opening in the morning, as variously as ever. While in the cave, it was as much affected by the touch, as in the open air.

By this and many experiments it appears, that it is not the light that opens thefe plants, nor the darkness which huts them. Neither is it owing to the increase of heat or cold. Indeed, great heat will affect them a little, but not in any confiderable degree. Concerning the real caufe, we may form many conjectures: but nothing certain can be known.

Nearly related to the Sleep of Plants, is that which Linnans called the Awaking of Flowers. The flowers of most plants, after they are once opened, continue fo night and day, until they drop off or die away. Others, which fhut in the night time, open in the morning fooner or later, according to their fituation in the fun or fhade, or as they are influenced by the manifeft changes of the atmosphere. There are another class of flowers, which make the subject of these observations, which obferve a more uniform law in this particular.

Thefe open and fhut conftantly at certain hours, exclufive of any manifeft changes in the atmosphere; and this with fo little variation in point of time, as to render the phenomenon worth obfervation. Linnaus' obfervation extends to near finy fpecies which are fubject to this law. We will enumerate fome of thefe, and mention the time when the flowers open and fhut. The little blue Convolvulus, or Bindweed, opens its flowers between five and fix in the morning, and shuts them in the afternoon. The flowers of the Day-Lilly open about five in the morning, and fhut at feven or eight in the evening, The leffer Water-Plantain, during its flowering-time, only opens its flowers each day about noon. The flowers of the Proliferous Pink, expand about eight in the morning, and clofe again about one in the afternoon. Purple Spurrey, expands between nine and ten in the morning, and clofes between two and three in the afternoon. This little plant is common among the corn in fandy foils, and flowers in June. Common Pur flain, opens its flowers about nine or ten in the morning, and

clafes

clofes them again in about an hour's time. The white WaterLilly grows in rivers, ponds and ditches, and the flowers lie upon the surface of the water. At their time of expanfion, which is about feven in the morning, the ftalk is erected, and the flower more elevated above the furface. In this fituation it continues till about four in the afternoon, when the flower finks to the furface of the water, and clofes again. Yellow Goats Beard, or Go-to-bed-at-noon (the latter of thefe names was given to this plant long fince, on account of this remarkable property) opens its flowers in general about three or four o'clock, and clofes them again about nine or ten in the morning. These flowers will perform their vigilæ, if set in a phial of water, within doors, for feveral mornings fucceffively. Sometimes they are quite clofed, from their utmost ftate of expanfion, in less than a quarter of an hour.

Copy of a LETTER, from CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS OF
COLON, to the King of SPAIN.

Sir,

DIEGO

Jamaica, 1503.

IEGO MENDES, and the papers I fend by him, will shew your Highness what rich mines of gold, I have discovered in Vargua; and how I intended to have left my brother at River Belin, if the judgments of heaven, and the greatest misfortune in the world had not prevented it. However it is fufficient that your Highnefs and fucceffor will have the glory and advantage of all; and that the full difcovery and fettlement is reserved for happier perfons than unfortunate C. Columbus. If God be fo merciful to me, as to bring Mendes to Spain, I doubt not but he will make your Highness, and my great Mistress underftand, that there will not only be a caftle and a law, but a difcovery of a world of fubjects, lands,

and

and wealths, greater than man's unbounded fancy could ever comprehend, or avarice itfelf covet. But neither he, this

paper, nor the tongue of mortal man can exprefs the anguish and afflictions of my mind and body, nor the misery and dangers of my fon, brothers and friends. For here, already we have been ten months lodged on the open decks of our fhips, that are on fhore and lafhed together. Those of my men that were well have mutinied under the Porras of Swilla. My friends that were faithful are moftly fick and dying; we have destroyed the Indian's provifions, fo that they abandon us; all therefore are like to perifh by hunger, and these miferies are accompanied with fo many aggravating circum. ftances, that renders me the moft wretched object of misfortune, this world fhall ever fee. As if this difpleafure of heaven, feconded the envy of Spain, and would punish as criminal, those undertakings and difcoveries that former ages would have acknowledged as deftinies and meritorious. Good hea vens, and you holy faints, who dwell in them, let the King Don Fernando, and my illuftrious Miftrefs Donna Ifabella know, that I am the moft miferable man living, and that my zeal for their fervice and intereft hath brought me to it; for it is im poffible to live and have afflictions equal to mine.

I fee, and with horror apprehend my own, and for my fale, thofe unfortunate and deferving people's deftruction. Alas! pity and juftice have returned to their fources above; and it is a crime to have feen or promifed too much. As my mifery makes my life a burthen to myfelf; fo I fear the empty titles of a perpetual Vice Roy and Admiral, renders me obnoxious to the Spanish nation. It is vifible enough, how all methods are made ufe of, to cut the thread which is breaking. For I am in my old age, with unfupportable pains of the gout; and am now languifhing and expiring with that and other infirmities, among favages; where I have neither medicines or provifions for the body, or Pricft or facrament for the foul. My men mu inying, my brother, ny fon, and thofe that

are faithful,

fick,

fick, ftarving and dying. The Indians have abandoned us, and his Grace of St. Domingo Iflands, has fent rather to fee if I am dead, than to fuccour us, or carry me home; for his boat neither brought us a letter, or spoke to us, nor would they receive any from us.

So I conclude, your Highnefs' Officers intended my life's voyage should end. O bleffed Mother of God! that compaffionates the most miferable and oppreffed, why did not Sevilla Boundilla kill me, when he robbed me and my brother of our dearly purchased gold, and fent for us to Spain in chains, without hearing, trial, crime, or the fhadow of one? Thofe chains are all the treasures I have, and they fhall be buried with me, if I chance to have a coffin or a grave.-O blesseď Virgin! O bands! O cruelty to force us to be thus dying ten or twelve months, and to perifh by malice as great as our 'misfortunes! O let it not bring further infamy on the Caftilian name! nor let ages to come know there were wretches fo vile in this, that thought to recommend themselves to Don Fernando, by deftroying the unfortunate, and miferable Chrif topher Columbus; not for his crimes, but for his pretenfions to discovering and given to Spai a new world.

It was you, O heavens, that infpired and conducted me to it; do you therefore weep for me, and fhew pity! Let the carth, and every foul in it that loves juftice or mercy, weep for me: and let nine hundred and fifty glorified faints of God, that know my innocency, and fee my fufferings, have mercy. If this present age is too envious or obftinate to weep for me, fure thofe that are to be born will do it; when they are told, Christopher Colon, with his own fortune, the hazard of his own fon's and brother's lives; with little or no expence to the Crown of Spain; in twenty years, and four voyages, rendered greater fervices than ever mortal man did, to Prince or kingdom, yet after all was made to perifh, without being charged with the leaft crime. Poor and miferable, all but the VOL. IX. 3 X

chains

chains being taken from him; fo that he which gave to Spain another world had neither in that nor it, a cottage for himself, or wretched family; but fhould heaven ftill perfecute me, and feem difpleafed with what I have done, as if the discovery of this world, may be fatal to the old, and as a punishment bring my life, in this miferable place, to its fatal period, yet do you good angels, you that fuccour the oppressed and innocent, bring this Letter to my great Miftrefs. She knows how much I have done, and will believe what I have fuffered, for her glory and fervice; and will do fo juftly and piously, as not to let the fon and brothers of him, that has brought to Spain, immenfe riches, and added to it, vaft and unknown kingdoms, and empires, want bread, or live on alms. She, if the lives, will confider, cruelty, and ingratitude will provoke heaven, and the wealth I have discovered will fir up all mankind to revenge and rapine; fo that the nation may chance to fuffer hereafter, for that envious, malicious, and ungrateful people.

Sophronius. Now forgot every thing but my love's distress.
I
Pity and forrow poffeffed me wholly.

Life returned to my Urania's eyes, and blufhes to her cheeks. She feemed to ftrain her eyes open to look up in my face. A new fort of pleafure warmed my heart. I confidered

myfelf,