MANKIND owe the discovery of the western world to the gold, the silver, the precious stones, the spices, silks and costly manufactures of the East; and even these incentives, were for a considerable time, insufficient to prompt to the undertaking, although the most skilful navigator of the age proffered to risk his life in the attempt. Christopher Columbus, who was destined to the high honour of revealing a new hemisphere to Europeans, was by birth a Genoese, who had been early trained to a sea-faring life, and having acquired every branch of knowledge connected with that profession, was no less distinguished by his skill and abilities, than for intrepid and persevering spirit. This man, when about forty years of age, had formed the great idea of reaching the East-Indies by sailing westward; but as his fortune was very small, and the attempt required very effectual patronage, desirous that his native country should profit by his success, he laid his plan before the senate of Genoa, but the scheme appearing chimerical, it was rejected. He then repaired to the court of Portugal; and although the Portuguese were at that time distinguished for their commercial spirit, and John II, who then reigned, was a discerning and enterprising prince, yet the prepossessions of the great men in his court, to whom the matter was referred, caused Columbus finally to fail in his attempt there also. He next applied to Ferdinand and Isabella, king king and queen of Arragon and Castile, and at the same time sent his brother Bartholomew(who followed the same profession and who was well qualified to fill the immediate place under such a leader) to England, to lay the proposal before Henry VII. which, likewise, fortunately for the future well being of the country, met with no success. Many were the years which Christopher Columbus spent in ineffectual attendance at the Castilian court; the impoverished state into which the finances of the United Kingdoms were reduced, the war with Granada repressing every disposition to attempt great designs; but the war being at length terminated, the powerful mind of Isabella broke through all obstacles; she declared herself the patroness of Columbus, whilst her husband Ferdinand, declining to partake as an adventurer in the voyage, only gave it the sanction of his name. Thus did the superior genius of a woman effect the discovery of one half of the globe. The ships sent on this important search were only three in number, two of them very small. They had ninety men on board. Although the expense of the expedition had long remained the sole obstacle to its being undertaken, yet when every thing was provided, the cost did not amount to more than 17,760 dollars, and there were twelve months provision put on board. Columbus set sail from port Palos, in the province of Andalusia, on the 3d of August, 1492; he proceeded to the Canary islands, and from thence directed his course due West in the latitude 28 North. In this course he continued for two months, without falling in with any land, which caused such a spirit of discontent and mutiny to arise as the superior address and management of the commander became unequal to suppress, although for these qualities he was eminently distinguished. He was at length reduced to the necessity of entering into a solemn engagement to abandon the enterprize and return home, if land did not appear in three days. Probably he would not have been able to retain his people so long from acts of violence and outrage, in pursuing so untried and dreary a course, had they not been sensible that their safety in returning home depended very much on his skill as a navigator in conducting the vessel. At length the appearance of land changed their despondency to the most exulting rapture. It was an island abounding with inhabitants, both sexes of which were quite naked; their manners kind, gentle, and unsuspecting. Columbus named it San Salvador. It is one of the clusters which bears the general name of Bahama. It was only 30, 30 min. lat. to the South of the island of Gomora, one of the Canaries, from whence he took his departure. This navigator was still so confirmed in the opinion which he had formed before he undertook the voyage, that he believed himself then to be on an island which was situated adjacent to the Indies. Proceeding to the South, he saw three other islands which he named St. Mary, of the Conception, Ferdinand and Isabella. At length he arrived at a very large island, and as he had taked seven of the natives of San Salvador on board, he learned from them it was called Cuba, but he gave it the name of Juanna. He next proceeded to an island which he called Espagnola, in honour of the kingdom by which he was employed, and it still bears the name of Hispaniola. Here he built a fort and formed a small settlement. He then returned home, having on board some of the natives, whom he had taken from the different islands. Steering a more southern course, he fell in with some of the Carribee islands, and arrived at the port of Palos on the 15th of March, 1493; having been seven months and eleven day on this most important voyage. On his arrival letters patent were issued by the king and queen confirming to Columbus, and to his heirs, all the privileges contained in a capitulation which had been executed before his departure, and his family was ennobled. Not only the Spaniards, but the other nations of Europe, seem to have adopted the opinion of Columbus, in considering the countries which he had discovered as a part of India. Whence Ferdinand and Isabella gave them the name "Indies" in the ratification of their former agreement with Columbus. Even after the error was detected the name was retained, and the appellation of " West Indies" is now given by all Europe to this country, and that of Indians to the inhabitants. Nothing could possibly tend more effectually to rouse every active principle of human nature, than the discoveries which Columbus had made; no time was therefore lost, nor expense spared, in preparing a fleet of ships, with which this great man should revisit the countries he had made known. Seventeen ships were got ready in six months, and fifteen hundred persons embarked on board of them, among whom were many of noble families, and who had filled honourable stations. These engaged in the enterprize from the expectation that the new discovered country was either the Cipango of Marco Paulo, or the Ophir from which Solomon obtained his gold and precious merchandize. Ferdinand, now desirous of securing what he had before been unwilling to venture for the obtaining, applied to the Pope to be invested with a right in these new discovered countries, as well as to all future discoveries in that direction; but as it was necessary that there should be some favour of religion in the business, he founded his plea on a desire of converting the savage natives to the Catholic faith, which plan had its desired effect. Alexander VI. who then filled the papal chair, it ought to be mentioned, was the most profligate and abandoned of men. Being a native of Arragon, and desirous of conciliating the favour of Ferdinand, for the purpose of aggrandizing his family, he readily |