So golden a conjecture, tinctured with such fascinating extrava-
gance, was too tempting not to be immediately snapped at by the
gudgeons of learning; and, accordingly, there were divers profound
writers, ready to swear to its correctness, and to bring in their usual
load of authorities, and wise surmises, wherewithal to prop it up.
Vetablus and Robertus Stephens declared nothing could be more
clear--Arius Montanus, without the least hesitation, asserts that
Mexico was the true Ophir, and the Jews the early settlers of the
country. While Possevin, Becan, and several other sagacious writers,
lug in a supposed prophecy of the fourth book of Esdras, which being
inserted in the mighty hypothesis, like the keystone of an arch, gives
it, in their opinion, perpetual durability.

Scarce, however, have they completed their goodly superstructure,
than in trudges a phalanx of opposite authors, with Hans de Laert,
the great Dutchman, at their head, and at one blow tumbles the
whole fabric about their ears. Hans, in fact, contradicts outright
all the Israelitish claims to the first settlement of this country, at-
tributing all those equivocal symptoms, and traces of Christianity and
Judiasm, which have been said to be found in divers provinces of the
new world, to the devil, who has always affected to counterfeit the
worship of the true Deity. "A remark," says the knowing old Padre
d'Acosta, "made by all good authors Who have spoken of the religion
of nations newly discovered, and founded besides on the authority of
the fathers of the church."

Some writers again, among whom it is with great regret I am com-
pelled to mention Lopez de Gomara, and Juan de Leri, insinuate that
the Canaanites, being driven from the land of promise by the Jews,
were seized with such a panic that they fled without looking behind
them, until stopping to take breath, they found themselves safe in
America. As they brought neither their national language, manners,
nor features with them, it is supposed they left them behind in the
hurry of their flight--I cannot give my faith to this opinion.

I pass over the supposition of the learned Grotius, who being both
an ambassador and a Dutchman to boot, is entitled to great respect;
that North America was peopled by a strolling company of Norwe-
gians, and that Peru was founded by a colony from China--Manco or
Mango Capac, the first Incas, being himself a Chinese. Nor shall I
more than barely mention, that father Kircher ascribes the settle-
ment of America to the Egyptians, Rudbeck to the Scandinavians,
Charron to the Gauls, Juffredus Petri to a skating party from Fries-
land, Milius to the Celtæ, Marinocus the Sicilian to the Romans. Le
Compte to the Phœnicians, Postel to the Moors, Martyn d'Angleria
to the Abyssinians, together with the sage surmise of De Laert, that
England, Ireland, and the Orcades may contend for that honor.

Nor will I bestow any more attention or credit to the idea that
America is the fairy region of Zipangri, described by that dreaming
traveler, Marco Polo, the Venetian; or that it comprises the vision-

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