ploring the Atlantic ocean, in quest of this unknown Continent. To effect this, it became necessary to obtain ships, and men, and money; and to obtain them, he offered his services, first to the republic of Genoa, (his own country,) where his scheme was treated as visionary, and disregarded; he next offered his services to Portugal; but without success; next to Spain; but without success; next he sent his brother Bartholomew to tender his services to the king of England; but his brother was shipwrecked on his passage, which delayed the application for several years; and when application was made to the king, (then Henry VII.) he gave no countenance to the adventure."

This was a dark and ignorant age, when the earth was considered as flat as a trencher, and the famous Italian astronomer, Galileo, was denounced as a heretic, by the Romish Inquisition, for asserting, "that the earth was round," and constrained to abjure his error, to save his life. This superstition and ignorance, reigned in the hearts of the Princes of the age; but this glorious adventure has opened for me to entwine one more laurel round the brows

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of woman.

Ferdinand king of Spain, was deaf to the views of Columbus; but Isabella his queen, listened to his narrative ; her capacious mind saw the force of his reasoning, caught the spirit of the enterprise, and gave Columbus a gracious reception; she pawned her jewels to raise money for the oc casion, and, thus with the assistance of her husband, fitted out three small vessels; gave Columbus the command; and he set sail into the unknown regions of the west. To recount the perils of the voyage, the dangers of the seas, the mutiny of his sailors, their conflicting passions that threatened his life, and pressed him to return; the fatigues of anxious cares, sleepless nights, and constant watchings, that distressed his mind, and wasted his health, upon this long, this interesting voyage; would exceed the

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limits of this work. All these he endured, with a steady eye to the great object before him; and on the 11th of October, 1492, he discovered land, that proved to be one of the Bahama Islands, which he called St. Salvador, (in allusion to his wonderful preservation,) and after visiting the Islands of Cuba, and Hispaniola, he shipped on board several of the natives; planted a little colony in the island, and returned to Spain.

To relate the perils, and distresses he endured, when overtaken by a violent storm on his return to Spain; to express the anxiety he felt lest, the knowledge of the New World should be buried with him, forever, in the tempestuous deep; or recount the joy that greeted his return to Spain, the honors bestowed upon him by his benefactress, and her illustrious prince; will exceed the limits of this work; suffice it to say, that the modesty with which Columbus disclosed his adventures, the riches of the west, and the character of the natives, drew upon himself universal admiration, and applause.

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To recount the interesting scene, that drew the people in vast crowds, to view with wonder, and admiration those tawney children of the New-World; to paint the solemn. ity of that scéne, that saw them initated into the Christian Church, and witnessed the solemnity of the ordinance of baptism; or paint the joy of the Church, in the prospect that the Son of God was about "to have the heathen for 'his inheretance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for 'his possession," will also exceed the limits of this work; suffice it to say, that Pope Alexander VI. as Vicar of Jesus Christ, and thus possessing a spiritual sovereignty over the whole earth, guaranteed to Ferdinand and Isabella, all the discoveries Columbus had made, or should hereafter make; and upon the strength of this, his illustrious patrons furnished him with another fleet, consisting of seventeen ships; carrying a Colony of fifteen hundred persons, com

posed of many families of noble birth, as well as of all classes; and several monks, and friars, under the Father Boyle, (a monk of Catalonia,) whose object was, to gather the heathen of the New-World into the bosom of the Church..

Thus provided, Columbus set sail from the Bay of Cadiz, on the 25th of Sept. and on the 26th of Nov. he made one of the Caribbe islands; from thence he touched at the several Islands that lay in his way to his little Colony at Hispaniola. But what must have been his grief, and surprise, when he found nothing remaining of the Colony; but their tattered clothes, broken arms, and demolished fort; and those natives who had been so cordial on his former voyage, now fled, and shunned his approach, with guilt and fear. The Chief, Guacanahari, who had been formerly so cordial in his friendship; now did not appear; and all was mystery, and gloom; but in the midst of this gloom, a brother of Guacanahari appeared, and disclosed the facts that lay concealed in mystery.

These facts laid open scenes too black to be recorded, scenes on which the avarice, and debaucheries of the Spaniards had been so gross, and oppressive that the Natives were constrained to rise in defence of rights they held most dear, and revenge themselves on their enemies, and exterminate the Colony.-Columbus credited the reports, very readily, from the knowledge he had of their characters; passed over the affair in silence, and proceeded to lay out, and found a city, which he called Isabella, in honor of his illustrious patroness. To recount the labours of this undertaking, or the several adventures of this perilous voyage, will not come within the limits of this work; suffice it to say, that after having subdued the Island of Hispaniola, by force of arms, and collected vast treasures from the Natives, he appointed his brother Bartholomew, Lieut. Gen. and Francis Roldan, Chief Justice, and amidst a jealous

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persecuting faction, once more set sail for Spain, in the year 1496.-Columbus arrived safe (after experiencing the privations, and distresses of a three month's voyage ;) and presented himself at Court, where he was received by his sovereigns, with all that honor, and respect due to his character, and his services; to the inexpressible joy of his friends, and the inexpressible mortification of his enemies.

Delighted with the treasures of gold, and other valuables, which Columbus displayed at Court, and flushed with the idea of opening the bowels of a new world, and filling Spain with its riches, and bringing the natives into subjection by their power; they hastened to prepare another expedition for Columbus, that might forward the accomplishment of all their wishes ;-but this expedition was slow, his enemies were malicious, and their arts wrought secretly, and plotted mischief, and ruin. Thus two years were wasted in preparing the third expedition, and at last he set sail with six small vessels, and steering a more southern course than before, he discovered the Island of Trinidad, on the coast of Guiana, in South America; near the mouth of the river Oronoco. When Columbus discovered this majestic stream, he knew at once, that an island could not support such a river, and justly concluded that he had found the long sought for Continent. He landed, and found the natives, resembled the natives of Hispaniola, in their appearance, and manners, as well as in their ornaments of gold; and this led him to explore the country' in quest of the precious metals. The more he explored the country, the more he was delighted with its riches, and beauties, and the more anxious he was to continue in it? but the impatience of his crew hurried him away to Hispaniola, where he found his Colony in a state of wretchedness, and confusion. Their indolence had almost brought them to ruin, and a mutiny against their Governor, had thrown them into great distress, and their oppres

sion of the natives, had converted their friendship into hatred; and in the midst of all this distress, Columbus found work of importance, to restore order, and save his Colony from total ruin. This he effected by his good management, and dispatched a ship to Spain with an account of his new discoveries, as well as the perilous situation of the Colony, and accused some of the leaders in the conspiracy. This commenced open war, they in their turn accused each other, and accused him; all which led to serious consequences.

The Bishop of Badajos, who had hitherto been at the head of his enemies, now appeared openly, and accused him to the Queen, and obtained a commission for Francis Bovadilla, a Knight af Calatrava, to repair to Hispaniola, with full powers to enquire into the administration of Columbus; and if he should find him guilty, to supercede him, and take possession. Here was a bounty on knavery ; although all was quiet in the government, on the arrival of Bovadilla; yet he seized on the Governor's house, in his absence; and next ordered Columbus to be seized, loaded with irons, and sent to Spain. To pursue this scene of the blackest ingratitude, and disclose the sufferings of the body, and tortures of the mind, through which Columbus passed, on his way to Spain, or in his treatment after his "return, exceed the limits of my pen. He repaired to court, by the invitation, and assistance of his soverigns; and by his pathetic, and dignified defence, supported his innocence and his integrity, and procured the removal, and disgrace of Bovadilla; yet he saw another (Nicholas Avando, a Knignt of the military order of Alcantara) appointed to succeed him in his government. Stung with the keenest sensibilities, he determined to recover his misfortunes, if pos sible; accordingly he availed himself of the successful voyage of Vasco de Gama to the East Indies,* and perswad

* This took place at this time, 1499.