THE HISTORY OF AMERICA. BY WILLIAM ROBERTSON, D. D. In which is included the Posthumous Volume, CONTAINING THE HISTORY OF VIRGINIA, TO THE YEAR 1688; AND OF NEW ENGLAND, TO THE YEAR 1652. THE HISTORY OF AMERICA. BOO KIV. CONTENTS. View of America when first discovered, and of the Manners and Policy of its most uncivilized Inhabitants-Vast Extent of Ame rica-Grandeur of the Objects it presents to View-Its Mountains-Rivers-Lakes-Its Form favourable to Commeree➡ Temperature-Predominance of Cold-Causes of this-uncultivated-unwholesome-its Animals-Soil-Inquiry how America was peopled-various Theories what appears most probable-Condition and Character of the Americans-All, the Mexicans and Peruvians excepted, in the Stage of Savages-Inquiry confined to the uncivilized Tribes-Difficulty of obtaining Information various Causes of this-Method observed in the Inquiry-I. The bodily Constitution of the Americans considered -II. The Qualities of their Minds-III. Their domestic State IV. Their political State and Institutions-V. Their System of War and public Security--Vi. The Arts with which they were acquainted-VII. Their religious Ideas and Institutions→→→→ VIII. Such singular and detached Customs as are not reduceable to any of the former Heads-IX. General Review and Estimate of their Virtues and Defects. TWENTY-SIX years had elapsed since Columbus conducted the people of Europe to the New World. During that period the Spaniards had made great progress in exploring its various regions. They had visit VOL. II. B |