ight."[9]

Some of these words are striking, especially when we consider their
early date. The author of the "Religio Medici" seems in the main to
accept the prophecy. In a commentary on each verse he seeks to explain
it. New England is "that thriving colony which hath so much increased in
his day"; its people are already "industrious," and when they have so
far increased "that the neighboring country will not contain them, they
will range still farther, and be able in time to set forth great
armies, seek for new possessions, or _make considerable and conjoined
migrations_." The verse about Africa will be fulfilled "when African
countries shall no longer make it a common trade to sell away their
people." And this may come to pass "whenever they shall be well
civilized and acquainted with arts and affairs sufficient to employ
people in their countries." It would also come to pass "if they should
be converted to Christianity, but especially into Mahometism; for then
they would never sell those of their religion to be slaves unto
Christians." The verse about America is expounded as follows:--

"That is, when America shall be better civilized, new policied, and
divided between great princes, it may come to pass that they will no
longer suffer their treasure of gold and silver to be sent out to
maintain the luxury of Europe and other ports; but rather employ it to
their own advantages, in great exploits and undertakings, magnificent
structures, wars, or expeditions of their own."[10]

The other verse, on the invasion of the Old World by the New, is thus
explained:--

"That is, when America shall be so well peopled, civilized, and divided
into kingdoms, _they are like to have so little regard of their
originals as to acknowledge no subjection unto them_; they may also have
a distinct commerce themselves, or but independently with those of
Europe, and may hostilely and piratically assault them, even as the
Greek and Roman colonies after a long time dealt with their original
countries."[11]

That these speculations should arrest the attention of Dr. Johnson is
something. They seem to have been in part fulfilled. An editor remarks
that, "To judge from the course of events since Sir Thomas wrote, we may
not unreasonably look forward to their more complete fulfilment."[12]

BISHOP BERKELEY.--1726.

It is pleasant to think that Berkeley, whose beautiful verses predicting
the future of America are so often quoted, was so s