The history of the nation as a whole is sketched, not the history of sections, states, special interests, or particular men. Much information is scattered through the volume, relating to migration and the progress of settlement; to the history of parties and political questions; to religion, education, invention, art, and refinement. The foot-notes are designed to stimulate a taste for reading and research, and to afford guidance in the selection of approved literary matter illustrative of American life and annals. They refer to accessible sources of standard history, biography, fiction, and poetry, and it is believed they will be of service in both the school-room and the home circle. It will be conceded by all that the superior mechanical execution of this volume is in pleasing contrast with that of the great majority of similar works now in the market. The numerous maps are models of elegance and accuracy, and present in themselves a complete and correct idea of the progressive development of the United States. Their fidelity and beauty are due to the skill and taste of Mr. H. H. VAIL, whose service in this and other directions is here most gratefully acknowledged. The author returns thanks to Mr. JOHN M. NEWTON for valuable assistance in collecting material for Chapter Fifteenth; and to Mr. ROBERT CLARKE, for the use of his excellent historical library. Without further preliminary, this Manual is offered to the educational public in the hope that it may be found useful. The test of the recitation room must finally determine the merit of every school-book, and its consequent success or failure. MARCH 20, 1872. W. H. V. CHAPTER THIRTEENTH. From the Close of the Mexican War to the Opening of the Civil War. 187 CHAPTER FIFTEENTH. From the Beginning of the War of Secession to the Present Time HISTORY. OF SITY vaguely known to Europeans under the general name India, or the Indies. They represented Japan and China, then called Cipango and Cathay, as abounding in wealth and magnificence. 2. Navigators had begun to admit that the earth is a sphere, but they greatly underestimated its size, and supposed the eastern limits of Asia to reach near to the western *See Marco Polo's Travels; also Irving's Columbus, Vol. III., Appendix. About how long ago did he QUESTIONS.-1. Who was Marco Polo ? live? What was the ancient name of Japan? Of China? borders of Europe. It seemed possible "that ships might pass by the west into those rich eastern realms, where, according to the popular belief, the earth teemed with spices, and imperial palaces glittered with pearls and rubies, with diamonds and gold." 3. The first to attempt the actual experiment of crossing the Atlantic in search of a passage, by the west, to the Indies, Christopher Columbus. was Christopher Columbus.* This illustrious man was born near Genoa (jên'-o-a), Italy, about the year 1435. Nearly forty years of his life were spent before he conceived, at first in dim outline, his grand scheme of discovery. Af ter years of study and exalted meditation, he came to regard himself as an instrument divinely chosen to trace out for com merce a new route to the opulent East, and to convey the blessings of Christianity to benighted multitudes with whom he expected to establish intercourse. 4. To enable him to conduct a voyage of discovery, * See Helps's Life of Columbus, and Prescott's Ferdinand and Isabella. 2. What was the belief in the thirteenth century respecting the shape and size of the earth? What attractions were supposed to belong to India? 3. When and where was Columbus born? At what age did he conceive the idea of a voyage of discovery? What objects had he in view? |