the fame high recompence. He proposed that a fmall fleet should be fitted out, under his command, to attempt the discovery, and demanded to be appointed hereditary admiral and viceroy of all the feas and lands which he should difcover, and to have the tenth of the profits arifing from them, fettled irrevocably upon himself and his descendants. At the fame time, he offered to advance the eighth part of the fum neceffary for accomplishing his defign, on condition that he should be entitled to a proportional share of benefit from the adventure. If the enterprise fhould totally miscarry, he made no ftipulation for any reward or emoJument whatever. Instead of viewing this conduct as the clearest evidence of his full perfuafion with refpect to the truth of his own system, or being struck with that magnanimity which, after fo many delays and repulfes, would foop to nothing inferior to its original claims, the perfons with whom Columbus treated, began meanly to calculate the expence of the expedition, and the value of the reward which he demanded. The expence, moderate as it was, they represented to be too great for Spain, in the prefent exhausted state of its finances. They contended, that the honours and emoluments claimed by Columbus, were exorbitant, even if he should perform the utmost of what he had promised; and if all his fanguine hopes should prove illufive, fuch vaft conceffions to an adventurer would be deemed not only inconfiderate, but ridiculous. In this impofing garb of caution and prudence, their opinion appeared fo plaufible, and was fo warmly fupported by Ferdinand, that Ifabella declined giving any countenance to Columbus, and abruptly broke off the negociation with him which she had begun.

This was more mortifying to Columbus than all the disappointments which he had hitherto met with. The invitation to court from Ifabella, like an unexpected ray of light, had opened fuch profpects of fuccefs, as encouraged him to hope that his labours were at an end; but now darkness and uncertainty returned, and his mind, firm as it was, could hardly fupport the fhock of fuch an unforeseen reverfe. He withdrew in deep anguish from court, with an intention of profecuting his voyage to England, as his laft refource.

About that time Granada furrendered, and Ferdinand and Ifabella, in triumphal pomp, took poffeffion of a city, the reduction of which extirpated a foreign power from the heart of their dominions, and rendered them masters of all the provinces, extending from the bottom of the Pyrenees to the frontiers of Portugal. As the flow of fpirits which accompanies fuccefs elevates the mind, and renders it enterprifing, Quintanilla and Santangel, the vigilant and difcerning patrons of Columbus, took advantage of this favourable fituation, in order to make one effort

more

more in behalf of their friend. They addressed themselves to Isabella, and, after expreffing fome furprife, that fhe, who had always been the munificent patronefs of generous undertakings, should hesitate so long to countenance the most splendid scheme that had ever been proposed to any monarch; they reprefented to her, that Columbus was a man of a found understanding and virtuous character, well qualified, by his experience in navigation, as well as his knowledge of geometry, to form just ideas with respect to the ftructure of the globe and the fituation of its various regions; that, by offering to risk his own life and fortune in the execution of his scheme, he gave the most fatisfying evidence both of his integrity and hope of fuccefs; that the fum requifite for equipping fuch an armament as he demanded was inconfiderable, and the advantages which might accrue from his undertaking were immenfe; that he demanded no recompence for his invention and labour, but what was to arife from the countries which he fhould difcover; that, as it was worthy of her magnanimity to make this noble attempt to extend the sphere of human knowledge, and to open an intercourfe with regions hitherto unknown, fo it would afford the highest fatisfaction to her piety and zeal, after re-establishing the Chriftian faith in thofe provinces of Spain from which it had been long banished, to discover a new world, to which he might communicate the light and bleffings of divine truth; that if now she did not decide instantly, the opportunity would be irretrievably loft; that Columbus was on his way to foreign countries, where fome prince, more fortunate or adventurous, would close with his propofals, and Spain would for ever bewail the fatal timidity which had excluded her from the glory and advantages that she had once in her power to have enjoyed,

These forcible arguments, urged by perfons of fuch authority, and at a juncture fo well chofen, produced the defired effect. They difpelled all Isabella's doubts and fears; fhe ordered Columbus to be inftantly recalled, declared her refolution of employing him on his own terms, and regretting the low state of her finances, generously offered to pledge her own jewels, in order to raife as much money as might be needed in making preparations for the voyage. Santangel, in a transport of gratitude, kiffed the queen's hand, and in order to fave her from having recourse to such a mortifying expedient for procuring money, engaged to advance immediately the fum that was requifite.

Columbus had proceeded fome leagues on his journey, when the mesfenger from Isabella overtook him. Upon receiving an account of the unexpected revolution in his favour, he returned directly to Santo Fe, though fome remainder of diffidence ftill mingled itfelf with his joy.

But

But the cordial reception which he met with from Ifabella, together with the near prospect of setting out upon that voyage which had fo long been the object of his thoughts and wishes, foon effaced the remembrance of all that he had fuffered in Spain, during eight tedious years of folicitation and suspense. The negociation now went forward with facility and dispatch, and a treaty of capitulation with Columbus was figned on the feventeenth of April, one thousand four hundred and ninety-two. The chief articles of it were, 1. Ferdinand and Isabella, as fovereigns of the ocean, conftituted Columbus their high admiral in all the feas, islands, and continents which fhould be difcovered by his induftry; and ftipulated, that he and his heirs for ever fhould enjoy this office, with the fame powers and prerogatives which belonged to the high admiral of Caftile, within the limits of his jurifdiction. 2. They appointed Columbus their viceroy in all the islands and continents which he should discover; but if, for the better administration of affairs, it should hereafter be necessary to establish a separate governor in any of those coun tries, they authorised Columbus to name three perfons, of whom they would chufe one for that office; and the dignity of viceroy, with all its immunities, was likewife to be hereditary in the family of Columbus. 3. They granted to Columbus and his heirs for ever the tenth of the free profits accruing from the productions and commerce of the countries which he should discover. 4. They declared, that if any controverfy or law-fuit fhall arife with refpect to any mercantile transaction in the countries which fhould be difcovered, it should be determined by the fole authority of Columbus, or of judges to be appointed by him. 5. They permitted Columbus to advance one-eighth part of what should be expended in preparing for the expedition, and in carrying on com merce with the countries which he fhould discover, and intitled him, in return, to an eighth part of the profit.

Though the name of Ferdinand appears conjoined with that of Isabella in this tranfaction, his diftruft of Columbus was still fo violent that he refused to take any part in the enterprife as king of Arragon. As the whole expence of the expedition was to be defrayed by the crown of Caftile, Ifabella referved for her fubjects of that kingdom an exclufive right to all the benefits which might redound from its success.

As foon as the treaty was figned, Ifabella, by her attention and activity in forwarding the preparations for the voyage, endeavoured to make fome reparation to Columbus for the time which he had lost in fruitlefs folicitation. By the twelfth of May, all that depended upon her was adjusted; and Columbus waited on the king and queen, in order to receive their final inftructions. Every thing refpecting the deftination

1

and

and conduct of the voyage, they committed implicitly to the disposal of his prudence. But, that they might avoid giving any juft caufe of offence to the king of Portugal, they ftrictly enjoined him not to approach near to the Portuguese fettlements on the coast of Guinea, or in any of the other countries to which the Portuguese claimed right as difcoverers. Ifabella had ordered the fhips, of which Columbus was to take the command, to be fitted out in the port of Palos, a fmall maritime town in the province of Andalufia. As the guardian Juan Perez, to whom Columbus has already been fo much indebted, refided in the neighbourhood of this place, he, by the influence of that good ecclefiaftic, as well as by his own connection with the inhabitants, not only raised among them what he wanted of the fum that he was bound by treaty to ad vance, but engaged feveral of them to accompany him in the voyage. The chief of these affociates were three brothers of the name of Pinzon, of confiderable wealth, and of great experience in naval affairs, who were willing to hazard their lives and fortunes in the expedition.

But, after all the efforts of Ifabella and Columbus, the armament was not suitable, either to the dignity of the nation by which it was equiped, or to the importance of the fervice for which it was destined. It confifted of three veffels. The largeft, a fhip of no confiderable burden, was commanded by Columbus, as admiral, who gave it the name of Santa Maria, out of refpect for the Bleffed Virgin, whom he honoured with fingular devotion. Of the fecond, called the Pinta, Martin Pinzon was captain, and his brother Francis pilot. The third, named the Nigna, was under the command of Vincent Yanez Pinzon. These two were light veffels, hardly fuperior in burden or force to large boats. This fquadron, if it merits that name, was victualled for twelve months, and had on board ninety men, moftly failors, together with a few adventurers who followed the fortune of Columbus, and fome gentlemen of Ifabella's court, whom the appointed to accompany him. Though the expence of the undertaking was one of the circumftances which chiefly alarmed the court of Spain, and retarded fo long the negociation with Columbus, the fum employed in fitting out this fquadron did not exceed four thousand pounds.

As the art of ship-building in the fifteenth century was extremely rude, and the bulk of veffels was accommodated to the short and easy voyages along the coat which they were accuftomed to perform, it is a proof of the courage as well as enterprifing genius of Columbus, that he ventured, with a fleet fo unfit for a diftant navigation, to explore unknown feas, where he had no chart to guide him, no knowledge of the tides and currents, and no experience of the dangers to which he might

be expofed. His eagerness to accomplish the great defign which had fo long engroffed his thoughts, made him overlook or difregard every cir cumftance that would have intimidated a mind lefs adventurous. He pushed forward the preparations with fuch ardour, and was feconded fo effectually by the perfons to whom Ifabella committed the fuperintendence of this bufinefs, that every thing was foon in readiness for the voyage. But as Columbus was deeply impreffed with fentiments of religion, he would not fet out upon an expedition fo arduous, and of which one great object was to extend the knowledge of the Christian faith, without imploring publicly the guidance and protection of Heaven. With this view, he, together with, all the perfons under his command, marched in folemn proceffion to the monastery of Rabida. After confeffing their fins, and obtaining abfolution, they received the holy facrament from the hands of the guardian, who joined his prayers to theirs for the fuccefs of an enterprise which he had fo zealously patronized.

Next morning, being Friday the third day of Auguft, in the year one thousand four hundred and ninety-two, Columbus fet fail, a little before fun-rife, in prefence of a vaft crowd of fpectators, who fent up their fupplications to Heaven for the profperous iffue of the voyage, which they wished, rather than expected. Columbus fteered directly for the Canary Islands, and arrived there, Auguft 13, 1492, without any occurrence that would have deferved notice on any other occafion. But, in a voyage of fuch expectation and importance, every circumflance was the object of attention. The rudder of the Pinta broke loofe, the day after The left the harbour, and that accident alarmed the crew, no lefs fuperftitious than unskilful, as a certain omen of the unfortunate deftiny of the expedition. Even in the fhort run to the Canaries, the ships were found to be fo crazy and ill appointed, as to be very improper for a navigation which was expected to be both long and dangerous. Columbus refitted them, however, to the best of his power, and having fupplied himself with fresh provifions he took his departure from Gomera, one of the moit wefterly of the Canary islands, on the fixth day of September.

Here the voyage of difcovery may properly be faid to begin; for Columbus holding his courfe due weft, left immediately the ufual track of navigation, and ftretched into unfrequented and unknown feas. The first day, as it was very calm, he made but little way; but on the fecond, he loft fight of the Canaries; and many of the failors, dejected already and diimayed, when they contemplated the boldness of the undertaking, began to beat their breafts, and to fhed tears, as if they were never more to behold land. Columbus comforted them with affurances of fuccefs, and the profpect of vaft wealth, in thofe opulent regions whither he was conducting them. This early discovery of the fpirit of his followers

taught