"After a long hiatus, we find in the seventh column the attempts which Proculeius made, by order of Octavianus, to induce Cleopatra to surrender at discretion.

"Octavianus enters Alexandria, which city cannot be said to have been besieged. Meanwhile night comes on, and the poem does not describe the last moments of Cleopatra."

M. Morgenstern has promised to give some further illustra tions of this poem, in the Travels which he intends to publish. He thinks there may be perceived, in the above extracts, the spirit of the composition: the author evinces the genius of the rhetorician; and he cannot but be viewed as a contemporary or emulator of Lucan and Petronius.

ACCOUNT OF A SCARCE AND CURIOUS LETTER OF COLUMBUS, LATELY PUBLISHED BY THE CHEVALIER MORELLI, OF THE ROYAL LIBRARY AT VENICE.

COLUMBUS addressed this long letter to the king and queen of Spain on the seventh of July, 1503, at which time he was at Jamaica, where he had arrived on his fourth voyage to the West Indies. It contains an account of the events of his passage. He sailed from Cadiz on the ninth of May, 1502, and, passing the Canaries, arrived at Dominica, at which Isle his misfortunes commenced. "When I reached this island," says he," I addressed a packet of letters to your majesty, in which I earnestly requested a ship and some money; one of the vessels I had with me was no longer sea-worthy. Your majesty knows whether or not my letter reached you; in your majesty's answer you forbid me from remaining on shore, or even from debarking." This news it seems, caused despair amongst the companions of Columbus. "The danger was great (continues he) and I still remembered the night when, the ships having been dispersed, we had nothing to expect but death: each man looked his companion in the face and gave himself up as lost! And who is he, not even excepting Job, who would not have died of despair: when, under my circumstances, I was forbidden to find, for my son, my brother, my friends, and myself, a refuge in that very

land, and in those very ports, where, by divine grace, I had arrived, after unparalleled fatigues? (Sudanda Sangue.")

Columbus continued his route towards Jamaica, where he was surprised by the violent currents (occasioned by the trade-winds) and, after eighty-eight days' suffering from storms and tempests, the wind dropped on the 12th of September. But, during these events, Columbus felt as much for the misfortunes of others as for himself, and particularly on account of the terrible experiment made by his son, scarcely thirteen years old, and his own brother, who had unwillingly followed him in his perilous voyages: "For I am so unfortunate (says Columbus) that after twenty years of services and dangers, I have done no good for myself, I have not a single place of shelter in all Castile, nor any other means of procuring food and rest than by living at an inn, and even there I have seldom the means of paying my expenses. I had also another cause for vexation (says he) in the case of my son, Don Diego, whom I left in Spain an orphan, without fortune or employment." On this point it appears Columbus relied on the liberality of the king.

He arrived at a country called Cariac, where he learned that there were gold mines in the province of Ciamba: he took with him two of the natives, who conducted him to another country, named Carambara, the inhabitants of which went naked, and wore from the neck a gold mirror, which they would neither sell nor exchange. They told him, in the language of the country, of many other places, situated on the coast, where there were considerable gold mines: the last of these was Beragn a, twenty-five leagues distant; he set off to discover these mines, accompanied by his two guides, who entertained him by talking of the profusion of gold they contained, which was so great, they said, that he ought to be satisfied if he could obtain even the tenth part of it. He verified the truth of their assertions, and returned well satisfied.

He was succesively driven into the ports of Bastimentos, Retrete, and Postogrone, where he procured provisions, and afterwards sailed towards Beragna, where he arrived on the day of the Epiphany; he reconnoitered the island, and, after meeting

with several adventures, he sailed again, and on the thirteenth of May he was off the country of Magna, and by the end of June at Jamaica. On this passage also he was assailed by severe storms, and his ships were no longer fit for sea. "I do not (says he to the king) here mention an hundredth part of my misfortunes, as my companions can testify; if your majesty would be graciously pleased to send to our aid a ship of 64 tons, laden with 200 quintals of biscuit, and other provisions, this would be sufficient to bring us back to Spain. Jamaica is distant from Spagnola only twenty-eight leagues, but I could not proceed there, even were my ships in good trim, after the orders which your majesty has given me."

Columbus then communicates to the king the observations he made on the riches, population, manners, and customs of the people he had seen, and particularly those of the isle of Beragna; he descants on the utility of this island, and the ease with which it may be taken; "There is (says he) more gold to be seen here in two days than can be met with at Spagnola in four years. Gold (continues he) is the most precious of metals; it is gold which fills all treasuries; and he who possesses gold can do what he will in the world! In short, gold serves to send souls into Paradise! The inhabitants of Beragna bury with their dead all the gold they possessed while living: such is their custom. They brought at one time to Solomon as much gold as six hundred and fifty quintals, not including the quantity for the use of the seamen and merchants, and that which it was necessary to send in payment to Arabia, and each of these quintals weighed an hundred and fifty pounds."

Columbus proceeds to exhaust all his eloquence: he quotes Josephus, the Book of Kings, and the Paralipipomenes, in proof that the Ophir of Solomon and the Aurea of Josephus, were the same as Beragna (Veragua) where nothing but gold was to be Columbus, throughout, does not wish to seize upon this treasure by main force, but is only anxious that some means may be found for transporting it to the coffers of the king.

seen.

Although entirely occupied with the interests of his sovereign, Columbus is reduced to the necessity of imploring his

clemency and justice. "I asked your majesty (says he) provided I succeeded in discovering these islands and this continent, to give me the government of them in your majesty's name. My request was granted in the most solemn manner. I took the title of viceroy, admiral, and governor-general; and my limits were fixed at a hundred leagues beyond the isles of the Artori, and that of Cape Verd.-I remained seven years at your majesty's court, and every day this enterprise was spoken of, which, in the general opinion, could be attended with nothing but misfortune. At present, courtiers and flatterers ask, as a favour, permission to set out on voyages of discovery, and, if your majesty were to comply with their solicitations, they would discover nothing. At the very time when I expected the ship which I entreated of your majesty to convey me home, that I might do homage to your majesty for my success and my riches, I was forcibly seized, and thrown into a ship with my two brothers, plundered, loaded with irons, and subjected to the most infamous treatment; and all this without having been either heard or condemned! And who would believe that a poor foreigner would have been induced to turn traitor here against your majesty, without any motive, or without the encouragement of any other sovereign. I have served your majesty for the space of twenty-eight years, and have gained nothing but infirmities. -I cannot believe that your majesty has sanctioned the oppression which I have experienced. Let then the authors of it be punished, and give me back my property and my honour.-I came here only to serve your majesty;-I entreat your majesty, if it be God's will that I am to quit these parts, to permit me to go to Rome, and to make other pilgrimages. May the Holy Ghost preserve your life and increase your grandeur. Given in the Indies, at the island of Jamaica, the 7th of July, in the year 1503."

The above is a brief analysis of a letter which contains thirty-two octavo pages, from which the reader may judge of its interest. It was written in Spanish, and, having been translated into Italian, it was printed at Venice by Simon de Lorere, 7th of May, 1505. It is this early translation, with some trifling cor

rections, that has been republished by the abbé Morelli, a librarian at Venice. He has added various notes, to explain different passages of the text, which would otherwise have been obscure. The dates in this letter will be useful to the historian in describing the events relative to Columbus, particularly those of his last voyage in 1502 and 1503.

NEW DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

The new Drury-lane theatre was opened on the 10th of October. The grand entrance is at Bridgestreet, through a spacious hall, leading to the boxes and pit. This hall is supported by fine Doric columns, and illuminated by two large brass lamps: three large doors lead from this hall into the house, and into a rotunda of great beauty and elegance. On each side of the rotunda are passages to the great stairs, which are peculiarly grand and spacious; over them is an ornamented ceiling, with a turret light. The body of the theatre presents nearly three-fourths of a circle from the stage. This circular appearance is partly an optical deception, and has the effect of making the spectator imagine himself nearly close upon the stage, though seated in a centre box. The colour of the interior is gold upon green, and the relief of the boxes is by a rich crimson. There are three circles of boxes, each containing twenty-four boxes, with four rows of seats, and sufficient room between each; there are seven slip boxes on each side, ranging with the first gallery, and the like number of private boxes nearly upon a level with the pit. The boxes will hold 1200 individuals; the pit about 850; the lower gallery 480; and the upper gallery 289; in all, 2,810 persons may be accommodated. The entrance to all the boxes and pit is easy and secure. The theatre is indebted to colonel Congreve for an excellent contrivance, which promises effectually to secure the building from fire. The appearance of the house is brilliant without being gaudy, and elegant without affectation. The fronts of the boxes have all diversified ornaments, which are neatly gilt, and give a variety and relief to the general aspect. We must not omit the just praise which is due to the architect for those arrangements, which exclude the interruption