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OF

SOUTH AMERICA

AND

MEXICO;

COMPRISING THEIR

DISCOVERY, GEOGRAPHY, POLITICS, COMMERCE

AND

REVOLUTIONS.

BY HON. JOHN M. NILES,

MEMBER OF THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.

TO WHICH IS ANNEXED,

A GEOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL VIEW

OF

TEXAS,

WITH A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE

TEXIAN REVOLUTION AND WAR.

BY HON. L. T. PEASE.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

HARTFORD:

H. HUNTINGTON, JUN.

F

1408 .N74 1837

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1837,
By H. HUNTINGTON, JUN.,

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Connecticut.

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Effects of the discovery of America-Columbus' first voyage and discoveries-grant of the Pope-second voyage-fate of the first colony-rising of the natives-they are subdued and compelled to pay tribute-convicts transported to the colony-third voyage of Columbus, in which he discovers the continent-origin of the reparlimientos-voyage of Alonzo de Ojeda and Americus Vespucius fourth voyage of Columbus-settlement on the Gulf of Darien-Vasco Balboa discovers the Pacific Ocean-voyage of Juan de Solis-conquest of Cuba-colony planted-Cumana, Yucatan, and Mexico discovered.

THE discovery of America forms a new and most conspicuous era in the annals of the world; and probably no other event has had greater influence on the destinies of the human race. Its immediate effects were, to excite a spirit of discovery, of enterprise, and commercial cupidity, which not only gave a new direction, but a more vigorous impulse to speculative and commercial operations; and by extending the bounds and magnifying the objects of navigation, a degree of interest and importance was conferred on that pursuit, which it had never before possessed. To these effects succeeded the planting of colonies, which gradually gave a new aspect to the commerce of Europe, engrafted novel principles into the laws of nations, and in no small degree influenced the politics of almost every state in Europe; as for a long period most of the contentions and wars among the principal powers of the old world, arose from conflicting claims and interests in the new. New relations wer created between the parent state and its colonies, and between the latter and other powers, the last of which were a source of constant jealousy, and often disturbed the peace of nations.

That the discovery and colonizing of a new world, several times as large as the continent of Europe, would produce an im

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