which, had confirmed him in his opinion, to the investigation of the most learned men of those times, and finding no material

It was the opinion of the Abbé Raynall and others, that Columbus from an attentive survey of the world as it then stood delineated on maps, conceived that there was too great a disproportion between the land and water; and they say that this circumstance first suggested to him the idea of pursuing a westerly route, in quest of another continent which was then unknown.

There are others however who attribute this first idea of Columbus to a different motive; and imagine that the only object which he had in view in taking a westerly direction, was to find a much nearer passage to India;-a country which was then known to several states in Europe, and had occasionally been visited before that time.

The spherical figure of the earth was well known to Columbus, and to many geographers who lived before, and were contemporaries with him. These geographers divided the equator into 360 portions, and invented those modes of measuring the latitudes and longitudes of places which they have handed down to us, and which we retain in use to the present day. According to their geographical calculations, they imagined that the most easterly land with which they were acquainted, lay about 225 degrees east of their first meridian, which then passed through the Canary or Fortunate Islands.

Admitting this calculation to have been just, Columbus well knew that these longitudes which stretched into such distant regions eastwardly, must leave but a comparatively small portion of the globe on the western side. For since the whole circumference of the earth at the equator contained but 360 degrees (or 24 hours, allowing 15 degrees to an hour) and since 225 lay to the east of the first meridian, it followed as an inevitable consequence, that only 135 could remain unexplored in the western longitudes; and consequently, that could a passage be once found through the western ocean which he was about to explore, à much more expeditious mode of communication would be opened with India, than that which was then pursued by the Portuguese and others.

With these designs and under these impressions founded upon the established but grossly inaccurate geography of his age, Columbus undertook his perilous voyage; set sail, and found America much sooner than his calculations could have induced him to expect, had they been well founded. Indeed, neither he nor any of his contemporary geographers pretended to set boundaries to the land in the east; only they imagined that they could trace it into those eastern longitudes which have been mentioned, but how much further was quite unknown. If these were his views, it is not probable that he would have willingly relinquished his design till his arrival near the Sandwich Islands, at which part of the globe he would have fallen in with these eastern longitudes.

Under these circumstances it is perhaps hard to say, whether the discovery of America under Providence may be ascribed to accident or design. But be it attributed to what it may, the bold and adventurous spirit of Columbus is equally an object of admiration and astonishment. If we impute the discovery to accident, under these views we must admit that his daring calculations must have inclined him to explore unknown oceans, much beyond those which were actually traversed by him.

Steering thus into those western longitudes, Columbus, on his seeing land, was satisfied that he had found some part of Asia, to which he gave the common name of Indies. But as this had been discovered by a westerly course of navigation, while the other lay in the east, it obtained from him through this circumstance the name of West Indies, which name was soon established in Europe, and is retained to the present time.

But whether the motives of Columbus in exploring those almost shoreless oceans, were to discover the extremities of Asia, or to seek after that continent

objection in their arguments to discountenance his hypothesis, he quitted his native country, in search of powerful and opulent patrons who might enable him to prosecute his plan of demonstrating the real existence of such undiscovered territories. It is not known by what means he found sufficient interest to make application to most of the courts of Europe for encouragement, nor how he supported the expences of travelling; but it is well ascertained that he came to England, after having met with a very mortifying reception at the French court, and offered his plan to our Henry VII. whose love of money being his predomi nant passion, he would not adventure the requisite expenditures for so great an undertaking upon such an uncertain issue. The Portuguese rejected his proposals from timidity, not daring at that time to undertake distant voyages. These repeated disappointments, however, did not deter him from making a final attempt at the court of Spain, where Isabella of Castile, by her marriage with Ferdinand the Catholic, the first king of Spain on whom that title was conferred, had brought him in dowry the ancient kingdom of Castile, and had thereby considerably increased not only the territorial domains but the revenue of Spain. Here after a suspense of some years, he at last beheld himself in a condition to carry his favourite project, as it was then called, into execution.

which he actually found, no positive evidence can now decide. But whatever his motive or motives were, the event which followed his undertaking is certain; his bold and enterprising spirit, under the protection of Heaven, led him to the discovery of this western world, and procured for him that fame which he has so justly acquired. On these distinct but unimportant questions the reader is left to form his own judgment, and to draw his own conclusions; for since no decisive proof can be now obtained, a train of circumstantial probabilities must be his only guide.

Every thing, however trifling in itself, becomes interesting, when it is sprinkled with the hoar of antiquity, and connected with men who have rendered themselves conspicuous in the annals of mankind. We look with anxious sympathy on suffering greatness, and by entering into their feelings, enjoy or suffer all the sensibilities which their narratives can bestow. The smallest particulars which relate to Columbus, are important; every relic is valuable; and while we write his discoveries, we can hardly avoid giving a portrait of his life. The reader on such occasions readily forgives the digression, and is willing to suspend the general narrative to peruse the history of a man, whose name is linked to time, and who cannot be forgotten till time shall be destroyed..

Stimulated with the successes of Columbus, the Portuguese however soon embarked in an important enterprise which amply recompensed their exertions. In the year 1494, which was only two years after Columbus sailed on his first voyage, Bartholemas Dias running down the coast of Africa discovered its southern extremity, the Cape of Good Hope; but returned without making any further progress. These discoveries however were soon followed up with great success by Vasques de Gama, who in the year 1497 succeeded in his attempt in doubling the Cape, and opening the present passage into the Indian Seas.

It is asserted that his royal patroness was obliged to part with many of her most valuable jewels to defray the expences of fitting out this adventurer's expedition. Be this as it may, it is evident that neither the king nor the Spanish nation had any share in the first enterprise; for a more considerable force must have been the result of the efforts of the Spanish government; whereas, the little fleet which the queen alone was enabled to furnish, might be to the extent of her ability. It consisted only of the St. Mary, on board of which Columbus was permitted to hoist an admiral's flag, a ship of no considerable burden, and of two smaller vessels, the Pinta, and the Nina, called carravalls from their being of light burden, and not much superior to covered boats or barges. It is true, they were victualled, and provided with proper arms and ammunition for a voyage, or residence on shore, of twelve months. With this small squadron Columbus set sail from the port of Palos on the 3d day of August 1492, and in the course of his voyage had many difficulties to surmount. The first and most important was the variation of the compass, which till then had not been observed; this was considered by an ignorant and unprincipled crew as an obstacle to the further pursuit of the voyage. The few gentlemen of Isabella's court, who by her orders attended on the admiral, and as companions were on board his own ship, were easily alarmed, and, wishing to return home, secretly excited the discontent of the sailors; so that a general mutiny was on the eve of breaking out, when land was providentially discovered by Columbus himself, who had constantly encouraged the mariners by the hopes he entertained of being at no great distance from the coasts he so confidently expected to find. An island about fifteen leagues in length, having the appearance of a plain without any hills, lay close aboard of the admiral's ship on the morning of the 12th of October. Columbus, transported with joy, was the first to leap on shore, and was soon followed by the crews of all the ships, when Te Deum was solemnly chanted. This offering of gratitude to God being over, the sailors, ashamed of their late conduct, threw themselves at the feet of their commander, and implored his forgiveness. Columbus then returned to his ship, arrayed himself in a rich dress, and accompanied by his retinue, with all the pomp and splendour which his situation would admit, proceeded to take possession of the island for the crown of Spain, and to give it the name of St. Salvador, as a grateful tribute of remembrance for the dangers he had escaped,

It was one of the Bahama Islands, having the appearance of a delightful country well stored with wood, and watered by a number of rivulets, but in no state of cultivation, which could

induce him to believe it was one of those rich and fertile countries, that was to reward him and his followers for this hazard, ous enterprise. Coasting along to the southward, however, he found a larger island abounding with all the necessaries of life, inhabited by a mild and friendly people, and exhibiting every appearance of opulence; whereas that of St. Salvador appeared to be extremely poor. From some specimens of gold shewn to him by the inhabitants of this second discovered island, as well as by those of the Bahama's, he conceived that it possessed mines of this precious metal; and with this idea, which he knew would be highly acceptable to his employers, he resolved to return to Spain for reinforcements, after leaving a number of his companions on a friendly footing with the natives, a few of whom he took with him to Spain. This island was afterwards called by the Spaniards Hispaniola, which name it still retains, though it is more commonly known by that of St. Domingo, and has lately through the successes of the blacks been also styled Hayti.

We have no account of his voyage home; we are only informed, that on his arrival at Seville, he proceeded to Barcelona, where the court then resided; which he entered in a triumphal manner, exhibiting to the astonished multitude as he passed along, samples of the gold, with the ornaments of dress, the arms and domestic utensils of the islands he had discovered.

His reception was such as might be expected from his sovereigns. The king, in particular, who clearly perceived that the foundation was now laid for the future aggrandizement of his kingdom, by the accession of new territories, and the influx of wealth, entered heartily into the views of Columbus, who proposed to establish a Spanish colony in the islands he had already discovered, and to lose no time in further researches, till he had firmly settled Hispaniola, in which he proposed to reside, and there to wait for favourable opportunities to complete his plan of making new discoveries; for he was fully convinced that there were several other islands at no very great distance.

A formidable fleet was got ready with the utmost expedition, amply equipped with every article adapted to the double purpose of exploring and conquering new countries. Columbus was now appointed governor of all the territories he had, or should take possession of, for the crown of Spain. A great number of adventurers, many of them persons of high rank, embarked with him; and this second voyage proved still more successful than the first, for in the course of it he discovered Cuba and Jamaica; and, in a third, the whole Archipelago; which, in process of time, became separate colonies, as we have already noticed, belonging to diftrent European nations.

It is now no longer doubted, that this great man was likewise the first discoverer of the Continent of America, ascribed by some historians to Vespusius a merchant of Florence, who, having sailed on a trading voyage to the southern continent, and envying the renown which Columbus had acquired, boldly assumed the merit of the first discovery; and had the audacity to. make the addition of Americus to his family name. But Vespusius was not the only enemy Columbus had to encounter; a party formed against him at court, prevailed upon the imbecile and ungrateful Ferdinand to send a military officer of rank to Hispaniola, as an inspector of his government; who found means not only to supersede him, but to load him with irons, and to send him to Europe as a state prisoner. Isabella his protectress was no more; but his innocence was so apparent, that he was again taken into favour, and, unmindful of his past sufferings, followed the impulse of his ruling passion, and ventured on a fourth voyage of discovery, most probably that of attempting once more a passage by the West to the East Indies. From this expedition he returned to Spain totally exhausted; and after languishing a considerable time, under a hectic fever, he termi nated his glorious life at Valladolid, in the year 1506, in the 56th year of his age.

Situated under the tropic of Cancer, the climate, soil, and productions of the West-India islands may be included together in one general description; and without entering at present into any minute examination of any particular island, we may view the whole in one collective point, bearing in general character a near resemblance to one another. The cultivated parts of these islands exhibit a scene of fertility, to which no country in Europe can bear any kind of proportion; and of which no European, accustomed only to the temperate and frigid zones, can have any adequate idea. It is a region in which abundance and variety seem to contend for mastery; in which they seem to lay an equal claim to our attention, but leave the mind undecided in its preference and choice. But abundant and various as these productions are, the fertility which abounds in these countries, may perhaps be attributed more to the salubrity of the climate, in the process of vegetation, than to the internal excellencies of the soil, or the laborious exertions of man.

The same effects are produced in these islands by the periodi cal rains which regularly fall, as are produced in Egypt by the overflowings of the Nile. In both cases the earth seems threatened with an inundation, through those waters which overspread her surface for a moment, and which seem to indicate a second deluge to destroy the world. But they are only so many mani. festations of the divine goodness, acting through the medium of