have heard one begin softly, reserving its breath to

swell certain notes, which, by this means, had a

most astonishing effect. A gentleman in London had one of these birds for six years. During the space of a minute he was heard to imitate the woodlark, chaffinch, blackbird, thrush, and sparrow. In this country (America) I have frequently known the mocking birds so engaged in this mimicry, that it was with much difficulty I could ever obtain an opportunity of hearing their own natural note. Some go so far as to say, that they have neither peculiar notes, nor favourite imitations. This may be denied. Their few natural notes resemble those of the (European) nightingale. Their song, however, has a greater compass and volume than the nightingale,

and they have the faculty of varying all intermediate notes in a manner which is truly delightful.-ASHE'S

Travels in America, Vol. II. p. 73.

Stanza 5. 1. 9.

Or distant isles that hear the loud Corbrechtan roar.

The Corybrechtan, or Corbrechtan, is a whirlpool on the western coast of Scotland, near the island of Jura, which is heard at a prodigious distance. Its name signifies the whirlpool of the Prince of Denmark; and there is a tradition that a Danish Prince

once undertook, for a wager, to cast anchor in it. He is said to have used woollen instead of hempen ropes, for greater strength, but perished in the at

tempt. On the shores of Argyleshire I have often listened with great delight to the sound of this

E5

vortex, at the distance of many leagues. When the weather is calm, and the adjacent sea scarcely heard on these picturesque shores, its sound, which is like the sound of innumerable chariots, creates a magnificent and fine effect.

Stanza 13. 1. 4.

Of buskin'd limb and swarthy lineament. In the Indian tribes there is a great similarity in their colour, stature, &c. They are all, except the Snake Indians, tall in stature, straight and robust. It is very seldom they are deformed, which has given rise to the supposition that they put to death their deformed children. Their skin is of a copper colour; their eyes large, bright black, and sparkling, indicative of a subtile and discerning mind: their hair is of the same colour, and prone to long, seldom or never curled. Their teeth are large and white; I never observed any decayed among them, which

makes their breath as sweet as the air they inhale.

Travels through America by Capts. LEWIS and

CLARKE, in 1804-5-6.

12

Stanza 14. 1. 6.

Peace be to thee-my words this belt approve. The Indians of North America accompany every formal address to strangers, with whom they form or recognize a treaty of amity, with a present of a string, or belt, of wampum. Wampum (says Cadwallader Colden) is made of the large whelk shell, Briccinum, and shaped like long beads: it is the

current money of the Indians.-History of the five

Indian Nations, page 34. New York Edition.

Stanza 1-4. 1. 7.

The paths of peace my steps are hither led. In relating an interview of Mohawk Indians with the Governor of New York, Colden quotes the following passage as a specimen of their metaphorical manner: "Where shall I seek the chair of peace? Where shall I find it but upon our path? and whither

doth our path lead us but unto this house?"

Stanza 15. 1. 2.

Our wampum league thy brethren did embrace. When they solicit the alliance, offensive or defensive, of a whole nation, they send an embassy with a