ADVERTISEMENT. THE following Historical Account of Discoveries in North America, including a View of the Actual State of that Continent, is on the same plan with the former works of the Author on Discoveries in Africa and in Asia. These works having been favourably received, he has been led to believe that the present one might be equally acceptable to those readers who take an interest in the progress of geographical discovery and the present state of the world. The series of bold adventure by which the coasts of North America were discovered and its colonies founded; the daring attempts to find a Northern Passage by its arctic shores; the unparalleled growth and extending power of the United States; with the openings which America affords to our emigrant population, all these circumstances conspire to render that continent an object of peculiar interest. In regard to the execution of these volumes, the Author has only to say, that neither research nor exertion has been spared, in order that they may merit, in at least an equal degree, that measure of public approbation which was bestowed on those similar works by which they have been preceded. CONTENTS OF VOLUME I. General Statement of the Question, 5.-Absence of authentic Records, 6.-Probabilities, 7.-Mode of ancient Navigation, ib.-Different Modes in which Vessels might have reached America, 10.- The Carthaginians, the Saracens, 11.-The Welsh under Madoc, 12.-The Scandinavians, 13.-Voyages to Vinland, 14.-Eric, Leif, Thorvald, Thorfin, &c., 15.- Vinland not America, 19.-What Country Vinland is, 21.- General Statement of the Question, 37.-Whether all Men were blance between the Americans and Jews, 52. -Acosta, 53.- Grotius, 54.-Probable Quarter whence America was peo- pled, 54.-Question whether Colonists might come from any Discovery of North America, 61.-John and Sebastian Cabot, 62. Various Accounts of their Voyage, 65.-Ponce de Leon, Discovery of Florida, 71.-Verazzani, his Voyages along the American Coast, 74.-His Tragical Fate, 80.-Cartier, 81.— |