being the patronefs of all Columbus enterprises, but even upon Ferdinand, who having originally expreffed his difapprobation of his fchemes, was ftill apt to doubt of their fuccefs, that they refolved to fupply the colony in Hifpaniola with every thing which could render it a permanent establishment, and to furnifh Columbus with fuch a fleet, that he might proceed to fearch for those new countries, of whofe exiftence he feemed to be confident. The measures moft proper for accomplishing both thefe defigns were concerted with Columbus. Discovery had been the fole object of the firft voyage to the New World; and though, in the fecond fettlement had been propofed, the precautions taken for that purpofe had either been infufficient, or were rendered ineffectual by the mutinous fpirit of the Spaniards, and the unforeseen calamities arifing from various caufes. Now a plan was to be formed of a regular colony, that might ferve as a model in all future establishments. Every particular was confidered with attention, and the whole arranged with a fcrupulous accuracy. The precife number of adventurers who fhould be permitted to embark was fixed. They were to be of different ranks and profeffions; and the proportion of each was establifhed, according to their usefulness and the wants of the colony. A fuitable number of women was to be chofen to accompany thefe new fettlers. As it was the first object to raife provifions in a ROBERTSON Vol. I. M

country where fcarcity of food had been the occafion of fo much diftrefs, a confiderable body of husbandmen was to be carried over. As the Spaniards had then no conception of deriving any benefit from thofe productions of the New World which have fince yielded fuch large return of wealth to Europe, but had formed magnificent ideas, and entertained fanguine hopes with respect to the riches contained in the mines which had been discovered, a band of workmen, fkilled in the various arts employed in digging and refining the precious metals, was provided. All thefe emigrants were to receive pay and fubfiftence for fome years, at the public expence k).

A defect in it,

Thus far the regulations were prudent, and well adapted to the end in view. But as it was foreseen that few would engage voluntarily to fettle in a country, whofe noxious climate had been fatal to fo many of their countrymen, Columbus propofed to tranfport to Hifpaniola fuch malefactors as had been convicted of crimes, which, though capital, were of a lefs atrocious nature; and that for the future a certain proportion of the offenders usually fent to the gallies, fhould be condemned to labour in the mines which were to be opened. This advice, given without due reflection, was as inconfidek) Herrera, dec, 1. lib, iiì, c. 2.

rately adopted. The prifons of Spain were drained, in order to collect members for the intended colony; and the judges were inftructed to recruit it by their future fentences. It is not, however, with fuch materials, that the foundations of a fociety, deftined to be permanent, fhould be laid. Industry, fobriety, patience, and mutual confidence are indifpenfably requifite in an infant fettlement, where purity of morals muft contribute more towards eftablifhing order, than the operation or authority of laws, But when fuch a mixture of what is corrupt is admitted into the original conftitution of the political body, the vices of thofe unfound and incurable members will probably infect the whole, and must certainly be productive of violent and unhappy effects. This the Spaniards fatally experienced; and the other European nations having fucceffively imitated the practice of Spain in this particular, pernicious confequences have followed in their fettlements, which can be imputed to no other caufe 1).

Executed flow.

Though Columbus obtained, with great facility and dispatch, the royal approbation of every measure and regulation that he propofed, his endeavours to carry them into execution were fo long retarded, as muft have tired out the pa1) Herrera, dec. 1, lib. iii. c. 2. Touron Hift. Gener. de l'Amerique, i. p. 51.

tience of any man, lefs accuftomed to encounter and to furmount difficulties. Those delays were occafioned partly by that tedious formality and fpirit of procraftination, with which the Spaniards condu&t business, and partly by the exhaufted ftate of the treasury, which was drained by the expence of celebrating the marriage of Ferdinand and Ifabella's only fon with Margaret of Auftria, and that of Joanna, their fecond daughter, with Philip archduke of Auftria m); but must be chiefly imputed to the malicious arts of Columbus's enemies. Aftonifned at the reception which he met with upon his return, and overawed by his prefence, they gave way, for fome time, to a tide of favour too Arong for them to oppose. Their enmity, however, was too inveterate to remain long inactive. They refumed their operations, and by the affiftance of Fonfeca, the minifter for Indian affairs, who was now promoted to the bishopric of Badajos, they threw in fo many obftacles to protract the preparations for Columbus's expedition, that a year elapfed before he n) could procure two ships to carry over a part of the fupplies deftined for the colony, and almoft two years were fpent before the fmall fquadron was equipped of which he himself was to take the com mand o).

m) P. Mart, epift. 168.

n) Life of Columbus, c. 65.

) Herrera, dec, 1. lib, . 19,

ン

Third voyage of Columbus,

(1498) The fquadron confifted of fix fhips only, of no great burden, and but indifferently -provided for a long or dangerous navigation. The voyage which he now meditated was in a courfe different from any he had undertaken. As he was fully perfuaded that the fertile regions of India lay to the fouthweft of thofe countries which he had difcovered, he propofed, as the moft certain method of finding out thefe, to ftand directly fouth from the Canary or Cape de Verd if ands, until he came under the equinoctial line, and then to ftretch to the weft before the favourable wind for fuch a courfe, which blows invariably between the tropics. (May 30.) With this idea he fet fail, and touched first at the Canary, and then at the Cape de Verd iflands. (July 4.) From the former he dispatched three of his fhips with a fupply of provifions for the colony in Hifpaniola: with the other three, he continued his voyage towards the fouth. No remarkable occurrence happened until they arrived within five degrees of the line. (July 19.) There they were becalmed, and at the fame time the heat became fo exceffive, that many of their wine cafks burft, the liquor in others foured, and their provifions corrupted p). The Spaniards, who had never ventured fo far to the fouth, were afraid that the fhips would take fire, and began to apprehend the reality of what the p) P. Martyr. dec. p. 75.