How simple were the manners of the early colonists!  The first ripening of any European fruit was distinguished by a family-festival.  Garcilasso de la Vega relates how his dear father, the valorous Andres, collected together in his chamber seven or eight gentlemen to share with him three asparaguses, the first that ever grew on the table-land of Cusco.  When the operation of dressing them was over (and it is minutely described) he distributed the two largest among his friends; begging that the company would not take it ill, if he reserved the third for himself, as it was a thing from Spain.

North America became instantly an asylum for the oppressed; huguenots, and catholics, and sects of every name and country.  Such were the first settlers in Carolina and Maryland, Pennsylvania and New England.  Nor is South America altogether without a claim to the title.  Even now, while I am writing, the antient house of Braganza is on its passage across the Atlantic,

       Cum sociis, natoque, Penatibus, et magnis dis.

NOTE d.

Untouch’d shall drop the fetters from the slave ,

Je me transporte quelquefois au dela d’un siecle.  J’y vois le bonheur a cote de l’industrie, la douce tolerance remplacant la farouche inquisition; j’y vois un jour de fete; Peruvians, Mexicains, Americains libres, Francois, s’embrassant comme des freres, et benissant le regne de la liberte, qui doit amener partout une harmonic universelle.—­Mais les mines, les esclaves, que deviendront-ils?  Les mines se fermerout; les esclaves seront les freres de leurs maitres.  Nouv.  Voy. dans l’Amerique.

NOTE e.

The spoiler spoil’d of all;

Cortes.  A peine put-il obtenir audience de Charles-Quint. un jour il fendit la presse qui entourait le coche de l’empereur, et monta sur l’etrier de la portiere.  Charles demanda quel etait cet homme:  ‘C’est,’ repondit Cortez, ’celui qui vous a donne plus d’etats que vos peres ne vous ont laisse de villes.’  VOLTAIRE.

NOTE f.

Where on his altar-tomb, &c.

An Interpolation.

NOTE g.

Tho’ in the western world His grave,

An Anachronism.  The body of Columbus was not yet removed from
Seville.

It is almost unnecessary to point out another in the Ninth Canto.  The telescope was not then in use; though described long before with great accuracy by Roger Bacon.