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 three hundred capital points in the Spanish settlements. He has besides ascertained, in the most satisfactory manner, that the river Cassiquiari, which falls into the Orinoco, is also connected, by means of the Rio Negro, with the great river Amazons; and it thus appears, that the more attentively we investigate the geography of the American Continent, we find it the more admirably provided by the number, and still more by the distribution of its rivers, with the means of extensive navigation and commerce.

See Hakluyt’s Collection of Voyages. Cook’s Voyages. Vancouver’s Voyage. Meares’s Voyage. The learned Introduction by Fleurieu to Marchand’s Voyage. Mackenzie’s Travels in North America. Pike’s Journey to the Source of the Mississipi. Lewis and Clarke’s Travels to the Pacific Ocean. De Pons, Voyage à la Partie Orientale de la Terre Ferme. Azara, Voyage dans l’Amérique Meridionale. Account of “recent discoveries in South America,” in Pinkerton’s Geography, 3d edition. M. Humboldt has as yet published only part (two volumes) of his Personal Narrative; but the reader will find a sketch of his expedition by Dr Kesteloot, annexed to the ''Discours sur les progrès des Sciences, ou compte rendu par l’Inst. de France à l’Empereur'', published in Holland in 1809; and there is a similar sketch in the admirable account of his Tableau Physique des Regions Equatoriales, in the 16th volume of the Edinburgh Review. We have everywhere sought in vain for the Spanish Collection by Estalla, entitled Viagero Universal, which extends to 44 vols. 8vo; and which appears, from Mr Pinkerton’s references, to contain much valuable geographical information in regard to America. (.)

AMERICA,. A view of the recent history of these Republics, of their statistics, and political relations, shall be given under the head.  AMES, a native of the United States, was born April 9, 1758, at Dedham, a small town about nine miles south of Boston. His father, Dr Nathaniel Ames, who practised as a physician in Bridgewater, died in 1764, leaving his mother with four sons and one daughter. Of these Fisher was the youngest; and though his mother was left in narrow circumstances, she determined to educate him with the utmost care. He accordingly began the study of Latin when he was six years of age, and in July 1770, soon after he was twelve years old, he was admitted to Harvard College; previous to which, he was examined by a gentleman accustomed to teach the languages, who expressed surprise at his uncommon quickness and accuracy. At the university, the singular modesty and mildness of his character, joined to the pleasantness and vivacity of his manners, endeared him both to his companions and to his instructors. He was scrupulous in his attention to his studies, and equally so in the choice of his associates; by which means he soon acquired the character of shining parts, and of unblemished morals.

Among the students who attended this seminary, a society was formed for speculative discussion, and Mr Ames here first displayed his talents for extemporaneous eloquence. But though he was resolved to embrace the profession of the law, several years passed away before he entered on a course of professional study. During this period, he appears to have maintained himself chiefly by teaching a school; and his intervals of leisure were filled up by a diligent perusal of the works of classical writers, both ancient and modern.

He at length commenced his professional career at Dedham, his native place, in the year 1781; and he soon began to be distinguished by his eloquence as a pleader. At this time, however, his attention was attracted to public events, which began to be unusually interesting, and to threaten the rupture which afterwards took place between the colonies and the mother country. Mr Ames espoused the cause of the former, and though he was not of an age at the commencement of the contest to take any active part, he watched its progress with all the anxiety of a genuine patriot. In the course of this eventful struggle, the provisional rulers of America were greatly distressed for the means of paying the troops, and of defraying the other necessary expences of the state; and they were therefore induced to have recourse to the most exceptionable expedients. Among these, the issue of a depreciated paper currency formed a standing resource, and this measure was also accompanied by an arbitrary regulation of prices. Of all these projects Mr Ames was a zealous opposer. At a meeting of a Convention of Delegates assembled at Concord, he pointed out the certain mischiefs which would result from attempts of this nature; expatiating, in strong terms, on the futility and injustice of endeavouring to regulate by force the value of that which must be fixed in the market by the voluntary consent of the buyer and the seller.

In the convention for ratifying the federal constitution in 1788, Mr Ames acted a conspicuous part. He was chosen the same year a member of the House of Representatives, and for eight years he continued a firm supporter of Washington’s administration. In the contests occasioned in Europe by the progress of the French revolution, he appears to have been a keen partisan of the powers combined against France; and in the controversy which took place between Britain and America, respecting the privilege of the neutral powers during war, he espoused the cause of the belligerent; pleading warmly for the exercise of the maritime rights of Britain in their fullest extent. In his zealous hostility against France, he advised his countrymen, both in his political speeches and writings, to submit to all the restrictions imposed by this country on the commerce of the neutral powers.

In the year 1796, he retired from public business