ion and its shape. Just as Columbus had began to carry his resolution of visiting England into effect, the final overthrow of the Moorish dynasty by the conquest of Granada, was announced, and gave a new aspect to the affairs of Spain. The triumph filled Ferdinand and Isabella with the proudest exultation, and produced a liberality of disposition which was ready to interest itself in almost any enterprize which might add the lustre of munificence to the glory of conquest. The patrons and friends of Columbus, Quintilla and Santangel, availing themselves of the favourable posture of affairs, again came forward and presented the subject, in a well-devised address, to the Queen. While congratulating her on the auspicious triumph of her arms, they lauded the munificence with which she had hitherto always patronized all great enterprizes, and expressed their surprise at her indifference to a project “the most splendid ever yet proposed to any sovereign." They commented on the favorable terms upon which Columbus proposed to embark in the adventure, they spoke of his sincerity, evinced by his willingness to hazard his own life and fortunes in prosecuting his plans. Speaking of his design to retire to England, they represented the danger of losing irrevocably the benefits which might result from the success of his schemes, the glory which would ensue to his patrons, and finally, appealing to the piety of Isabella, spoke of the sacred honor which she might win by thus extending the dominions of the church, increasing its treasures, and bringing within its holy pale the degraded and benighted people of unknown and heathen lands.

This was the moment of all others the most opportune, and the appeal was not idly or ineffectually made. Isabella ordered Columbus to be instantly recalled, de

clared that he should be employed on his own terms; and entered so enthusiastically into his views, that, on Ferdinand again objecting the poverty of the treasury, she magnanimously threw down her jewels and offered to pawn them rather than that such an enterprise should be frustrated. Santangel was so overjoyed at the enthusiasm of the Queen that he seized and kissed her hand, and himself engaged to advance the sum required. While these scenes were enacting at court, Columbus was proceeding on his way towards England wholly unconscious of the efforts his friends were making in his behalf. When the courier of the Queen overtook him, and announced the revolution in his favor he was completely overpowered by the unexpected intelligence. He repaired at once to Santa Fe, where he soon forgot the wrongs and indignities he had suffered during eight tedious years of fruitless negociation, in the prospect of, and preparations for his voyage. Under these favorable auspices he set sail on the 3d day of May, 1492.

CHAPTER V.

We do not propose to enter into a detail of the adventures of Columbus, nor does our present purpose require us to pursue any farther his personal history. He made several voyages whose astonishing results demonstrated, to some extent, the correctness of his theories respecting the structure of the globe, disclosed the existence of a world hitherto unknown to civilized society, and awakened among the rival powers of Europe

a bolder spirit of naval enterprize and discovery. Each became ambitious to extend its dominions over the New World, and to enrich its treasury, and each fitted out its expeditions. But in no country were these enterprizes of exploration entered upon with more ardour and alacrity than in England. We have already had occasion to note the circumstances which prevented Henry VII. from becoming the patron of that splendid scheme which discovered the continent of America. When it was proposed to him by the brother of Columbus his sagacious mind comprehended at once the magnificent project, and entered warmly into the designs of its author. The subject became a topic of free conversation in his court, the attention of scientific men was directed towards it, and a spirit of research and inquiry was consequently cultivated. The return of Columbus, his triumphant success, the discovery of a New World, and his fervid and enthusiastic descriptions of the countries in it which he had visited, which even in reality seemed far to surpass the brightest visions of the imagination, roused the attention of the whole kingdom, and the crown readily assented to the application of some of its subjects to embark in a similar enterprize. Her skill in navigation, however, was not now such as to enable England to carry out these purposes. The genius and energy of the nation had been long wasting in fruitless endeavors to subjugate France, and even after this ambition had abated she found herself the prey of internal commotions. For the space of two centuries, while commerce and the mechanic arts were making sure progress in the north and the south of Europe, England had remained almost insensible to the advantages of her position, and looked with indifference on the projects and arts which

have since become her boast, her pride, and her power. While other nations had been promoting the interests of trade and navigation, England had remained inactive, unaltered and unimproved. Her own ships and seamen had not ventured out of sight of her coasts, and were hardly acquainted with the distant ports of Europe.* Such being her condition it became necessary, in order to enter upon the enterprize of exploration, to look to other countries for seamen and navigators. Henry accordingly invested Giovanni Gabot or John Cabot, a Venetian adventurer, then at Bristol, with the chief command of such an expedition. To him and three of his sons, Lewis, Sebastian, and Sanctius, power was given to sail under the flag of England, in any direction, to discover countries as yet unknown to any Christian nation, and to take possession of the same in the name of the crown of England. This commission was dated March 5, 1495; but Cabot did not set sail on the enterprize proposed until May 4, 1497, when he embarked at Bristol, with his son Sebastian, on board of a vessel which was furnished by the crown, accompanied by a squadron of smaller vessels prepared and furnished by a company of merchants of that city. The more immediate aim of this enterprize was to discover a new route to the East Indies, which, as we have before remarked, it was then generally believed could be accomplished by sailing directly westward. The countries which Columbus had discovered were supposed to be a part of the continent of Asia, and the islands adjacent, to belong to the "long chain of Indian islands;" hence the country was called the West Indies, and the inhabitants received the appellation of Indians. In accordance with the prevailing opinion * Bigland. Robertson.

Cabot directed his course due west. After sailing to that point for several weeks he discovered the Island of Newfoundland. A few days afterward he discovered the Island of St. Johns. He landed at each of them, made some observations on the nature of the soil and the climate, took possession of them in the name of the crown of England, and embarked, taking with him three of the natives. Holding his course still to the west he reached the continent of North America, and sailed along the coast from 56° to 38° N. L.—from Labrador to the coast of Virginia. Discovering no inlet which seemed to promise a communication with the Southern or Indian Ocean, he did not land, but, on the twenty-fourth day of June, returned to England without having made any advances towards a conquest or settlement of the country.

If priority of discovery had at this time been regarded as conferring an absolute title in the new country, Henry might have taken advantage of the results of this expedition, to annex this portion of it to his own. dominions. But the return of Cabot found the nation embroiled in a war with a neighbouring Island, while she had scarcely recovered from the civil feuds which had recently convulsed her western provinces. Henry too was at this time too solicitous of retaining the friendship of Ferdinand of Arragon, being engaged in negociating an alliance between his eldest son and Catharine, the daughter of that monarch. He therefore, courteously rather than justly, conceded that the islands and territory which Cabot had discovered might lie within the limits of the very liberal grant made to Ferdinand and Isabella, by Pope Alexander VI.; nor had even kings, in that day, the hardihood or impiety to question the validity of a donative from the See of