LESSON XIX.

SPANISH PROVINCES IN NORTH AMERICA.

Q. WHAT are the Spanish provinces in

North America?

A. They are four in number, namely; East Florida, West Florida, New Mexico (including New Navarre, California, &c.) and Old Mexico, or, New Spain.

They comprehend an extensive country, and lie between the territories of the United States on the east, and the Pacific Ocean on the west, stretching from Terra Firma and the Mexican gulph on the south to regions unknown on the north.

Q. What of the soil and climate?

A. The climate, in many parts, is insalubrious in summer, but mild and healthy in winter. The soil is, in the highest degree, productive.

SOUTH AMERICA.

Q. What is South America?

A. South America is a vast peninsula of a triangular form, lying in, and nearly encompassed by the great South Sea. It is about 4000 miles. long, by nearly 3000 broad, and connected to North America by the isthmus of Darien.

Q: What

Q. What of the mountains of South America? A. The Andes, extending from north to south the whole length of this continent, are the lofti. est and most extensive range of mountains upon the whole face of the globe, and embosom several volcanoes of the most sublime and terrific description.

Chimborazo, the most elevated point of the Andes, rises 20,280 feet above the level of the sea, which is 5000 feet higher than the summit of the celebrated Mont Blanc of Savoy.

Q. What are the principal rivers of South America?

A. The Amazon, La Plata, Qronooko, Para, and St. Francis, with many others of less size and note. Amazon, 3000 miles long, of great width and unfathomable depth, is the largest river in the world; and the La Plata, upwards of 2000 miles long, and, near the mouth, 150 broad, is but little inferior to it.

"What of the soil and climate of South America?

A. So extensive a region must have a great variety both of soil and climate; but it may be observed in general, that the bountiful Creator has here liberally bestowed whatever is necessary for the comfort and convenience of man.

South America has long been celebrated for its rich mines of gold and silver. The whole population may be estimated at about 14 millions, and some of the natives (the Patagonians) are of colossal stature.

Q. What are the principal divisions of South America?

A. Terra Firma, Peru, Chili and Paragua, belonging

longing to Spain; Brazil, to the Portuguese; Guiana to the French and Dutch; and Amazonia and Patagonia, to the natives.

Q. What is to be understood by the West In dies?

A. Under the general term West Indies, is included a multitude of islands lying in several groups, between the two great continents of North and South America.

They belong to different European powers, are, many of them, of considerable size, and great commercial importance.

Q. What of the climate and seasons?

A. As these islands all lie within the torrid zone, they are oppressed with great heat, and have neither frost, snow, nor cold weather; the rains making the only distinction of seasons. Violent hail storms however, sometimes happen and

*Dutch Guiana or Surinam,is at present held by the English

andearthquakes are not uncommon occurrences. Q.. What are the principal articles of produce and exportation?

A. Sugar, coffee, cotton, indigo, rum, molasses, ginger, pepper, all-spice, cocoa, fruits, &c. All the labor of cultivation is performed by negroes, who compose more than seven eights of the whole population, amounting to nearly one million and a half.

The principal islands, with their chief towns, are as follows, viz.

LESSON XX.

HISTORY.

Q. WHAT is history?

A. An account or recital of past transactions in regular succession, with such important circumstances as are proper to be transmitted to posterity.

Q. Is not an acquaintance with history then very desirable?

A. Yes; it is a most valuable attainment, and well worthy the attention of all who wish to have their minds enriched from the treasures of experience. As necessity has proved herself the mother of invention, so experience will ever be acknowledged the parent of wisdom. of wisdom. And history being an account of what has occurred in real life, and causing all the transactions it relates to be acted over again as it were, and pass in review before the mind of the reader, gives him the experience of them; and yields him the wisdom of age, even in the morning of life.

Q. What is necessary to the study of history? A. A knowledge of geography, which teaches the situation of the places in which the events happened; and also of chronology, which enables us to adjust them to their proper periods. Q. How is history divided?"

A. Into ancient and modern; which may be subdivided into civil, sacred and profane. Q. What is ancient history?

A. An account of all events, whether recorded by sacred or profane writers, from the creation of the world to the birth of Christ.

Q. What is modern history?

A. A