The publication in 1825, edited by Navarrete, of Spanish documents relating to the discovery and explo ration of America, followed by the interesting life of Columbus by Washington Irving, and the Examen Critique by Von Humboldt, opened a field for studies in American comparative geography that is becoming fruitful of results. The last named work is a guide which all must consult. With a master hand the author combines and collates all attainable materials, and draws light from sources which he first brings to bear on his exhaustive investigations. The interest thus newly awakened by the appearance of these works, lent fresh activity to such researches, bringing out numerous hitherto neglected or unknown documents. Among these we may name the Ooleccz'on de Documentos Inéditos in forty — one volumes, of which a portion relate to the spanish-american possessions, and a last series devoted exclusively to America y Oceania, begun in 1864, and of which we have seen eleven volumes, ending m 1869. The Academy's edition of Oviedo's full work, in five folio volumes, is another contribution of a most valuable nature to early Ameri can history. Unluckily all these Spanish works are not accompanied by proper indexes, so that it becomes an arduous task to consult them.
