parate governor in any of thofe countries, 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 likewise 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 difcover. 4. They declared, that if any controverfy or law-fuit fhall arife with respect to any mercantile tranfaction in the countries which fhould be difcovered, it fhould 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 fhould be expended in preparing for the expedition, and in carrying on commerce with the countries which he should discover, and intitled him, in return to an eighth part of the profit p).

(1492). Though the name of Ferdinand appears conjoined with that of Ifabella in this tranfaction, his diftruft of Columbus was still fo violent. that he refused to take any part in the enterprise, as king of Aragon. As the whole expence of the expedition was to be defrayed by the crown of Castile, Ifabella referved for her fubjects of that kingdom an exclufive right

p) Life of Columbus, c. 15, Herrera, dec. 1. lib. I. c. 9.

to all the benefits which might redound from its fuccefs.

The preparations for his voyage.

As foon as the treaty was figned, Isabella, 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 loft 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 and conduct of the voyage, they committed implicitly to the difpofal of his prudence. But, that they might avoid giving any just 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, nor 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 small maritime town in the province of Andalufia. As the guardian Juan Perez, to whom Columbus had 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 advance, 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 fuitable either to the dignity of the nation by which it was equipped, or to the importance of the fervice for which it was deftined. It confifted of three veffels. The largest, a ship of no confiderable burden, was commanded by Columbus, as admiral, who gave it the name of Santa Maria, out of respect 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. (1492) 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 victualed for twelve months, and had on board failors, together with a few adventurers who followed the fortune of Columbus, and fome gentlemen of Ifabella's court, whom fhe appointed to accompany him. Though the expence of the undertaking was one of the circumftances which chiefly alarmed the court of Spain,

ninety men, moftly

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 fhip - building in the fifteenth century was extremely rude, and the bulk of veffels was accommodated to the fhort and eafy voyages along the coaft which they were accustomed 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 distant 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 circumftance that would have intimidated a mind lefs adventurous. He pushed forward. the preparations with fuch ardour, and was feconded fo effectually by the persons to whom Ifabella committed the fuperintendence of this business, that every thing was foon in readinefs 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 Chriftian faith, without imploring publickly the guidance and protection of Heaven. With this view, he, together with all the perfons under his com

mand, marched in folemn proceffion to the monaftery of Rabida. After confeffing their fins, and obtaining absolution, they received the holy facrament from the hands of the guardian, who joined his prayers to theirs for the fuccefs of an enterprife which he had fo zealoufly patronized.

His departure from Spain.

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 presence 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. 1492. Columbus fteered directly for the Canary Islands, and arrived there without any occurrence that would have deferved notice on any other occafion. 13 Auguft. But, in a voyage of fuch expectation and importance, every circumftance was the object of attention. The rudder of the Pinta broke loofe, the day after fhe left the harbour, and that accident alarmed the crew, no lefs fuperftitious than unfkilful, as a certain omen of the unfortunate deftiny of the expedition. Even in the fhort run to the Canaries, the fhips 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 re