with his mother-in-law, who gave him the privilege of examining the papers, charts, journals, and memorandums, of her deceased husband. These made Columbus acquainted with many important facts and suggestions, touching the great enterprise, in which the Portuguese were, at that time, engaged, viz. the discovery of a passage to the East Indies, by doubling the southern extremity of Africa.

To a mind inquisitive and enterprising like that of Columbus, this subject was invested with the deepest interest and importance; and the more he read and reflected upon the figure of the earth, the stronger was his belief, not merely that a western passage to India was practicable; but that whoever should be sufficiently enterprising to navigate the Atlantic, by sailing due west, must meet with a large body of land, which might be an extension of the continent of India, designed to balance the lands lying in the eastern hemisphere.

In this latter opinion, he was strengthened by various discoveries in the Atlantic: such as pieces of carved wood; trunks of huge pine-trees, &c., which had been noticed, af ter long westerly winds; but, especially, by the well established fact, that the bodies of two men had been cast upon one of the Azore islands, whose features differed from those of any known race of people.

Having matured the plan of a voyage, with the above object in view, he first offered to sail under the patronage of the Portuguese; but, being disappointed in this application, and despairing of assistance from Henry VII. of England, to whom he had sent his brother Bartholomew, but who, being captured, did not reach England for some time, he repaired to Genoa, and offered to sail under the auspices of that republic. Finding, however, his native state not in a situation favorable to such an undertaking, he next repaired to Spain.

By what route, or by what means, Columbus reached Spain, is uncertain. The first trace we have of him, in this country, is as a stranger, on foot, and in humble guise, stopping at the gate of the convent of Santa Maria de Rabida, not far from the little seaport of Palos, and asking of the porter a little bread and water for a child-his son Diego, whom his deceased wife had left to him. While receiving this humble refreshment, the prior of the convent, happening to pass by, was struck with the appearance of the stranger, and observing from his air and accent that he was a foreigner, entered into conversation with him, and soon learned the particulars of his story.

The prior was a man of extensive information, and entered warmly into the views and plans of Columbus. Through his influence, the enterprising navigator was, at length, enabled to lay his plans before Ferdinand and Isabella, then on the united thrones of Castile and Arragon.

These sovereigns were, at this time, engaged in the conquest of the Moors. For a time, they were too much occupied to give to his views that consideration which they required; and when, at length, they were sufficiently at leisure to order commissioners to enter into an arrangement with Columbus, his terms were deemed so extravagant, that all negotiation was broken off.

A friend to Columbus, who was satisfied of the practicability of his plans, and who knew, that, mortified and disgusted, he was already on his way out of the kingdom, hastily repaired to the queen, and to her represented the great disgrace which would come upon the crown, if the proposal of Columbus was rejected. He stated his liberal offer to bear an eighth of the expense, and informed her, that all the requisites for this great enterprise consisted but of two vessels, and about three thousand crowns. For a time, the queen hesitated, but, at length, with an enthusiasm worthy of herself, and of the cause, exclaimed, “I undertake the enterprise, for my own crown of Castile; and will pledge my private jewels to raise the necessary funds." A messenger_was now immediately dispatched, to recall Columbus. Fortunately, he overtook him, before he had left the kingdom. Thus summoned back, he returned to court; soon after which an arrangement, satisfactory to himself, was effected with the sovereigns-the necessary funds were advanced, and a fleet, consisting of three small vessels, was, at no distant time, in a state of readiness for the voyage. Two of these were light barks, called caravals, not superior to river and coasting craft of more modern days. These were open, without deck in the centre, but built up high at the prow and stern, with forecastles and cabins for the accommodation of the crew. The names of these vessels were the Pinta and Nina. The ship of Columbus was decked, and of larger dimensions. She was called the Santa Maria. On board this fleet were ninety mariners, together with various private adventurers-in all, one hundred and twenty persons.

On Friday, the 3d of August, 1492, early in the morning, the squadron of Columbus set sail from Palos, steering in a southwesterly direction for the Canary islands, from whence

it was his intention to strike due west. At these islands he was detained for the space of three weeks, in consequence of an accident which befell the rudder of the Pinta. Sailing thence, they stretched due west, for the unknown parts of the Atlantic. This was an interesting period of their voyage. On losing sight of this last trace of land, the hearts of the crews failed them. They seemed literally to have taken leave of the world. Behind them was every thing dear to the heart of man; country, family, friends, life itself: before them every thing was chaos, mystery, and peril. In the perturbation of the moment, they despaired of ever more seeing their homes. Many of the rugged seamen shed tears, and some broke into loud lamentations. The admiral tried in every way to soothe their distress, and to inspire them with his own glorious anticipations."

Passing over many interesting incidents in their outward voyage the storms and tempests which they encounteredthe delusive appearances of land-their hopes and their fears their high wrought excitement, and then their deep dejection-the murmurs, and even mutinous spirit of the crew, and the happy expedients of Columbus to raise their courage, and to keep burning within them the spirit of the enterprise-we arrive at the 11th of October, at which time the indications of land were so strong, that, at night, Columbus ordered a double watch; on the forecastle of each vessel, and promised to the first discoverer of the long-looked for land, a doublet of velvet, in addition to the pension of thirty crowns, which had been offered by Ferdinand and Isabella.

"The greatest animation now prevailed throughout the ships; not an eye was closed that night. As evening dark ened, Columbus took his station on the top of the castle or cabin, on the high poop of his vessel. However he might carry a cheerful and confident countenance during the day, It was to him a time of the most painful anxiety; and now, when he was wrapped by the shades of night from observation, he maintained an intense and unremitting watch, ranging his eye along the dusky horizon, in search of the most vague indication of land. Suddenly, about ten o'clock, he thought he beheld a light glimmering at a distance. Fearing that his eager hopes might deceive him, he called to Pedro Gutierrez, gentleman of the king's bedchamber, and demanded whether he saw a light in that direction; the latter replied in the affirmative. Columbus, yet doubtful whether it might not be some delusion of the fancy, called Roderigo Sanchez, of Segovia, and made the inquiry, By