orders that all the other ships should carefully examine the strait, promising to wait for them a certain number of days. While the three vessels were employed in this expedition, one of them was driven out of the strait by the reflux of the tide, when the crew, dissatisfied with their situation, rose on their captain, made him prisoner, and again set sail for Europe. After waiting several days beyond the time he had fixed, Magellan entered the strait or arm of the sea, which has ever since retained his name. The entrance lies in 52 degrees south latitude, and the strait, which is about 110 leagues in length, is very wide in some places, and in others not more than half a league from shore to shore. On both sides the land was high, and the mountains were covered with snow, on advancing about 50 leagues west from the entrance.

In about six weeks they found themselves again in an open sea, the coast terminating westward in a cape, and the shore of the continent taking a northerly direction. The sight of the Pacific Ocean gave Magellan the utmost joy, he being the first European who sailed upon it. Proceeding W. N. W. he arrived at the Ladrone Islands, to which he gave that name on account of the thievish disposition of the natives.

They sailed from the Ladrones on the 10th of March, 1524, and after visiting a number of islands, entered the port of Lebu on the 7th of April. From Lebu they sailed to the island of Mathan, which being governed by two kings, and one of them refusing to pay tribute to the king of Spain, Magellan prepared to reduce him. He marched into the interior of the island accompanied by sixty Europeans. Here he was attacked by three distinct bodies of the islanders, whose united force amounted to upwards of six thousand. The battle was for some time doubtful, till Magellan's impetuosity carrying him too far, he was killed, by being wounded in the leg with a poisoned arrow and stabbed through the body by a spear. Eight or nine of the Spaniards and fifteen of the Indians were also slain. After the death of the admiral, new commanders were chosen from among the surviving officers, and as the ships were now in a very bad condition, it was found necessary to make use of one to repair the other two.

Sailing W. S. W. they came to the rich island of Borneo. From this place they sailed to Cimbubon, where they were detained forty days in repairing their ships and taking in wood and water. Bending their course hence S. E. for the Moluccas, they came to anchor in the port of Tidore on the 8th of November. After remaining here sometime, they set sail in one ship alone and with fifty-nine persons on board, for Europe. To double the Cape of Good Hope with the greater safety, they sailed as low as 42 degrees S. latitude, where they were obliged to wait seven weeks for a wind On doubling the cape they were much distressed by hunger and sickness. For two months they held on their course to the N. W. without touching at any port, during which

time they lost twenty-one persons, and the rest were on the point of starving.

In this situation they arrived at St Jago, one of the Cape de Verd Islands. Finally on the 7th of September, they entered St. Lucar in Spain, with their number reduced to about eighteen persons. According to their reckoning, they had sailed 14,000 leagues, and crossed the equator six times, having been absent three years wanting fourteen days. This was the first voyage round the world that had ever been made

SIR FRANCIS DRAKE.

Mr. Drake was first apprenticed to the master of a small vessel trading to France and Zealand; at the age of eighteen he went purser of a ship to the Bay of Biscay, and at twenty made a voyage to the coast of Guinea, Having obtained Queen Elizabeth's permission for an expedition against the Spaniards, five ships were fitted out, having on board 164 able men and a large quantity of provisions. This fleet sailed out of Plymouth Sound on the 5th of November 1577; but meeting with a violent storm, they were obliged to put back and refit. On the 13th of December they sailed again, and on the 25th passed Cape Cantin, on the coast of Barbary. After visiting numerous islands and meeting with various adventures, having passed the line, they at length discovered the coast of Brazil on the 5th of April, it being fifty-four days since they saw land. As soon as the people on shore saw the ships, they made large fires in different parts, and performed ceremonies to prevail on the gods to sink the vessels, or at least to prevent their landing. Sailing southward they anchored in fort St. Julian, where the admiral going on shore with six men, some of the natives slew the gunner, whose death was revenged by the commander, who killed the murderer with his own hand. At this place Magellan having executed one of his company who conspired against his life, Drake caused one of the crew named Doughty to be tried for the same offence against himself; and xecuted him on the same gibbet.

On the 20th of August, they fell in with the strait of Magellan, which they entered, but found so full of intricate windings, that the same wind which was sometimes in their favor, was at others against them. After several difficulties they entered the South Sea on the 6th of September, and on the next day a violent storm drove them 200 leagues south of the strait, where hey anchored among some islands, abounding in herbs and water

Being now arrived at the other mouth of the strait, they steered for the coast of Chili. On their course they met an Indian in a canoe, who informed them that at St. Jago there was a large ship laden for Peru. The admiral rewarded him for this information, whereupon he conducted them to the place where the ship lay at anchor. There were only eight Spaniards and three negroes on board, who mistaking them for friends, welcomed them and invited them to drink Chili wine. Drake accepted the invitation, and going on board, put them under hatches; arriving on shore he rifled the town and chapel, from which he took great quantities of silver and gold. Proceeding to sea, they arrived at the port of Tarapaxa, where some of them going on shore found a Spaniard asleep, with eighteen bars of silver laying by his side, which they took without waking him.

Entering the port of Lima on the 13th of February, they found twelve sail of ships at anchor unguarded, the crews being all on shore. Examining these vessels they found much plate, together with rich silks and linens, which they took away; but having learned that a rich ship called the Cacafuego had lately sailed from that harbor for Taila, the admiral determined to follow her. Having come up with the chase, they gave her three shots, which brought away the mizzen-mast, whereupon they boarded her, and found thirteen chests full of rials of plate, eighty pounds weight of gold, a quantity of jewels, and twenty-six tons of silver in bars.

The

They subsequently took several other rich prizes, and Drake having now revenged himself on the Spaniards, began to think of the best way of returning to England. To return by the strait of Magellan would be to throw himself into the hands of the Spaniards; he therefore determined to sail westward to the East Indies, and return by the Cape of Good Hope. But wanting wind, he sailed towards the north, and in 38 degrees N. latitude, discovered a country, which from its white cliffs he called New Albion, though it is now known by the name of California. Here they were received with much hospitality by the natives, and the king made Drake a solemn tender of his whole kingdom. Sailing hence, they saw the Ladrones on the 13th of October. admiral held on his course without delay, and on the 4th of November, fell in with the Moluccas. Having arrived at a little island south of Celebes, they staid twenty-six days, in order to repair the ships. Setting sail hence, they ran among a number of small islands, and the wind shifting about suddenly, drove them upon a rock, on the evening of the 9th of January, 1579, where they stuck fast, till four in the afternoon of the next day. In this extremity they lightened the vessel, by taking out eight pieces of ordnance and three tons of cloves. On the 18th of June, they doubled the Cape of Good Hope, and on the 22nd of July arrived at Sierra Leone, where they found a great number of elephants. They staid

here two days, and holding on their course for Plymouth, arrived there on Monday, the 26th of September, 1580; but according to their own reckoning, on Sunday the 25th, having gone round the world in two years, ten months, and a few days. The honor of knighthood was conferred on Drake, and a chair was made from his ship which is still shown as a curiosity at Oxford

THE BEACON-LIGHT.

Darkness was deep'ning o'er the seas,
And still the hulk drove on;
No sail to answer to the breeze,
Her masts and cordage gone:
Gloomy and drear her course of fear,
Each looked but for a grave,
When full in sight, the Beacon-light
Came streaming o'er the wave!

Then wildly rose the gladd'ning shout
Of all that hardy crew-

Boldly they put the helm about,

And through the surf they flew,
Storm was forgot, toil heeded not,
And loud the cheer they gave,
As full in sight, the Beacon-light
Came streaming o'er the wave!

And gaily oft the tale they told,
When they were safe on shore,

How hearts had sunk, and hope grown cold
Amid the billows' roar;

That not a star had shone afar,

By its pale beam to save,

When full in sight, the Beacon-light,
Came streaming o'er the wave!

THE SPANISH WRECK.

About the year 1683, Sir William Phips, afterwards celebrated for his attempts to take Quebec, in 1690, applied to the English Government for aid and permission to fit out a suitable vessel for the purpose of searching for the wreck of a Spanish ship which had been lost near one of the West India Islands, richly laden with silver. His request, after some delay, was granted and a frigate called Algier Rose, carrying eighteen guns and manned with ninety five men, was placed under his command. He arrived in New England the same year and proceeded forthwith to the place where the treasure was reported to have been lost. He encountered many difficulties in his voyage and came nigh, more than once, losing his life by the mutiny of his crew. It is reported of him that while his ship lay by an island, for the purpose of enabling his men to take on board a fresh supply of wood and water, they agreed among themselves to take the ship into their own hands, and make a piratical expedition into the South Seas. They were all on the island with the exception of Captain Phips and eight or ten of the crew. Among these was the carpenter, whose services they could not well dispense with, and they accordingly sent to the ship, requesting him to come to them, as they had something for him to do. No sooner had he come among them, than they disclosed to him the cruel project, which was to set the Captain, and the above named eight or ten men upon the island, and then leave them to perish, while they would take the ship into their own hands and perform the proposed voyage. They gave the carpenter half an hour to consider of the subject, whether he would join with them or not, and sent him back accompanied by a seaman to prevent any interview between him and the Captain, by which a disclosure could be made. While at work on the ship, he suddenly feigned an attack of the cholic, and rushed into the cabin for the purpose of obtaining relief, and while there, gave the Captain an account of the determination of his crew. He directed the carpenter to return upon the island, and give his consent to join the conspiracy.

When the carpenter had left the ship, the Captain ordered the men on board, to prepare the pieces for action, removed the plank by which a landing had been effected, and ordered them not to permit any one of those, save the carpenter, to approach the ship. A quantity of provisions had been carried on shore and covered with a tent, and two or three guns placed near to protect them from the Spaniards who might be passing that way: these guns were all charged, ready to be made use of in the event of an attack from the conspirators. The disaffected part of the crew now returned to the ship for the purpose of executing their plans.