which he had been intrusted by his brother; and, notwithstanding Henry's excessive caution and parsimony, which rendered him averse to new and expensive undertakings, he received the overtures of Columbus with more approbation, than any monarch to whom they had hitherto been presented.

28. Columbus, in the meanwhile, unacquainted with his brother's fate, and hopes of succeeding in Spain having vanished, he resolved to visit the court of England in person. He had already made preparations for this purpose, and taken measures for the disposal of his children during his absence, when Juan Perez, the Prior of the monastery of Rabida near Palos, in which they had been educated, earnestly solicited him to defer his journey for a short time. Perez was a man of considerable learning, and of some credit with queen Isabella, to whom he was personally known. Warmly attached to Columbus, and prompted by curiosity or friendship, he entered an accurate examination of his system, in conjunction with a physician, who was a good mathematician.

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29. This investigation satisfied them so thoroughly with respect to the principles upon which Columbus founded his opinion, that Perez, fearing his country would lose the glory and benefit of so grand an enterprise, ventured to write to Isabella, conjuring her to consider the matter again, and with the attention it merited.

30. Isabella was so far moved by this representation, that she desired Perez to repair immediately to the village of Santa Fé, in which, on account of the siege of Granada, the court resided at that time, that she might confer with him upon this important and interesting subject.

31. The first effect of their interview was a gracious invitation of Columbus back to court, accompanied with the present of a small sum to equip himself for the journey. As there was a prospect that the war with the Moors would be speedily brought to a happy issue, by the reduction of Granada, which would leave the nation at liberty to engage in new undertakings; this, as well as the mark of royal favor with which Columbus had lately been honored, encouraged his friends to appear with greater confidence, than formerly, in support of his scheme.

32. Of these, Alonzo de Quintanilla, comptroller of the finances in Castile, and Luis de Santangel, receiver of the ecclesiastical revenues in Arragon, deserve an honorable place in history, on account of their zeal in promoting this great design; these gentlemen introduced Columbus to many persons

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of high rank, and interested them warmly in his cause. dinand's distrustful prudence could not easily be overcome: he considered the project as extravagant and chimerical; and in order at once to destroy the efforts of his partisans, and render them ineffectual, he employed, in the new negotiation, persons who had formerly pronounced his scheme impracticable.

33. To their astonishment, Columbus appeared before them with the same confident hopes of success, as formerly, and insisted upon the same high recompense. He proposed that a small fleet should be fitted out, under his command, to attempt a discovery, and demanded to be appointed perpetual and hereditary admiral and viceroy of all the seas and lands he should discover, and to have the tenth of the profits arising from them, settled irrevocably upon him and his descendants. At the same time he offered to advance the eighth part of the sum necessary, for accomplishing the design, on condition of his enjoying a proportional share of benefit from the adven

ture.

If the enterprise should totally miscarry, he made no stipulation for any reward or emolument whatever.

34. Instead of viewing this last proposition as the clearest evidence of his full persuasion, with respect to the truth of his own system, or being struck with admiration of that magnanimity, which after so many delays and repulses would stoop to nothing inferior to its original claims, the persons with whom Columbus treated, meanly objected to the expense of the expedition, and the value of the reward which he demanded.

35. The expense they affirmed would be too great for Spain, in the present exhausted state of its finances. They contended the honors and emoluments claimed by Columbus, were exorbitant, even if he should perform the utmost of what he had proposed; and that if the expedition should prove abortive, such vast concessions to an adventurer would be deemed inconsiderate and ridiculous.

36. These cautious objections were so consonant with the natural disposition of Ferdinand, that he cordially approved of them; and Isabella, discouraged, declined giving any countenance to Columbus, and abruptly broke off the conference. The mind of Columbus, firm as it was, could hardly support the shock of such an unforeseen reverse. He withdrew in deep anguish from court, with an intention of prosecuting his voyage to England, as his last resource.

37. About that time Granada surrendered, and Ferdinand and Isabella, in triumphal pomp, took possession of a city, the reduction of which rendered them masters of all the provinces

extending from the foot of the Pyrenees to the frontiers of Portugal. Quintanilla and Santangel taking advantage of this favorable event, made another effort in behalf of their friend.

38. They addressed themselves to Isabella, and after expressing their surprise that she, who had always been the liberal patroness of generous undertakings, should hesitate so long to countenance the most splendid scheme that had ever been proposed to any monarch; they represented to her, that Columbus was a man of sound 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 structure of the globe, and the situation of its various regions; and that by offering to risk his own life and fortune in the execution of his scheme, they gave the most satisfying evidence both of his integrity and hope of success; that the sum requisite for equipping such an armament was inconsiderable, and the advantages that might accrue from his undertaking, were immense; that he demanded no recompense for his invention and labor, but what was to arise from the countries which he should discover; that it was worthy of her magnanimity, to make this noble attempt to extend the sphere of hu man knowledge, and to open an intercourse with regions hitherto unknown; that Columbus was on his way to foreign countries, where some prince would close with his proposals, 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.

39. These powerful arguments, urged by persons of such authority, and at a juncture so well chosen, had the desired effect. Isabella's doubts and fears were all dispelled; she ordered Columbus instantly to be recalled, declared her resolution of employing him on his own terms, and regretting the low state of her finances, generously offered to pledge her own jew. els in order to raise as much money as would be wanted for making the necessary preparations for the voyage. Santangel, transported with gratitude, kissed the queen's hand, and rather than she should have recourse to such a mortifying expedient for procuring money, engaged to advance immediately the sum that was requisite.

40. Columbus, ignorant of this change in his favor, had proceeded some leagues on his journey, when the messenger overtook him. Upon receiving the account so flattering to his hopes, he returned directly to Santa Fé, not without some diffi dence mingled with his joy, But the cordial reception which

he met with from Isabella, together with the near prospect of setting out upon that voyage which had so long engrossed his thoughts and wishes, soon effaced the remembrance of past sufferings, during eight years of tedious solicitation and anxious suspense.

41. The negotiation now went on with facility and dispatch; and a treaty with Columbus was signed on the seventeenth of April, 1492. The chief articles of it were:

ART. 1. Ferdinand and Isabella, as sovereigns of the ocean, constituted Columbus their high-admiral in all the seas, islands, and continents, which should be discovered by his industry; and stipulated, that he, and his heirs for ever, should enjoy this office, with the same powers and prerogatives, which belonged to the high-admiral of Castile, within the limits of his jurisdiction.

ART. 2. They appointed Columbus their viceroy in all the islands and continents 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 countries, they authorized Columbus to name three persons of whom they would choose one for that office; and the dignity of viceroy, with all its immunities, was likewise to be hereditary in the family of Columbus.

ART. 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.

ART. 4. They declared, that if any controversy or law-suit should arise with respect to any mercantile transaction, in the countries which might be discovered, it should be determined by the sole authority of Columbus, or of judges to be appointed by him.

ART. 5. They permitted Columbus to advance one-eighth part of what should be expended in preparing for the expedition, and in carrying on commerce with the countries which he should discover; and entitled him in return to an eighth part of the profit.

42. Notwithstanding the name of Ferdinand appears joined with that of Isabella in this transaction, his distrust of Columbus was so violent, that he refused to take any part in the enterprise, as king of Arragon. As the whole expense of the expedition, excepting the part Columbus was to furnish, was defrayed by the crown of Castile, Isabella reserved for her subjects of that kingdom, an exclusive right to all the benefits which might redound from its success.

43. When the treaty was signed, Isabella endeavored to make some reparation to Columbus for the time he had lost in fruitless solicitation, by her attention and activity in forwarding the preparations.

44. By the twelfth of May, all that depended on her was adjusted; and Columbus waited on the king and queen, in order to receive their final instructions. Every thing respecting the destination and conduct of the voyage was committed entirely to his wisdom and prudence. But that they might avoid giving any just cause of offence to the king of Portugal, they strictly enjoined him not to approach near to the Portuguese settlements on the coast of Guinea; nor to any of the other countries, to which they claimed right as discoverers.

45. The ships, of which Columbus was to take the command, were ordered by Isabella to be fitted out in the port of Palos, a small maritime town in the province of Andalusia. The prior, Juan Perez, to whom Columbus had been so greatly indebted, resided in the neighborhood of this place; he, by the influence of that good ecclesiastic, as well as by his own connexion with the inhabitants, not only raised among them what he wanted of the sum that he was bound by treaty to advance, but engaged several of them to accompany him in the voyage. The chief of these associates were three brothers of the name of Pinzon, of considerable wealth, and of great experience in naval affairs, who were willing to hazard their lives and fortunes in the enterprise.

46. But, notwithstanding all the endeavors and efforts of Isabella and Columbus, the armament was not suitable to the dignity of the nation by which it was equipped, or to the importance of the service for which it was destined. It consisted of three vessels only; the largest, a ship of no considerable burden, was commanded by Columbus, as admiral, who gave it the name of Santa Maria, out of respect to the Blessed Virgin, whom he honored with singular respect. Of the second, called the Pinta, Martin Alonzo Pinzon was captain, and his brother Francis, pilot. The third, named the Nigna, was under the command of Vincent Yanez Pinzon: those two were hardly superior in burden and force to large boats.

47. This squadron, if it merits the name, was victualled for twelve months, and had on board ninety men, chiefly sailors, together with a few adventurers, who followed the fortune of Columbus, and some gentlemen of Isabella's court, whom she appointed to accompany him. Though the expense of the undertaking was one of the circumstances that chiefly alarmed