It contains matter of interest relative to the state of the Spanish possessions; and his credulity and superstition must be considered in relation to his opportunities and his age. Perhaps some of your readers may contribute farther information concerning him, as the general accounts I have been able to meet with are contradictory and insufficient. The _Biographie Universelle_ states, that it was his _Survey of the West Indies_ that led to the English expeditions to the Spanish Main, which secured Jamaica to the English in 1654, and adds he died there in 1655. The registers at Deal could probably prove this fact; but I confess to doubt as to whether Gage really were the parson alluded to as resident there in 1652. He was evidently of a roving unsteady nature, fond of adventure, and the first to open to English enterprise a knowledge of the state of the Spanish possessions, to prevent which the council of the Indies had passed so many stringent laws. Colbert caused this work to be translated, and it has been often reprinted on the Continent, but much mutilated, as his statements relative to the Roman Catholic priesthood gave offence. A good memoir of Gage is still to be desired. The following is the extract relative to the Isthmus of Panama, _West Indies_, p. 151.:-- "The Peruvian part containeth all the southern tract, and is tyed to the Mexican by the Isthmus or Strait of Darien, being no more than 17, or, as others say, in the narrowest place, but 12 miles broad, from the north to the south sea. Many have mentioned to the Council of Spain the cutting of a navigable channel through this small Isthmus, so to shorten the voyage to China and the Moluccoes. But the kings of Spain have not yet attempted to do it; some say lest in the work he should lose those few Indians which are left (would to God it were so, that they were or had been so careful and tender of the poor Indians' lives, more populous would that vast and spacious country be at this day), but others say he hath not attempted it lest the passage by the Cape Bona Esperanza (Good Hope) being left off, those seas might become a receptacle for pirates. However, this hath not been attempted by the Spaniards; they give not for reason any extraordinary great charge, for that would soon be recompensed with the speedie and easie conveying that way the commodities from S. to N. seas." This bears reference to projects before 1625, or during his residence in S. America, between 1625-1637; but Gage could hardly have understood the nature of the Spanish character, and the genius of the government, to speculate upon the cause of their neglect of every useful enterprise for the promotion of commerce and public good. S. H. * * * * * FOLK LORE.