five men and a notary, to inquire whence the ship came, and if she actually carried the king of Spain's commission. Being satisfied in these particulars, they returned, and ordered the prisoners to be released. It seems the object and the orders of the Portuguese were to secure the admiral's person; but this scheme was rendered abortive by his prudent caution.

Columbus again set sail with a favourable wind; but soon another tempest overtook him; and he narrowly escaped shipwreck on the rock of Lisbon. Providence, however, still favoured him, and with great exertions, he at length anchored in the river Tagus. On this he dispatched an express by land to their catholic majesties with the news of his arrival, and another to the king of Portugal, requesting his permission to anchor before the city.

On the 5th of March, an armed boat came alongside of the the admiral, and required him to give an account of himself to the king's officers, as was customary on entering that river. The spirit of Columbus would not suffer him to submit to this indignity. As the king of Spain's admiral, he gave them to understand, that he could not reply. The Portuguese finding him resolute, demanded a sight of the Spanish monarch's letter: this was readily produced; on which a suitable report being made, the commander immediately came on board with military music, and many expressions of friendly congratulations. No sooner was the nature of the voyage blazoned in Lisbon, than the whole river was covered with boats. The Indians and the particulars of the discovery were irresistible novelties and attractions. The king himself sent presents of necessaries and refreshments, accompanied with felicitations; and desired to see Columbus before he left his dominions. The admiral at first hesitated; but reflecting that the two nations were at peace, he at last acceded to the sovereign's request, and waited on his majesty at the palace of Valparaiso, about nine leagues from Lisbon. The king ordered all the nobility of his court to advance and meet him; and when the admiral was introduced into his presence, he insisted on his being covered, and sitting down. Having heard the recital of his adventures, with apparent pleasure, he offered to supply him

with whatever he stood in need of; although he could not help observing, that the right of conquest belonged to him, as Columbus had first been in the service of Portugal. The admiral modestly assigned his reasons for being of a different opinion. It is very well,' replied the king, justice will doubtless be done.'

Considerable offers were made to re-engage the admiral; and every honour and distinction was paid him. The king even sent to inform him, after the interview, that should he be disposed to travel to Castile by land, every accommodation on the road should be provided him. Columbus, with suitable acknowledgements, declined this flattering offer; and setting sail from Lisbon, came to an anchor in the port of Palos, on the 15th of March, after an absence of more than seven months.

The people attended his landing in procession; and thanks to the Almighty, for his protection, were mixed with admiration of the hero, who had successfully encountered so many dangers, and laid open new regions, of which, however, the importance could not even be conjectured. By this time, Pinzon was arrived in Galicia, and was eager to carry the first news of the discoveries to the court; but being forbid to proceed without the admiral under whose conduct he sailed, the repulse made such an impression on his mind, that he fell sick, and, returning to his native place, in a few days breathed his last.

Meanwhile Columbus set out for Barcelona, where the court then resided; and his whole journey might be compared to a triumph. All ranks flocked round him, eager to see this intrepid adventurer, and the Indians in his train. He reached Barcelona about the middle of April, and new distinctions awaited him. The streets could scarcely contain the crowds that pressed on him; and to heighten public curiosity, the productions of the new-discovered regions were carried uncovered. To do him more signal honour, their majesties ordered their royal throne to be placed in public, on which they seated themselves under a canopy of cloth of gold. When the admiral approached to kiss hands, they stood up,

and caused him to be seated in their presence, and treated him as a grandee of the first class. Columbus then recited the principal particulars of his voyage, the discoveries he had made, and the hopes he entertained of finding still more important accessions to the dominions of Spain. He showed the Indians as they appeared in their native climes; and displayed the riches of the new world. Having finished his narrative, their majesties kneeling down, thanked God, with tears of gratitude, which act of devotion was immediately followed by a grand Te Deum.

Never was a man treated with more honour and distinction than Columbus was at this period. In the king's excursions round Barcelona, he kept him always by his side; an honour which had never been conferred but on princes of the blood; and which, perhaps, was more invidious than desirable.

But the regard of their majesties for the admiral was not confined to unsubstantial forms: he was gratified with new patents, confirming and enlarging his former privileges; and extending his viceroyalty and command over all the countries he had discovered, or might discover in future. The more the success of this expedition was canvassed, the more important it appeared; and it was immediately resolved, that Columbus should return with a powerful armament, to prosecute his discoveries. Not satisfied with this, the king dispatched an ambassador to pope Alexander VI. to obtain his apostolic sanction to the new dominions, and an exclusive title to future discoveries in the same quarter. The holy father made no difficulty in complying with this request; and as if he had been lord of the world, drew a line from pole to pole at the distance of 100 leagues to the westward of the Azores, and bestowed this extensive track of the globe on their catholic majesties. Such was the original title of Spain to America, superadded to the right of discovery. In vain shall we trace the foundation of either, to validity, from religion to justice; but ambition, entrenched behind power, is satisfied with the semblance of truth.

At this moment it is a question undecided, if Europe lost or gained more by the discovery of America, or rather by

colonizing it. Columbus, however, will ever enjoy the preeminence that is due to superior penetration and perseverance: nor can we contemplate his humane and enlightened conduct in general without paying him the tribute of our praise.

THE

SECOND VOYAGE

OF

COLUMBUS.

THE fame and merits of Columbus already made the malignant passions of jealousy and envy rankle in the hearts of those who had opposed his original plans, or wished to detract from his success. But all those emotions were for the present stifled; and the necessary measures being concerted for the prosecution of his future undertakings, with an activity proportioned to the objects in view, in a short space, a fleet of 17 vessels was equipped, stored with provisions, implements for improvements, and commodities for traffic. Many artizans and labourers were engaged; and so great was the thirst of gold, that numbers were desirous of entering into this service, beyond what could be accepted. The admiral restricted himself to 1,500 persons of all descriptions; and having taken on board some of the most useful European animals, set sail from the road of Cadiz, on the 25th of September, 1493, and immediately stood for the Canary islands, where he intended to take in refreshments. He arrived at the Grand Canary on the 2d of October; and on the 7th continued his voyage for the West Indies, as they were now called in contradistinction to the East.

A prosperous gale attended them for 400 leagues to the westward of Gomera; nor did they fall in with any of the weeds which had been so plentiful in the former voyage. On the 26th at night, the mariners perceived those lights which they call the body of St. Elmo, to which they sang litanies and prayers, in full confidence that no danger would now ensue from any storm, however violent.

On the 2d of November, a great alteration in the winds and sky took place; and it poured down torrents of rain. From this the admiral concluded they were near land; nor was he wrong in his conjecture; for at day-break they descried a high mountanious island, about seven leagues to the westward, which he named Dominica, because it was discovered on Sunday morning. Three other islands were discovered in the vicinity; when the people, assembling on the poop, sang Silve regina, and returned thanks to God for their prosperous voyage. The east side of Dominica affording no convenient anchorage, they stood over to another island, which Columbus named Mariglante, from his own ship; and landing, took possession with the usual solemnities.

He soon sailed to another island, which he denominated St. Mary of Gaudaloupe, in conformity to a promise made to the friars of a convent bearing that name. At the distance of two leagues from this shore, they espied a very high rock, terminating in a point, from which gushed a natural cascade with prodigious noise. Having landed some men, they advanced to a kind of town, which was abandoned by all the inhabitants, except some children, to whose arms they tied a few presents, in token of amity. Here they saw geese, a variety of parrots, and several fruits, particularly pine apples of exquisite taste and flavour. They refrained from meddling with any of the domestic utensils or manufactures, that the natives might conceive the better opinion of the morality of their visitors.

Next day, the admiral sent two boats ashore, to open, if possible, some communication with the natives; and the crews soon returned with two young men, who, it appeared, had been in a state of captivity. The boats, returning again for