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their ideas to practice； and drawing imaginary pictures of nations or
republics； whose manners or government came up to their standard of
excellence； were； all of whom I had ever heard； and some I had never
heard of before； to be found in this collection。 A translation of Aristotle's
republic； the political romances of sir Thomas Moore； Harrington； and
Hume； appeared to have been much read； and Ludlow had not been
sparing of his marginal comments。 In these writers he appeared to find
nothing but error and absurdity； and his notes were introduced for no other
end than to point out groundless principles and false conclusions。 。 。 。 。
The style of these remarks was already familiar to me。 I saw nothing
new in them； or different from the strain of those speculations with which
Ludlow was accustomed to indulge himself in conversation with me。
After having turned over the leaves of the printed volumes； I at length
lighted on a small book of maps； from which； of course； I could
reasonably expect no information； on that point about which I was most
curious。 It was an atlas； in which the maps had been drawn by the pen。
None of them contained any thing remarkable； so far as I； who was indeed
a smatterer in geography； was able to perceive； till I came to the end； when
I noticed a map； whose prototype I was wholly unacquainted with。 It
was drawn on a pretty large scale； representing two islands； which bore
some faint resemblance； in their relative proportions； at least； to Great
Britain and Ireland。 In shape they were widely different； but as to size
there was no scale by which to measure them。 From the great number of
subdivisions； and from signs； which apparently represented towns and
cities； I was allowed to infer； that the country was at least as extensive as
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MEMOIRS OF CARWIN THE BILOQUIST ＇A fragment＇
the British isles。 This map was apparently unfinished； for it had no
names inscribed upon it。
I have just said； my geographical knowledge was imperfect。 Though I
had not enough to draw the outlines of any country by memory； I had still
sufficient to recognize what I had before seen； and to discover that none of
the larger islands in our globe resembled the one before me。 Having such
and so strong motives to curiosity； you may easily imagine my sensations
on surveying this map。 Suspecting； as I did； that many of Ludlow's
intimations alluded to a country well known to him； though unknown to
others； I was； of course； inclined to suppose that this country was now
before me。
In search of some clue to this mystery； I carefully inspected the other
maps in this collection。 In a map of the eastern hemisphere I soon
observed the outlines of islands； which； though on a scale greatly
diminished； were plainly similar to that of the land above described。
It is well known that the people of Europe are strangers to very nearly
one half of the surface of the globe。* From the south pole up to the equator；
it is only the small space occupied by southern Africa and by South
America with which we are acquainted。 There is a vast extent； sufficient to
receive a continent as large as North America； which our ignorance has
filled only with water。 In Ludlow's maps nothing was still to be seen； in
these regions； but water； except in that spot where the transverse parallels
of the southern tropic and the 150th degree east longitude intersect each
other。 On this spot were Ludlow's islands placed； though without any
name or inscription whatever。
I needed not to be told that this spot had never been explored by any
European voyager； who had published his adventures。 What authority
had Ludlow for fixing a habitable land in this spot？ and why did he give
us nothing but the courses of shores and rivers； and the scite of towns and
villages； without a name？
As soon as Ludlow had set out upon his proposed journey of a
fortnight； I unlocked his closet； and continued rummaging among these
books and maps till night。 By that time I had turned over every book and
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MEMOIRS OF CARWIN THE BILOQUIST ＇A fragment＇
almost every leaf in this small collection； and did not open the closet again
till near the end of that period。 Meanwhile I had many reflections upon
this remarkable circumstance。 Could Ludlow have intended that I should
see this atlas？ It was the only book that could be styled a manuscript on
these shelves； and it was placed beneath several others； in a situation far
from being obvious and forward to the eye or the hand。 Was it an
oversight in him to leave it in my way； or could he have intended to lead
my curiosity and knowledge a little farther onward by this accidental
disclosure？ In either case how was I to regulate my future deportment
toward him？ Was I to speak and act as if this atlas had escaped my
attention or not？ I had already； after my first examination of it； placed
the volume exactly where I found it。 On every supposition I thought this
was the safest way； and unlocked the closet a second time； to see that all
was precisely in the original order。 。 。 。 。 How was I dismayed and
confounded on inspecting the shelves to perceive that the atlas was gone。
This was a theft； which； from the closet being under lock and key； and the
key always in my own pocket； and which； from the very nature of the
thing stolen； could not be imputed to any of the domestics。 After a few
moments a suspicion occurred； which was soon changed intO certainty by
applying to the housekeeper； who told me that Ludlow had returned；
apparently in much haste； the evening of the day on which he had set out
upon his journey； and just after I had left the house； that he had gone into
the room where this closet of books was； and； after a few minutes' stay；
came out again and went away。 She told me also； that he had made
general enquiries afte