proached them with great awe, and making signs of adoration. They supposed that the ships had sailed out of the crystal firmament which bounded their h...ızon, or that they had descended from above on their ample wings, and that these marvellous strangers were inhabitants of the skies. Columbus distributed among them glass beads, hawks' bells, and other trifles, which they received as inestimable gifts.

Having explored the Island of Guanahani, Columbus. set sail in quest of an opulent country to the south, where, as he understood the natives, a king resided of such immense wealth, that he was served in vessels of gold, and which Columbus now concluded to be the desired Cipango, which, from the first, he had expected to arrive at. Such were his hopes when, after discovering several of the Bahamas, he fell in with the Island of Cuba, which answered none of his expectations. He afterwards discovered Hayti, or St Domingo, which he named Hispaniola. On his voyage to this island, Martin Alonzo Pinzon parted company, having deserted him, as it afterwards appeared, with the intention of enriching himself by plunder, and of hastening back to Spain in order to obtain the glory of announcing the success of the expedition, or of claiming the honour of the discovery. For this conduct he afterwards felt so deeply, that on his unwelcome reception in Spain, he shortly after died a victim to grief and repentance. On the coast of Hayti Columbus lost one of his vessels, and here, at the entreaties of some of his people, he planted a colony. After cruising about for some time, he set sail on his return to Spain, and after a very stormy voyage arrived at Lisbon. Having paid his respects to the King of Portugal, he again set sail, and on the 4th of March, 1493, arrived at Palos.

The triumphant return of Columbus was a prodigious event in the little community of Palos. Many had lamented their friends as lost, while imagination had lent mysterious horrors to their fates. When, therefore, they beheld the adventurous vessel of Columbus furling her sails in their harbour, from the discovery of a world, the whole community broke forth into a transport of joy, the belis were rung, the shops shut, and all business suspended. On landing, wherever Columbus passed the air rang with

acclamations, and he received such honours as are paid to sovereigns. What a contrast was this to his departure a few months before, followed by inurmurs and execrations! or rather, what a contrast to his first arrival at Palos, a poor pedestrian, craving bread and water for his child at the gate of a convent!

On despatching a letter to the sovereigns, he received an answer urging him to repair immediately to court, then residing at Barcelona. The journey of Columbus to this place was like the progress of a sovereign. Wherever he passed, the surrounding country poured forth its inhabitants, who rent the air with acclamations. In the large towns, the streets, windows, and balconies, were filled with spectators, eager to gain a sight of him and of the Indians whom he carried with him, who were regarded with as much astonishment as if they had been natives of another planet. His entrance into the city of Barcelona was compared to a Roman triumph. Before him were paraded six Indians, painted according to their savage fashion, and decorated with their ornaments of gold-birds and animals of unknown species, and Indian coronets, bracelets, and other golden decorations. After this followed Columbus on horseback, surrounded by a brilliant cavalcade of Spanish chivalry. The streets were almost impassable from the multitude; the houses, even to the very roofs, were crowded with spectators. It seemed as if the public eye could not be sated with gazing at these trophies of an unknown world, or at the remarkable man by whom it had been discovered. To receive him with suitable distinction, the sovereigns had ordered their throne to be placed in public, under a rich canopy of brocade of gold, where they awaited his arrival, seated in state, surrounded by their principal nobility. Columbus arrived in their presence, accompanied by a brilliant crowd of cavaliers, among whom, we are told, he was conspicuous for his stately and commanding form, which, with his venerable gray hairs, gave him the august appearance of a senator of Rome. A modest smile lighted up his countenance, showing that he enjoyed the state and glory in which he came; and certainly nothing could be more deeply moving to a mind inflamed by noble ambition, and conscious of having nobly deserved, than these testimoninis

of the admiration and gratitude of a nation, or rather of a world. On his approach, the sovereigns rose, as if receiving a person of the highest rank. Bending on his knees, he would have kissed their hands in token of vassalage, but they raised him in the most gracious manner, and ordered him to seat himself in their presence; a rare honour in this proud and punctilious court.

He now gave an account of the most striking events of his voyage, and displayed the various productions and the native inhabitants that he had brought from the new world. He assured their majesties that all these were but harbingers of greater discoveries, which would add realms of incalculable wealth to their dominions, and whole nations of proselytes to the true faith.

When Columbus had finished, the king and queen sank on their knees, raised their hands to heaven, and, with eyes filled with tears of joy and gratitude, poured forth thanks and praises to God. All present followed their example; a deep and solemn enthusiasm pervaded that splendid assembly, and prevented all common acclamations of triumph. The anthem of Te Deum laudamus, chanted by the choir of the royal chapel, with the melodious accompaniments of instruments, rose up from the midst in a full body of harmony, bearing up, as it were, the feelings and thoughts of the auditors to heaven. Such was the solemn and pious manner in which the brilliant court of Spain celebrated this sublime event; offering up a grateful tribute of melody and praise, and giving glory to God for the discovery of another world.

II.-Life of Columbus continued.

THE joy occasioned by this great discovery was not confined to Spain; the whole civilized world was filled with wonder and delight. Men of learning and science shed tears of joy, and those of ardent imaginations indulged in the most extravagant and delightful dreams. Notwithstanding all this triumph, however, no one had an idea of the real importance of the discovery. The opinion of Columbus was universally adopted, that Cuba was the end of the Asiatic continent, and that the adjacent islands

1

were in the Indian seas. They were called, therefore, the West Indies; and as the region thus discovered appeared of indefinite extent, and existing in a state of nature, it was denominated "the New World."

By the indefatigable exertions of Columbus, a fleet of seventeen sail was soon prepared, with which he departed on a second voyage of discovery, on the 25th of September 1493. After touching at the Canary Islands, he shaped his course towards the south-west, and on the 2d of November a lofty island was discovered, to which, as being Sunday, he gave the name of Dominica. Sailing onwards, he discovered Guadaloupe, Santa Cruz, and other of the Caribbean Islands, and at length, on the 27th of November, he anchored opposite the settlement he had founded on the coast of Hispaniola. As it was at night, he ordered two signal guns to be fired, but there was no gun or friendly shout in reply. He soon learned that the settlers had fallen victims to their avaricious and tyrannical conduct towards the natives, and to their quarrels among themselves. He now founded a city in another situation, to which he gave the name of Isabella. Discase, however, soon made its appearance; the hardships necessarily attendant upon a new colony created discontent, and the scarcity of gold, expected to be found readily and in abun dance, was a serious disappointment. Murmurs were therefore heard, and even a conspiracy was formed to seize some of the vessels and to return to Spain. This he repressed, while the punishment of the ringleaders only increased the clamour against him. He likewise defeated some of the Indian chiefs, who had entered into a confederacy against him, and followed up his easy-won victory by exacting tribute from the vanquished provinces. During this voyage he again visited Cuba and Jamaica, and also sent expeditions into the interior of Hispaniola in search of gold, but with no very great success. In the meantime, his enemies, supported by the idlers and discontented who had returned to Spain, boldly accused him of deceiving the sovereigns by the description of the countries he had discovered. Columbus therefore resolved to return to vindicate his character; and accordingly leaving his brotherBartholomew in command of the island, he sailed for Spain, where he arrived on the 11th of June 1496.

Columbus was again received by the sovereigns with distinguished favour, and another fleet was promised to be got ready for a third voyage, in which he might extend his discoveries. However, from the low state of the royal treasury, and the difficulties thrown in his way by his enemies in office, it was not till the 20th of May 1498, that Columbus set sail. In this voyage, directing his course more to the south, the first land he descried was the Island of Trinidad, or the Trinity, which he so named from seeing three mountains rising above the horizon. After coasting this island, he explored the great Gulf of Paria, where he obtained great quantities of pearls from the natives. He afterwards reconnoitred the coast to the westward, and having convinced himself of its being a continent, he steered for the settlement at Hispaniola, which he found involved in faction and rebellion, with all their consequent miseries. While involved in a series of difficulties in reestablishing his authority, his enemies were too successful in undermining his reputation at the court of Spain. They represented his character and conduct in the most odious point of view, and even alleged that he intended to cast off all allegiance to Spain, and either to make himself sovereign of the countries he had discovered, or to yield them into the hands of some other power; a slander which, however extravagant, was calculated to startle the jealous mind of Ferdinand. They at length succeeded by their influence, and the incessant repetition of falsehood, in obtaining a commissioner to be sent out to investigate the conduct of Columbus, and, if necessary, to supersede him in command. Bobadilla, the officer so empowered, on arriving at St Domingo, was informed of the punishments inflicted upon the rebels, some of them men of good family, and on entering the river beheld the bodies of two Spaniards hanging on a gibbet as an example; circumstances which he considered as conclusive proofs of the alleged cruelty of Columbus. In fact, before he landed, if not before he arrived, the culpability of Columbus was decided in his mind, and he acted accordingly. Having enlisted the popular clamour on his side, he, without even the semblance of a judicial inquiry, deposed Columbus, and completed the indignity by sending him home to Spain in chains. His arrival at Cadiz produced a general burst of indig