CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS.

CHRISTOPHER COLON, or COLUMBUS, was descended of an honourable family, but one that had been reduced, by various misfortunes, to a state of indigence. He was a subject of the republic of Genoa; but, neither the time nor the place of his birth can be ascertained, with any degree of certainty. From his early youth, he discovered a strong predilection for a seafaring life, which his parents appear to have encouraged, by the education they gave him.

In the year 1461, at the early age of fourteen, he commenced his career on the watery element, by taking voyages to some ports in the Mediterranean, which the Genoese much frequented. But, this sphere of action proving too narrow for his active mind, he made an excursion to the Northern Seas, in the year 1467, and visited the coasts of Iceland, whither the English and other nations had begun to resort, on account of its fisheries. Returning from his voyage, which, perhaps, had tended more to enlarge his knowledge of naval affairs than to improve his fortune, he entered into the service of a celebrated captain of his own name and family. With him, our young adventurer continued for several years, and became o less distinguished for his courage than for his experience as a sailor. As a proof of his courage and presence of mind, I will relate a circumstance which occurred about this time. In an obstinate naval engagement, off the coast of Portugal, the vessel, on board of which Columbus was, took fire. In this dreadful extremity, his intrepidity and presence of mind did not forsake him he threw himself into the sea, laid hold of a floating oar, and, by the support

of it, and his dexterity in swimming, reached the shore, although it was more than two leagues distant.

About this time the Portuguese, encouraged by their virtuous prince Henry, were making many discoveries on the coast of Africa. This patriotic prince carried on his schemes of discovery, without a motive of ambition, or the desire of wealth; and was justly entitled to assume the motto, which described the talent by which he wished to be distinguished, the talent of doing good. In his death, the Portuguese suffered an almost irreparable loss: they were, however, after some time, again inspirited by their king, John II; and, with his encouragements were, at the time of the discovery of America, endeavouring to effect a passage to the East Indies, by sailing round the extremity of Africa. The fame of the discoveries they made spread over Europe, ană, probably, first induced Columbus to reflect upon the subject; and this reflection led him to conclude that, as the earth is round, he should, by sailing directly to the westward, arrive by an easier and shorter route to the East.

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By the experience he had acquired during a variety of voyages to almost every part of the globe, with which, at that time, any intercourse was carried on by sea, he had become one of the most skilful navigators in Europe. But, the empty praise this skill acquired for him could not satisfy such a mind as his naturally inquisitive, and capable of deep reflection, his thoughts were often employed in revolving the principles upon which the Portuguese had founded their schemes of discovery, and he gradually formed the resolution of endeavouring to improve upon their plan, and to accomplish discoveries, which they had hitherto attempted in vain. After long and seriously revolving every circumstance, suggested by his superior knowledge in the practice of navigation, as well as from attentively comparing the observations of modern sailors with the hints and conjectures of ancient authors, he at length

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concluded that, by sailing directly towards the west, across the Atlantic Ocean, he must arrive at the east, and infallibly discover new countries in his route. He conceived it suitable to our ideas of the wisdom and beneficence of the Great Author of all, to believe that the vast space still unexplored was not entirely covered by a waste unprofitable ocean; but, that it was occupied by countries suited to the habitation of man. He was still further confirmed in this opinion by some circumstances which had recently occurred. A Portuguese pilot, having stretched further to the westward than was usual at that time, found upon the wide waste of waters, a piece of timber, artificially carved: and, as it was driven towards him by a westerly wind, he concluded that it came from some unknown land, which was situated in that direction. Another navigator had found, to the west of the Madeira Isles, a piece of timber, carved in the same manner, and brought by the same wind; he had likewise seen canes, of a very large size, floating upon the waves. After a westerly wind, trees, torn up by the roots, were often driven upon the coast of the Azores; and once, the dead bodies of two unfortunate men were found there, who had singular features, differing from those of the inhabitants of any part of the world, then discovered.

The force of this united evidence was so convincing to Columbus, that he was impatient to bring it to the test of experiment, and to set out upon a voyage of discovery. With this view, he laid his scheme before the ruling powers of Genoa; and offered to sail under the banners of that republic. But, our adventurer had been absent so many years from his native country, that the Genoese were unacquainted with his abilities and character; and, although they were a maritime people, they immediately rejected his proposal.

Undaunted by this refusal, he paid a visit to the court of Portugal, and tendered his services to King John the Second, who was a monarch of an enter

prising spirit, and was considered no incompetent judge in naval affairs. But, here he met with a mortification still greater than the first. King John referred the consideration of the plan to some persons who had been the chief conductors of the Portuguese navigation; and who, basely mean, conspired to rob Columbus of the honour and advantages which he expected from the success of his scheme. To effect this unworthy purpose, they advised the king to dispatch a vessel, secretly, in order to attempt the proposed discovery, by steering the course which had been pointed out to them by Columbus, in their frequent interviews with him. The monarch forgetting, on this occasion, sentiments becoming his high station, meanly adopted this perfidious counsel. But, the pilot chosen to execute the plan, had neither the genius, nor the fortitude, sufficient for such an undertaking. Contrary winds arose, no sight of approaching land appeared, his courage failed, and, returning to Lisbon, he boldly pronounced the project to be extravagant and dangerous.

Upon discovering this dishonourable transaction, Columbus felt all the indignation natural to an ingenuous mind; and, instantly quitting the kingdom, resolved to break off all intercourse with persons capable of such conduct.

As he was at liberty to court the protection of any patron he pleased, he resolved to propose his plan, in person, to Ferdinand and Isabella, then king and queen of Spain. After numerous conferences, and having spent five years in fruitless solicitations, the project was laid aside by these monarchs.

In the midst of the painful sensations occasioned by such a succession of disappointments, he sustained the additional distress of receiving no intelligence of his brother Bartholomew, whom he had sent some years before, to solicit the protection of the Court of England. This brother had in his voyage, been so unfortunate as to fall into the hands of pirates, who robbed him of all

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he possessed, and detained him a prisoner several years. At length, he made his escape, and arrived in London, but in a state of so much poverty, that he was obliged to employ himself in drawing and selling maps, to raise money to purchase a decent dress, in which he might appear at court. Whilst you are studying your maps, perhaps it will be interesting to you to remember that these indispensable assistants in the study of geography, which Bartholomew Columbus then sold, were the first that were introduced into England.

King Henry the Seventh received his proposals with more approbation than any monarch to whom they had been presented.

Columbus being unacquainted with his brother's fate, resolved to visit England in person, and had already made preparations for his departure, when he was recalled to the court of Spain. Juan Perez, a Spaniard, for whom queen Isabella maintained a great regard, ventured to write to his sovereigns, entreating them to consider Columbus's proposal afresh, and to give it the attention which it merited. Others, also, ventured to address Isabella, expressing some surprise that she, who had always been the patroness of generous undertakings, should hesitate to countenance the most splendid scheme that had ever been proposed to any monarch; that Columbus was already on his way to foreign countries, where some prince, more fortunate and adventurous, would close with his proposals; and that Spain would ever bewail that fatal timidity which had excluded her from the glorious advantages that she once had in her power to possess. These arguments dispelled all Isabella's objections. Columbus was instantly recalled. And, as the state of the royal finances were low, the queen even offered to pledge her own jewels, in order to raise the money necessary for the voyage. A treaty was signed; and Isabella, by her attention and activity in forwarding