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journal of his last voyage, and his charts of the countries which he had difcovered. (1499 May.) Ojeda ftruck out into no new path of navigation, but adhering fervilely to the route which Columbus had taken, arrived on the coaft of Paria. He traded with the natives, and standing to the weft, proceeded as far as Cape de Vela, and ranged along a confiderable extent of coaft beyond that on which Columbus had touched. Having thus afcertained the opinion of Columbus, that this country was a part of the continent, Ojeda returned (1499. October) by way of Hifpaniola to Spain, with fome reputation as a difcoverer, but with little benefit to those who had raised the funds for the Expedition b).

Is accompanied by Amerigo Vespucci.

Amerigo Vespucci, a Florentine gentleman, accompanied Ojeda in this voyage. In what ftation he ferved, is uncertain; but as he was an experienced failor, and eminently fkilful in all the sciences fubfervient to navigation, he seems to have acquired fuch authority among his companions, that they willingly allowed him to have a chief fhare in directing their operations during the voyage. Soon after his return, he tranfmitted an account of his adventures and discoveries to one of his countrymen; and labouring with the vanity of a traveller to magnify his own exploits, he had the addrefs and confidence to frab) Herrera, dec. 1. lib. iv. c. 1-3.

me his narrative, fo as to make it appear that he had the glory of having firft difcovered the continent in the New World. Amerigo's account was drawn up not only with art, but with some elegance. It contained an amusing history

of his voyage, and judicious obfervations upon the natural productions, the inhabitants, and the cuftoms of the countries which he had vifited. As it was the firft defcription of any part of the New World that was publifhed, a performance fo well calculated to gratify the paffion of mankind for what is new and marvellous, circulated rapidly, and was read with admiration.

From whom the name of America is given to the New World.

The country of which Amerigo was fuppofed to be the difcoverer, came gradually to be called by his name. The caprice of mankind, often as unaccountable as unjuft, has perpetuated this error. By the universal confent of nations, America is the name beftowed on this new quarter of the globe. The bold pretenfions of a fortunate impoftor have robbed the difcoverer of the New World of a diftinction which belonged to him. The name of Amerigo has fupplanted that of Columbus; and mankind may regret an act of injuftice, which, having received the fanction of time, it is now too late to redrefs c). •

c) See NOTE XXII.

1

Voyage of Alonfo Nigno.

During the fame year, another voyage of difcovery was undertaken. Columbus not only introduced the fpirit of naval enterprife into Spain, but all the firft adventurers who diftinguished themselves in this new career were formed by his inftructions, and acquired in his voyages the fkill and information which qualified them to imitate his example. Alonfo Nigno,

who had ferved under the Admiral in his last expedition, fitted out, in conjunction with Chriftopher Guerra, a merchant of Seville, a fingle ship, and failed to the coaft of Paria. This voyage feems to have been conducted with greater attention to private emolument, than to any general or national object. Nigno and Guerra made no difcoveries of any importance; but they brought home fuch a return of gold and pearls, as inflamed their countrymen with the defire of engaging in fimilar adventures d).

Of Vincent Yanez Pinzon.

(1500. January 13.) Soon after, Vincent Yanez Pinzon, one of the Admiral's companions in his firft voyage, failed from Palos with four ships. He ftood boldly towards the fouth, and was the firft Spaniard who ventured to cross the equino&tial line; but he feems to have landed on no part of the coaft beyond the mouth of the Ma

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d) P. Martyr. dec. p. 87. Herrera, dec. 1. lib. iv. c. 5.

ragnon, or river of the Amazons. All thefe navigators adopted the erroneous theory of Columbus, and believed that the countries which they had difcovered were part of the vast continent of India e).

The Portuguese difcover Brafil.

During the last year of the fifteenth century, that fertile district of America, on the confines of which Pinzon had ftope fhort, was more fully discovered. The fuccefsful voyage of Gama to the Eaft Indies having encouraged the king of Portugal to fit out a fleet fo powerful, as not only to carry on trade, but to attempt conqueft, he gave the command of it to Pedro Alvarez Cabral. It order to avoid the coaft of Africa, were he was certain of meeting with variable breezes, or frequent calms, which might retard his voyage, Cabral stood out to fea, and kept fo far to the weft, that, to his furprife, he found himself upon the fhore of an unknown country, in the tenth degree beyond the line. He imagined, at firft, that it was fome ifland in the Atlantic ocean hitherto unobferved; but, proceeding along its coaft for feveral days, he was led gradually to believe, that a country fo extenfive formed a part of fome great continent. This latter opinion was well founded. The country with which he fell in belongs to that province in South America

e) Herrera, dec. 1. lib. iv. c. 6. P. Martyr, dec. p. 95:

now known by the name of Brafil. He landed; and having formed a very high idea of the fertility of the foil, and agreeableness of the climate, he took poffeffion of it for the crown of Portugal, and difpatched a fhip to Lifbon with an account of this event, which appeared to be no less important than it was unexpected f). Columbus's discovery of the New World was the effort of an active genius, enlightened by fcience, guided by experience, and acting upon a regular plan, executed with no lefs courage than perfeverance. But from this adventure of the Portuguese, it appears that chance might have accomplished that great defign, which it is now the pride of human reafon to have formed and perfected. If the fagacity of Columbus had not conducted mankind to America, Cabral, by a fortunate accident, might have led them a few years latter, to the knowledge of that extenfive continent g).

Machinations against Columbus.

While the Spaniards and Portuguese, by thofe fucceffive voyages, were daily acquiring more enlarged ideas of the extent and opulence of that quarter of the globe which Columbus had made known to them, he himself, far from enjoying the tranquillity and honours with which his fervices fhould have been recompenfed, was f) Herrera, dec. 1. lib. iv. c. 7. g) Herrera, dec. 1. lib. vii. c. 5.

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