THE HAKLUYT SOCIETY.

SIR RODERICK IMPEY MURCHISON, G.C.St.S, F.R.S., D.C.L., Corr. Mem. Inst. Fr.

Hon. Mem. Imp. Acad. Sc. St. Petersburg, &c., &c., PRESIDENT.

TRANSLATOR'S INTRODUCTION.

GIROLAMO BENZONI was born at Milan about the year 1519, and, as we learn from himself, started out upon adventure in the New World at the age of twenty-two. After fourteen years of toil and travail in those parts, he returned home; and in 1565 published his "HISTORIA DEL MONDO NUOVO" at Venice, dedicating it to Pope Pius IV. This was a quarto volume; but the book was reprinted seven years afterwards in a small octavo form, and this is the one used in the following translation. It must have had what is styled a "fair run," since it passed through several editions, and was translated into Latin, French, German, and Flemish,-besides the free use which was made of it by the De Brys, and others. But Jansen was wrong in stating that it was also rendered into English; for Purchas (vol. iv, page 1448, edition 1625), instead of a translation of the book,

gives little more than six pages, which (as Chapter XII) he entitles-" Briefe extracts translated out of Jerom Benzos."

The Spaniards of those days do not seem to have patronized the book very warmly, nor do they appear to have rendered it into their language, although it bears so much and so accurately on their proceedings. Yet it has been noticed by them: in the epitome of Leon Pinelo's Bibliotheca, after the various editions of Geronimo Bençono are enumerated, it is added somewhat pithily-" Autor poco afecto à los Españoles." But the French (imprimée par Eustace Vignon, 1579) and Latin (Urbani Calvetonis Operú) editions were widely and eagerly read. Both of these have now become very rare: indeed, from the latter, more has been quoted in Catholic countries than from the Italian version itself; and Hieronymus Barzoni was more familiar with some of his own countrymen, than Girolamo Benzoni.

The narrative of this persevering adventurer, though ill-written, carries internal evidence of strict veracity in all those scenes in which he was personally engaged; and, indeed, throughout the general details. It therefore forms a material link in the chain of American history, as conveying an adequate view of the doings of the early settlers, and the consequent state of things in the New World. Moreover, the

Italian's evidence respecting the famous and unfortunate province of Cumaná is peculiarly valuable, as conveying a deep insight into the social condition of the Indian and Spanish communities on that desolated coast, at the most crucial period of its existence. It may be mentioned that, in an unworthy attempt to gloze over the cruelties of the Spaniards, Thevet professes an unbelief of the atrocities related by Benzoni; but he produces no foundation for his scepticism. On the contrary, both Morigia and Piccinelli, his countrymen, refer to him as possessed of a clear intellect and tenacious memory.

In looking over the contemporaneous and other writers on the New World, the translator begs to mention his obligations to Sir Thomas Phillipps, Bart., of Middle Hill, in Worcestershire, whose magnificent collection of manuscripts-including the precious documents of poor Lord Kingsborough-was most kindly and unreservedly submitted to his inspection. Besides the writings of Valverde, Mendoza, Gonzales, Oviedo, Montolinia, Ocariz, and other Spaniards of those adventurous days, together with various rude but expressive drawings, Sir Thomas shewed his beautiful old Atlas, the property of Nicholas Vallard, of Dieppe, in 1547, but apparently compiled in 1539; the maps are elaborately illustrated with finelyfinished representations of natives, animals, trees,