chiefly in coffee of fine
quality, which is readily cultivated in the rich volcanic soil of the
neighbourhood. Cartago is said to have been in existence as early as
1522; it was probably named in 1563 by the Spaniard Vazquez de Coronado,
to whom its foundation is often ascribed. Though several times plundered
by buccaneers, it retained its importance as the capital of Costa Rica
until 1823, when it is said by tradition to have contained 30,000
inhabitants. Its prosperity rapidly diminished after the transference of
the seat of government to San Jose, in 1823, but somewhat revived with
the development of railways after 1871.

CARTE, THOMAS (1686-1754), English historian, was born at Dusmoon, near
Clifton. He was educated at Oxford, and was first brought into notice by
his controversy with Dr Henry Chandler regarding the Irish massacre, in
which he defended Charles I. His attachment to the Stuarts also caused
him to remain a non-juror, and on the discovery of the plot of
Atterbury, whose secretary he was, he was forced to flee to France.
There he collected materials for an English edition of De Thou and
Rigault, which were purchased and published by Dr Mead. Being recalled
to England through the influence of Queen Caroline, he published, in
1738, _A General Account of the Necessary Materials for a History of
England_. The first volume of his _Central History of England_, which is
only of value for its vast and careful collection of facts, was
published in 1747. By the insertion in it of the statement that the
king's evil had been cured by the Pretender, Carte forfeited the favour
of most of his patrons. He, however, continued to publish; and the 2nd
volume appeared in 1750, the 3rd in 1752, the 4th in 1755. He published
also a _Life of James, duke of Ormond_, containing a collection of
letters, &c. (3 vols., 1735-1736; new ed., in 6 vols., Oxford, 1851),
and a _History of the Revolutions of Portugal_, with letters of Sir R.
Southwell during his embassy there (London, 1740). His papers became the
property of the university of Oxford, and were deposited in the Bodleian
library.

CARTER, ELIZABETH (1717-1806), English poet and translator, daughter of
the Rev. Nicholas Carter, was born at Deal, in Kent, on the 16th of
December 1717. Dr Carter educated his children, boys and girls, alike;
but Elizabeth's slowness tired his patience, and it was only by great
perseverance that she conquered her natural incapacity fo