pled, it may become so strong and potent as to overpower the neighbouring isles, and also a part of the mainland, especially the maritime parts. And already in their infancy they have given testimony of their power and courage in their bold attempts upon Campeche and Santa Martha; and in that notable attempt upon Panama on the western side of America: especially considering this island is sufficiently large to contain a numerous people, of a northern and warlike descent, addicted to martial affairs both by sea and land, and advantageously seated to infest their neighbours both of the isles and the continent, and like to be a receptacle for colonies of the same originals from Barbadoes and the neighbour isles.

When Spain shall be in America hid,
And Mexico shall prove a Madrid;

That is, when Spain, either by unexpected disasters or continued emissions of people into America, which have already thinned the country, shall be farther exhausted at home; or when, in process of time, their colonies shall grow by many accessions more than their originals, then Mexico may become a Madrid, and as considerable in people, wealth, and splendour: wherein that place is already so well advanced, that accounts scarce credible are given of it. And it is so advantageously seated, that, by Acapulco and other ports on the South Sea, they may maintain a communication and commerce with the Indian isles and territories, and with China and Japan, and on this side, by Porto Bello and others, hold correspondence with Europe and Africa.

When Mahomet's ships in the Baltic shall ride,

Of this we cannot be out of all fear; for if the Turk should master Poland, he would be soon at this sea. And from the odd constitution of the Polish government, the divisions among themselves, jealousies between their kingdom and republic; vicinity of the Tartars, treachery of the Cossacks, and the method of Turkish policy, to be at peace with the emperor of Germany when he is at war with the Poles, there may be cause to fear that this may come to pass. And then he would soon endeavour to have ports upon that sea,

as not wanting materials for shipping. And, having a new acquist of stout and warlike men, may be a terror unto the confiners on that sea, and to nations which now conceive themselves safe from such an enemy.9

When Africa shall no more sell out their blacks,'

That is, when African countries shall no longer make it a common trade to sell away their people to serve in the drudgery of American plantations. And that may come to pass whenever they shall be well civilized, and acquainted with arts and affairs sufficient to employ people in their countries: if also they should be converted to Christianity, but especially unto Mahometism; for then they would never sell those of their religion to be slaves unto Christians.?

When Batavia the Old shall be contemn'd by the New ; When the plantations of the Hollander at Batavia in the East Indies, and other places in the East Indies, shall, by their conquests and advancements, become so powerful in the Indian territories; then their original countries and states of Holland are like to be contemned by them, and obeyed only as they please. And they seem to be in a way unto it at present by their several plantations, new acquists, and enlargements: and they have lately discovered a part of the southern continent, and several places which may be serviceable unto them, whenever time shall enlarge them unto such necessities.

9 enemy.] MS. Rawl. 58, proceeds thus ;- "When we shall have ships, &c. on the Pacific side, or west side of America, which may come to pass hereafter, upon enlargement of trade or industrious navigation, when the Straits of Magellan, or more southerly passages be well known, and frequently navigated."

When Africa, &c.] The abolition of the slave trade, and the American efforts to colonize and evangelize Africa, may be regarded as two important steps towards the fulfilment of this prophecy. One measure remains to be adopted, the emancipation of the slaves in the West Indies :-a measure of equity-which, if not carried by legislation, will, ere long, be effected by means far less desirable.-Dec. 1832.

2 Christians.] MS. Rawl. adds this sentence;-"then slaves must be sought for in other tracts, not yet well known, or perhaps from some parts of terra incognita, whenever hereafter they shall be discovered and conquered, or else when that trade shall be left, and slaves be made from captives, and from malefactors of the respective countries.

And a new drove of Tartars shall China subdue;

Which is no strange thing if we consult the histories of China, and successive inundations made by Tartarian nations. For when the invaders, in process of time, have degenerated into the effeminacy and softness of the Chinese, then they themselves have suffered a new Tartarian conquest and inundation. And this hath happened from time beyond our histories: for, according to their account, the famous wall of China, built against the irruptions of the Tartars, was begun above a hundred years before the incarnation.

When America shall cease to send forth its treasure,
But employ it at home in American pleasure;

That is, when America shall be better civilized, new policied and divided between great princes, it may come to pass that they will no longer suffer their treasure of gold and silver to be sent out to maintain the luxury of Europe and other parts: but rather employ it to their own advantages, in great exploits and undertakings, magnificent structures, wars, or expeditions of their own.

When the new world shall the old invade,

That is, when America shall be so well peopled, civilized, and divided into kingdoms, they are like to have so little regard of their originals, as to acknowledge no'subjection unto them: they may also have a distinct commerce between themselves, or but independently with those of Europe,3 and may hostilely and piratically assault them, even as the Greek and Roman colonies after a long time dealt with their original countries.

When men shall almost pass to Venice by land,
Not in deep water but from sand to sand;

That is, when, in long process of time, the silt and sands shall so choke and shallow the sea in and about it. And this hath considerably come to pass within these fourscore years: and is like to increase from several causes,

especially by the turning of the river Brenta, as the learned Castelli hath declared.

When Nova Zembla shall be no stay

Unto those who pass to or from Cathay;

That is, whenever that often sought for north-east passage unto China and Japan shall be discovered; the hinderance whereof was imputed to Nova Zembla; for this was conceived to be an excursion of land shooting out directly, and so far northward into the sea, that it discouraged from all navigation about it. And therefore adventurers took in at the southern part at a strait by Waygatz next the Tartarian shore: and sailing forward they found that sea frozen and full of ice, and so gave over the attempt. But of late years, by the diligent enquiry of some Muscovites, a better discovery is made of these parts, and a map or chart made of them. Thereby Nova Zembla is found to be no island extending very far northward, but, winding eastward, it joineth to the Tartarian continent, and so makes a peninsula and the sea between it which they entered at Waygatz, is found to be but a large bay, apt to be frozen by reason of the great river of Oby, and other fresh waters, entering into it; whereas the main sea doth not freeze upon the north of Zembla except near unto shores; so that if the Muscovites were skilful navigators, they might, with less difficulty, discover this passage unto China; but, however, the English, Dutch, and Danes, are now like to attempt it again.

But this is conjecture, and not prophecy; and so (I know) you will take it. I am, Sir, &c.

* north-east passage.] These speculations may well be contrasted with some observations of Mr. Barrow on the same subject, in his Chronological History of Voyages into the Arctic Regions, p. 370. "Of the three directions in which a passage has been sought for from the Atlantic to the Pacific, that by the north-east holds out the least encouraging hope; indeed the various unsuccessful attempts by the English and the Dutch on the one side, and by the Russians on the other, go far to prove the utter impracticability of a navigable passage round the northern extremity of Asia; though the whole of this coast, with the exception perhaps of a single point, has been navigated in several detached parts, and at different times."

TRACT XIII.1

MUSEUM CLAUSUM, OR, BIBLIOTHECA ABSCONDITA: CONTAINING SOME REMARKABLE BOOKS, ANTIQUITIES, PICTURES, AND RARITIES OF SEVERAL KINDS, SCARCE OR NEVER SEEN BY ANY MAN NOW LIVING.

SIR, With many thanks I return that noble catalogue of books, rarities, and singularities of art and nature, which you were pleased to communicate unto me. There are many collections of this kind in Europe. And, besides the printed accounts of the Museum Aldrovandi, Calceolarianum, Moscardi, Wormianum; the Casa Abbellita at Loretto, and Tresor of St. Dennis, the Repository of the duke of Tuscany, that of the duke of Saxony, and that noble one of the emperor at Vienna, and many more, are of singular note. Of what in this kind I have by me I shall make no repetition, and you having already had a view thereof, I am bold to present you with the list of a collection, which I may justly say you have not seen before.

The title is as above:-Museum Clausum, or Bibliotheca Abscondita; containing some remarkable books, antiquities, pictures, and rarities of several kinds, scarce or never seen by any man now living.

1 TRACT XIII.] This curious Tract is well characterised by Mr. Crossley, as "the sport of a singular scholar. Warburton, in one of his notes on Pope, is inclined to believe that this list was imitated from Rabelais's Catalogue of the Books in the library of St. Victor; but the design of the two pieces appears so different, that this suggestion seems entitled to little regard."-Preface to Tracts, 18mo. Edin. 1822.

Bishop Warburton's opinion seems to me, nevertheless, highly probable. It had been suggested to me by a passage in Religio Medici (Part i. § 21); and seems to be in perfect consonance with Sir Thomas's character as a writer. He delighted, perhaps from the very originality of his own mind, to emulate the singularities of others. The preceding Tract was occasioned by some similar production which had been submitted to his criticism. His Christian Morals appears to have been written on the model of the Book of Proverbs; see an allusion, in his 21st section.