20 OCTOBER 1917, Page 22

The Discovery of America, 1492.1584. Edited by I'. F. Alexander.

(Cambridge University Press. 3s. net.)—This is another volume of the excellent " Cambridge Travel Rooks." which ought to he in every school. Mr. Alexander line selected from the letters of Columbus descriptions of his three voyages, and reprints from Hakluyt the account of Cartier's ascend voyage to Canada, Sir Humphrey Gilbert's voyage of 1583, and the discovery of Virginia by Amadus and Barlow in 1584. Master Edward Hayes's story of (filbert's Newfoundland expedition contains the memorable passage about his leader's laa day in his tiny frigate, the Squirrel,' of ten

tons. The frigate was near cast away, oppressed by waves, yet at that time recovered; and, giving forth signs of joy, the General, sitting abaft with a book in his hand, cried out unto us in the 'Hind,' no oft as we did approach within hearing, We are as near to heaven by nos as by land ! ' " The same night " the frigate was devoured and swallowed up by the sea " ; but Gilbert's spirit still inspires our sailors. Mr. Alexander's Introduction and notes and the illustrations are all that we could desire.