale of the volume to charitable purposes, his modesty is also singular and pleasing; his publication not needing any apology for its simple garb, since the language in which it is written is elegant and appropriate, and such as evinces his accurate taste and good sense much more than if it were adorned with florid and pompous diction.

The detail commences, with stating the name and etymology of the parish, and proceeds with a description of its situation and boundaries. The reader is next presented with an account of the antient Roman roads in the neighbourhood, and minute particulars of the foundation of a Roman villa, which was discovered in the parish in 1795. This last article is pecularly interesting to antiquaries, since the compiler has pursued his researches with apparently great care, and described the place as minutely as the subject would admit. We shall en

deavour

deavour to convey to our readers some particulars of this interesting object, and at the same time afford a specimen of the lan guage employed in the work and the abilities of the writer for such an undertaking. — After having mentioned that there appears to have been a grand entrance from the west into a long gallery or portico, and thence into a suite of small rooms dividing two courts; that at the east end was the principal building, having two wings on the north and south sides of the two courts, the baths occupying the south wing, and the servants' apartments being in the north; that the number of apartments discovered was upwards of 40: but that it is presumed that many more had existed, and that the principal rooms extended considerably towards the east; Mr. I. proceeds to inform us that,

The foundations were generally two or three feet beneath the surface ; yet, as little more of them remained than a foot or two in height, no traces were discoverable of entrances into the several apartments. The whole was constructed of the stone of the country, and the walls were in general from 2 to 3, though in some instances 4, and even 5 feet thick. The remaining walls of several apartments, particularly of that in which the large tessellated pavement was discovered, were painted on stucco in various colours; some green, others in stripes of red and white, and blue and white; the stucco composed of the lime of the country. The tesselated pavements, about 13 in number, though none perfect but the engraved one, were bedded on a body of clay in strong cement, and from 3 to 4 feet under ground. They were composed of cubical tessera of different sizes, from half an inch to an inch and an half square, made from the lime-stone of the neighbourhood. Great quantities of broken urns, fluted and figured tiles, glass, and culinary vessels were discovered, but none perfect; also several fragments of plaister floors, composed of lime, fine gravel, and pounded red brick. These articles, together with several copper coins of the later empire, particularly a perfect one of Constantine the younger, having the following legend, CONSTANTINVS-IVN NOB C; and on the reverse GLORIA EXERCITVS., some fibulæ, two styles, and the head of a lance, lay scattered over the whole foundations.

It was impossible to form an adequate idea of the nature of the superstructure; but, from the appearance of fire and of melted lead on the surface of the pavements, and from the fragments of burnt timber, it was probably built of wood; and the whole had evidently been destroyed by fire. This conjecture is strengthened by the circumstance of tiles being found lying confusedly upon the pave ments, and which had served for roofs. Some tiles had grooves, others a smooth surface. The scene was rendered more seriously interesting by the discovery of an incredible number of human skeletons, which lay principally on the foundations. Some of them were rather beyond the usual stature, and the teeth remarkably white.

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