the cloud, at the time it discharged its electric contents. The first peal was followed by a few others, and accompanied with a heavy shower of rain, similar to what had fallen on Sunday, but of a darker hue and apparently more charged with black sooty matter. "After the thunder and rain had subsided, the darkness did not entirely disappear as might have been expected, had it proceeded from a thundercloud as usual. On the contrary, it still continued and seemed to increase till about four o'clock. The general anxiety however became somewhat appeased, as the cause of the unusual appearance had been in part explained. To describe the general feeling during the forenoon of this day, is task to which few pens are adequate. Although the first peal of thunder gave relief to many as being explanatory of the cause, it came at such a time, and when the minds of all were prepared to expect some dreadful catastrophe, that the boldest held his breath for a time.' "As the murky hour of night' approached, men became less sensible of the continued darkness; they had become in some measure reconciled to the appearance, and were talking over the occurrence with comparatively more composure. But the events of this day were not yet closed. four and five o'clock, it was discovered that the lightning had struck the spire of the French Church in Notre Dame-street; and the first intimation of this was the flames issuing from the top Between of the spire at the place where the iron crucifix joins the wooden part of the steeple. The appearance through the cloudy dense atmosphere, showed like a distant light-house seen far at sea. The fireengines were procured with all possible dispatch, but none of them were of a sufficient power to throw the water to such a height. With great exertion a small garden engine was procured, and got up to the highest belfry. From this position they kept playing on the inside of the spires, by which means the progress of the flames was checked; but not before the timber which supported the crucifix was consumed, as well as the ball at the bottom of it. About eight o'clock the iron crucifix fell with a tremendous crash, and broke in several pieces. Fortunately it came down in Notre Dame-street, near the corner of a house occupied by Mrs. Barnard, milliner, and no farther accident occurred from its descent: Soon after it fell, the fire was extinguished without destroying the spire, or communicating with any of the adjacent buildings. "The Bonsecours Church was also struck by the lightning. To those who were near it at the time, the appearance was like a large rocket falling on the top of the conductor, by which it descended instantly with a whizzing noise, resembling a shell, but much louder. The concussion was so violent as to shake the whole building. It is rather singular, that no farther damage happened on this occasion. The method by which the conducting rod is attached to the church, is contrary to every principle with which we are acquainted. It projects above the spire, it is true; but in its descent, instead of running along by the nearest rout on the outside, and avoiding coming in contact with any other substance of an equal conducting power, it descends immediately under the tin covering of the roof, and runs along it until it reaches the top of the wall, where it emerges and goes down by the wall, to which it is affixed by iron hooks. By this improper method, should a larger quantity of electric fluid than the size of the rod can easily contain ever happen to strike it, there is a great part of the iron surrounded with other metallic substances which will serve as conductors for the remainder, and convey it along the roof to the eminent danger of the building." FROM the want of an adventurous disposition in the primitive inhabitants of the earth, and from other causes, the early history of almost every country in the world is involved in obscurity; and of America, especially, so little was known before its discovery by Columbus in 1492, that it was emphatically called "the New World." Seven years after this important event, Cabot, an Italian, was commissioned by Henry the Seventh of England to attempt further discoveries on the new continent. He was placed in command of a squadron of six ships; and, being furnished with every article which was deemed necessary for such an important undertaking, embarked early in the Spring of 1497, and, in June following, discovered Newfoundland. He afterwards saw and named the island of St. John, and still pursuing a westerly course, arrived in a short time at the Continent, along the coast of which he sailed as far as 67 and a half degrees of N. latitude. He returned without making any attempt towards effecting a settlement in the New World: And what is still more remarkable, after fitting out an expedition at such an immense expence, the English gave up the further pursuit of discovery for half a century. But the report of Cabot's successful enterprise must have been extensively circulated; for, in 1506, Denys, a Frenchman, sailed from Honfleur to Newfoundland, and thence proceeded down the Gulph of St. Lawrence. He drew a map of the Gulph and of the adjacent coast, took some fish on the Great Fishing-Bank, and returned to France the same season. Two years afterwards, Thomas Aubert departed from Dieppe, and was the first who had the courage to sail up the St. Lawrence. He forcibly carried off some of the natives, and exhibited them as curiosities in all the principal towns of France. In 1517, no less than 50 Spanish, French and Portuguese ships appear to have been employed in the fishery of Newfoundland. The Spanish conquests in South America made a great noise over all Europe, and the facilities which the mines of those immense regions afforded of rapidly acquiring fortunes, produced a great degree of carelessness in the public mind about those countries which could open a field only for the peaceful pursuits of agriculture and the gradual advancement of commerce. On this account, we find very little attention was paid to North Ame |