pedition. Three small vessels, scarcely sufficient in size to be employed in the coasting business, were appointed to traverse the vast Atlantic; and to encounter the storms and currents that might be expected in so lengthy a voyage, through distant and unknown seas.

29. These vessels, as might be expected in the infancy of navigation, were ill-constructed, in a poor condition, and manned by seamen unaccustomed to distant voyages. But the tedious length of time which Columbus had spent in solicitation and suspense, and the prospect of being able soon to obtain the object of Lis wishes, induced him to overlook what he could not easily remedy, and led him to disregard those circumstances which would have intimidated any oth er mind.

30. He accordingly equipped his small squadron with as much expedition as possible, manned with ninety men, and victualled for one year. With these, on the third of August, 1492, amidst a vast crowd of anxious spectators, he set sail on an enterprise, which, if we consider the ill condition of his ships, the inexperience of his sailors, the length and uncertainty of his voyage, and the consequences that flowed from it, was the most daring and important that ever was undertaken.

31. He touched at some of the Portuguese settlements in the Canary Isles, where, although he had but a few days run, he found his vessels needed refitting. He soon made the necessary repais, and took his departure from the westermost islands that had hitherto been discovered. Here he left the former tract of navigation, and steered his course due west.

52. Not many days after he had been to sea, he began to experience a new scene of difficulty. The sailors now began to contemplate the dangers and uncertain issue of a voyage, the nature and length of which was left entirely to conjecture.

33. Besides the fickleness and timidity, natural to men unaccustomed to the discipline of a seafaring life, several circumstances contributed to inspire an obstinate and mutinous disposition, which required the most consummate art, as well as fortitude in the admiral to control.

34. Having been three weeks at sea, and experienced the. uniform course of the trade winds, which always blow in a western direction, they contended, that should they

continue the same course for a longer period, the same wind would never permit them to return to Spain.

35. The magnetic needle began to vary its direction. This being the first time that phenomenon was ever discov ered, it was viewed by the sailors with astonishment, and considered as an indication that nature herself had changed her course, and that Providence was determined to punish their audacity, in venturing so far beyond the ordinary bounds

of man.

36. They declared that the commands of their sovereign had been fully obeyed in their proceeding so many days in the same direction, and so far surpassing the attempts of all former navigators, in quest of new discoveries. Every talent, requisite for governing, soothing, and tempering the passions of men, is conspicuous in the conduct of Columbus on this occasion.

37. The dignity and affability of his manners, his surprising knowledge and experience in naval affairs, his unwearied and minute attention to the duties of his command, gave him a complete ascendancy over the minds of his men, and inspired that degree of confidence which would have r. intained his authority in almost any possible circumstan

ces.

38. But here, from the nature of the undertaking, every man had leisure to feed his imagination with all the gloominess and uncertainty of the prospect. They found every day, that the same steady gales carried them with great r pidity from their native country, and indeed from all countries of which they had any knowledge.

39. Notwithstanding all the variety of management, with which Columbus addressed himself to their passions, sometimes by soothing them with the prognostics of discovering land, sometimes by flattering their ambition and feasting their avarice with the glory and wealth they would acquire from discovering those rich countries beyond the Atlantic, and sometimes by threatening them the displeasure of their Sovereign, should timidity and disobedience defeat so great an object; their uneasiness still increased.

40. From secret whispering, it arose to open mutiny, and dangerous conspiracy. At length they determined to rid themselves of the remonstrances of Columbus, by throwing him into the sea. The infection spread from ship to ship and involved officers as well as common sailors.

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41. They finally lost all sense of subordination, and addressed their commander in an insolent manner, demanding to be conducted immediately back to Spain; or they assured kim they would seek their own safety by taking away his life. Columbus, whose sagacity and penetration had discovered every symptom of the disorder, was prepared for this last stage of it, and was sufficiently apprised of the danger that awaited him. He found it vain to contend with passions he could no longer controul.

42. He therefore proposed that they should obey his or ders for three days longer, and, should they not discover land in that time, he would then direct his course for Spain.

43. They complied with this proposal; and, happily for mankind, in three days they discovered land. This was a small island, to which Columbus gave the name of San Salvador. Their first interview with the natives was a scene of amusement and compassion on the one part, and of astonishment and adoration on the other.

44. The natives were entirely naked, simple and timorous; and they viewed the Spaniards as a superior order of beings, descended from the sun, which, in that island, and in most parts of America, was worshipped as a Deity. 17 this it was easy for Columbus to perceive the line of conduct proper to be observed toward that simple and inoffensive people.

45. Had his companions and successors of the Spanish nation, possessed the wisdom and humanity of that discov erer, the benevolent mind would feel no sensations of regret, in contemplating the extensive advantages arising to man kind from the discovery of America.

46. In this voyage, Columbus discovered the islands of Cuba and Hispaniola; on the latter of which he erected a smail fort, and having left a garrison of thirty-eight men, under the command of an officer by the name of Araua, he set sail for Spain. Returning across the Atlantic, he was overtaken by a violent storm, which lasted several days, and increased to such a degree, as baffled all his naval skill, and threatened immediate destruction.

47. In this situation, when all were in a state of despair, and it was expected that every sea would swallow up the crazy vessel, he manifested a serenity and presence of mind, perhaps never equalled in cases of like extremi

He wrote a short account of his voyage, and the dis

toveries he had made, wrapped it in an oiled cloth, enclosed it in a cake of wax, put it into an empty cask, and threw it overboard; in hopes that some accident might preserve a deposit of so much importance to the world.

48. The storm, however, abated, and he at length arrived in Spain; after having been driven by stress of weather, into the port of Lisbon, where he had an opportunity, in an interview with the king of Portugal, to prove the truth of his system, by arguments more convincing than those he had before advanced, in the character of an humble and unsuccessful suitor.

49. He was received every where in Spain with royal honors, his family was ennobled, and his former stipulations respecting his offices and emoluments, were ratified in the most solemn manner by Ferdinand and Isabella; while all Europe resounded his praises, and reciprocated their joy and congratulations on the discovery of a new world.

50. The immediate consequence of this, was a second voyage; in which Columbus took charge of a squadron of seventeen ships of considerable burthen. Volunteers of all Tanks and conditions, solicited to be employed in this expedition. He carried over 1500 persons, together with all the necessaries for establishing a colony, and extending the dis coveries.

51. In this voyage lie explored most of the West-India islands; but on his arrival at Hispaniola, he found the gar rison he had left there had been totally destroyed by the natives, and the fort demolished. He however proceeded in the planting of his colony, and by his prudent and humane conduct towards the natives, he effectually established the Spanish authority in that island.

52. But while he was thus laying the foundations of their future grandeur in South America, some discontented per sons, who had returned from the colony to Spain, together with his former enemies in that kingdom, conspired to accompish his ruin.

53. They represented his conduct in such a light at court, as to create an uneasiness and distrust in the jealous mind of Ferdinand, and made it necessary for Columbus again to return to Spain, in order to counteract their machinations and to obtain such further supplies as were

necessary to his great political and benevolent purpo

ses.

54. On his arrival at court, and stating with his usual dignity and confidence the whole history of his transactions abroad, every thing wore a favorable appearance. He was received with usual honors, and again solicited to take charge of another squadron, to carry out further supplies, to pursue his discoveries, and in every respect to use his discretion in extending the Spanish Empire in the New World. In this third voyage he discovered the continent of America, at the mouth of the river Oronoke.

55. He rectified many disorders in his government of Hispaniola, which had happened in his absence; and every thing was going on in a prosperous train, when an event was announced to him, which completed his own ruin, and gave a fatal turn to the Spanish policy and conduct in AmerThis was the arrival of Francis de Bovadilla, with a commission to supercede Columbus in his government ;and with power to arraign him as a criminal, and to judge qf his former administration

fca.

56. It seems that by this time the enemies of Columbus, despairing to complete his overthrow by groundless insinuation of misconduct, had taken the more effectual method of exciting the jealousy of their sovereigns.

57. From the promising samples of gold and other valuable commodities brought from America, they took occasion to represent to the King and Queen, that the prodigious wealth and extent of the countries he had discovered, would soon throw such power into the hands of the Viceroy, that he would trample on the royal authority, and bid defiance to the Spanish power.

58. These arguments were well calculated for the cold and suspicious temper of Ferdinand, and they must have had some effect upon the mind of Isabella. The consequence was, the appointment of Bovadilla, who had been the inveterate enemy of Columbus, to take the government from his hands. This first tyrant of the Spanish nation in America, began his administration by ordering Columbus to be put in chains on board a ship, and sending him prisoner to Spain.

59. By relaxing all discipline, he introduced disorder and licentiousness throughout the colony. He subjected the natives to a most miserable servitude, and apportioned