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gave the name of Vineland. ́ In his account of this voyage, the description given of the appearance of the sun, in the country discovered, would seem to indicate, that it lay in latitude about 44 degrees.

The fruits found there bore a resemblance to those now found in Newfoundland, or the country about the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Upon these uncertain data, the Norwegians founded, their claims to a priority in the discovery of America; but, on Biron's return, his discovery appears to have excited little interest among his countrymen, and to have slept in forgetfulness, until after Columbus had established the existence of a Western World.

2. The voyage of Columbus, which led to the foregoing important discovery, and of which Ferdinand and Isabella, the sovereigns of the united thrones of Castile and Arragon, were patrons, was commenced on the 3d of August, 1492; at which time, the Genoese navigator sailed from Palos, an inconsiderable seaport in Spain, with a fleet, consisting of three small vessels, manned by ninety seamen. On the morning of the 12th of October following, he fell in with an island, called by the natives Guanahani; but to which he gave the name of San Salvador. This island, known on English maps by the name of Cat Island, belongs to the great cluster of the Lucayos, or Bahama Islands. During the same voyage, he discovered several other islands, among which were the important ones of Cuba and Hispaniola.

Columbus, whose discovery of the above islands led the way to a knowledge of the existence of a Western Continent, was born in the city of Genoa, about the year 1435 or 1436. His father was a reputable and meritorious man; by occupation, a woolcomber, long resident in the city of Genoa. Columbus was the eldest of four children, having two brothers, Bartholomew and Diego, and one sister.

His early education was liraited; but he diligently improved the advantages, which the means of his father enabled him to enjoy. After spending a short time at the University of Pavia, he returned to his father, whom he assisted in wool-combing.

His enterprising disposition, however, prompted him to more active employment; and, at the age of fourteen years, we find him entering upon a sea-faring life.

Having spent some time in the service of a distant relation, who followed the seas, he repaired to Lisbon. He was at this time about 34 years of age; à tall, well-formed, vigorous man; entere

prising in his disposition, and uncommonly dignified in his man ners. Taking up his residence, for a time, at Lisbon, he became acquainted with, and married the daughter of a distinguished navigator, the former governor of Porto Santo, an island in the vicinity of Madeira, about 700 miles south-west from Lisbon.

The father of his wife being dead, Columbus resided with his mother-in-law, who gave him the privilege of examining the pa pers, charts, journals, and memorandums, of her deceased husband. These maue Columbus acquainted with many important facts and suggestions, touching the great enterprise in which the Portuguese were, at that time, engaged, viz. the discovery of a passage to the Last Indies, by doubling the southern extremity of Africa.

To a mind inquisitive and enterprising like that of Columbus, this subject was invested with the deepest interest and importance. And the more he read and reflected upon the figure of the earth, the stronger was his belief, not merely that a western passage to India was practicable; but that whoever should be sufficiently enterprising to navigate the Atlantic, by sailing due west, must meet with a large body of land, which might be an extension of the continent of India, designed to balance the lands lying in the eastern hemisphere.

In this latter opinion, he was strengthened by various discoveries in the Atlantic, such as pieces of carved wood, trunks of huge pine-trees, &c., which had been noticed, after long westerly winds; but especially by the well-established fact, that the bodies of two men had been cast upon one of the Azore islands, whose features differed from those of any known race of people.

Having matured the plan of a voyage, with the above object in view, he first offered to sail under the patronage of the Portu. guese; but, being disappointed in this application, and despairing of assistance from Henry VII. of England, to whom he had sent his brother Bartholomew, but who, being captured, did not reach England for some time, he repaired to Genoa, and offered to sail under the auspices of that republic. Finding, however, his native state not in a situation favorable to such an undertaking, he next repaired to Spain.

By what route, or by what means, Columbus reached Spain, is uncertain. The first trace we have of him, in this country, is as a stranger, on foot, and in humble guise, stopping at the gate of the Convent of Santa Maria de Rabida, not far from the little seaport of Palos, and asking of the porter a little bread and water for a child-his son Diego, whom his deceased wife had left to him. While receiving this humble refreshment, the prior of the convent, happening to pass by, was struck with the appearance of the stranger, and observing, from his air and accent, that he was a foreigner, entered into conversation with him, and soon learned the particulars of his story.

The prior was a man of extensive information, and entered warmly into the views and plans of Columbus. Through his influence, the enterprising navigator was, at length, enabled to lay his plans before Ferdinand and Isabella, then on the united thrones of Castile and Arragon.

For a time, these sovereigns were deaf to his application; but, at length, the queen undertook the enterprise, in behalf of the crown of Castile, and, to defray the expense of the outfit and voyage, parted with her royal jewels.

The necessary funds being thus provided, a fleet, consisting of three small vessels, was, at no distant time, in a state of readiness for the voyage. Two of these were light barks, called caravals, not superior to river and coasting craft of more modern days. These were open, without deck in the centre, but built high at the prow and stern, with forecastles and cabins for the accommodation of the crew. The names of these vessels were the Pinta and Nina. The ship of Columbus was decked, and of larger dimensions. She was called the Santa Maria. On board this fleet were ninety mariners, together with various private adventurers-in all, one hundred and twenty persons.

On Friday, the 3d of August, 1492, early in the morning, the squadron of Columbus set sail from Palos, steering in a southwesterly direction for the Canary Islands, from whence it was his intention to strike due west.

Passing over many interesting incidents in their outward voyage -the storms and tempests which they encountered-the delusive appearances of land-their hopes and their fears-their high-wrought excitement, and then their deep dejection-the murmurs, and even mutinous spirit of the crew, and the happy expedients of Columbus to raise their courage, and to keep burning within them the spirit of the enterprise-we arrive at the 11th of October, at which time the indications of land were so strong, that, at night, Columbus ordered a double watch, on the forecastle of each vessel, and promised to the first discoverer of the longlooked-for land, a doublet of velvet, in addition to the pension of thirty crowns, which had been offered by Ferdinand and Isabella.

The greatest animation now prevailed throughout the ships, not an eye was closed that night. As evening darkened, Columbus took his station on the top of the castle or cabin, on the high poop of his vessel. However he might carry a cheerful and confident countenance during the day, it was to him a time of the most painful anxiety. And now, when wrapped by the shades of night from observation, he maintained an intense and unremitting watch, ranging his eye along the dusky horizon, in search of the most vague indication of land. Suddenly, about ten o'clock, he thought he beheld a light glimmering at a distance. Fearing that his eager hopes might deceive him, he called to Pedro Gutierrez, gentleman of the king's bed-chamber, and demanded whether he saw a light in that direction; the latter replied in the

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affirmative. Columbus, yet doubtful whether it might not be some delusion of the fancy, called Roderigo Sanchez, of Segovia, and made the inquiry. By the time the latter had ascended the round-house, the light had disappeared. They saw it once or twice afterwards, in sudden and passing gleams, as if it were a torch in the bark of a fisherman, rising and sinking with the waves, or in the hand of some person on shore, borne up and down as he walked from house to house. So transient and uncertain were these gleams, that few attached any importance to them. Columbus, however, considered them as certain signs of land, and, moreover, that the land was inhabited.

They continued their course until two in the morning, when a gun from the Pinta gave the joyful signal of land. It was first descried by a mariner, named Roderigo de Friana; but the reward was afterwards adjudged to the admiral, for having previously perceived the light. The land was now clearly seen about two leagues distant; whereupon they took in sail, and laid to, waiting impatiently for the dawn.

The morning at length arrived, October 12th; and before the delighted Spaniards lay a level and beautiful island, several leagues in extent, of great freshness and verdure, and covered with trees like a continual orchard.

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Columbus, in a rich dress, and with a drawn sword, soon after nded with his men, with whom having kneeled and kissed the

ground with tears of joy, he took formal possession of the island, in the name of Queen Isabella, his patron. On landing, the Spaniards were surprised to find a race of people quite unlike any that they had ever seen before. They were of a dusky copper color-naked-beardless, with long black hair, floating on their shoulders, or bound in tresses round their heads. The natives were still more surprised at the sight of the Spaniards, whom they considered as the children of the sun, their idol. The ships they looked upon as animals, with eyes of lightning, and voices of thunder.

Having spent some time in an examination of this island, he proceeded to visit several others not far distant; and at length, on the 28th of October, came in sight of the important island of Cuba, and not long after fell in with the island of Hispaniola, or San Domingo.

Having spent some time in examining the country, and in an amicable traffic with the natives, Columbus set sail on his return. He was overtaken by a storm, which had nearly proved fatal. During the storm, Columbus hastily enclosed in a cake of wax a short account of his voyage and discovery, which he put into a tight cask, and threw it into the sea. This he did, hoping that, if he perished, it might fall into the hands of some navigator, or be cast ashore, and thus the knowledge of his discovery be preserved to the world. But the storm abated, and he arrived safe in Spain, March 15th, 1493.

For this discovery, it being the first, and having laid the foundation for all the subsequent discoveries in America, Columbus was doubtless entitled to the honor of giving a name to the New World. But he was robbed of it by the address of Ameri cus Vespucius. This adventurer was a Florentine, who sailed to the New World in 1499, with one Alonzo Ojeda, a gallant and active officer, who had accompanied Columbus in his first yage. On his return, he published so flattering an account of his voyage, that his name was given to the continent, with manifest injustice to Columbus.

After this, Columbus made several other voyages, but did not discover the continent of America until Aug. 1, 1498, during his third voyage, on which day, he, for the first time, obtained a view of the main continent, near the mouth of the Oronoco. Yet he was ignorant at the time, that the land in question was any thing more than an island.

During this voyage, Columbus was destined to experience severe afflictions. After his departure from Spain, having been appointed governor of the New World, his enemies, by false representations, persuaded the king to appoint another in his place. At the same time, the king was induced to give orders that Columbus should be seized and sent to Spain. This order

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