Produced by Richard Tonsing and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) [Illustration] The matter on the opposite page may be freely translated as follows: A COMIC HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. BY LIVINGSTON HOPKINS. _Copiously Illustrated by the Author from Sketches taken at a safe distance._ [Illustration] NEW YORK: _G. W. CARLETON & CO._ MDCCCLXXVI. P.S.—The illustration opposite is intended to take the place of a gift chromo, which we at first contemplated giving away with this book. It is to some extent allegorical, and will be explained at some future time, if necessary. COPYRIGHTED, 1876, BY G. W. CARLETON & CO. JOHN F. TROW & SON, PRINTERS AND STEREOTYPERS, _205–213 East 12th Street_, NEW YORK. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DEDICATION. It seems the printer has left a blank place on this page for a “dedication.” In the early stages of this work, it is true, the author had thought of inscribing it to a wealthy aunt, (who has no other incumbrances,) but on more mature deliberation he has decided to send her instead a nice china shaving mug appropriately inscribed in gold letters, “_Forget me Not_.” It will look less pointed. CONTENTS. PAGE. CHAPTER I.—A Few Stubborn Facts not wholly Unconnected with the Discovery of America 13 CHAPTER II.—In which the Early Life of this Man Columbus is Inquired into—Disappointed Parents—The Bane of Genius—“Pooh-Pooh!”—Convincing Arguments 18 CHAPTER III.—Treats of other Discoveries and Does Great Credit to the Author’s Sense of Justice 27 CHAPTER IV.—Having to his Entire Satisfaction Settled the Question as to who Discovered America, the Author Proceeds to Settle the Country Itself—John Smith is Mentioned—John Smith on the Rostrum—John Smith in Difficulties—The Plot Thickens as far as J. Smith is Concerned—The Death Penalty—Slow Music—**** Saved! 30