able to the great event, which added fuch dia ftinguifhing luftre to their reign. The people whom he brought along with him from the countries which he had difcovered, marched first, and by their fingular complexion, the wild peculiarity of their features, an uncouth finery, appeared like men of another species. Next to them were carried the ornaments of gold, fafhioned by the rude art of the natives, the grains of gold found in the mountains, and duft of the fame metal gathered in the rivers. After thefe appeared the various commodities of the newdifcovered countries, together with their curious productions. Columbus himfelf clofed the proceffion, and attracted the eyes of all the spectators, who gazed with admiration on the extraordinary man, whofe fuperior fagacity and fortitude had conducted their countrymen, by a route concealed from past ages, to the knowledge of a new world. Ferdinand and Ifabella received him clad in their royal robes, and feat. ed upon a throne, under a magnificent canopy. When he approached they ftood up, and raifing him as he kneeled to kiss their hands, commanded him to take his feat upon a chair prepared for him, and to give a circumftantial account of his voyage. He delivered it with a gravity and compofure no lefs fuitable to the difpofition of the Spanish nation, than to the dignity of the audience in which he spoke, and with that modeft fimplicity which characterises

men

men of fuperior minds; who, fatisfied with having performed great actions, court not vain applaufe by an oftentatious difplay of their exploits. When he had finifhed his narration, the king and queen, kneeling down, offered up folemn thanks to almighty God for the difcovery of those new regions, from which they expected fo many advantages to flow in upon the kingdoms fubject to their government e). Every mark of honour that gratitude or admiration could fuggeft was conferred upon Columbus. Letters patent were iffued, confirming to him and to his heirs all the privileges contained in the capitulation concluded at Santa Fé; his family was ennobled; the king and queen, and, after their example, the courtiers treated him, on every occafion, with all the ceremonious refpect paid to perfons of the highest rank. But what pleafed him moft, as it gratified his active mind, bent continually upon great objects, was an order to equip, without delay, an armament of fuch force, as might enable him ot only to take poffeffion of the countries which he had already difcovered, but to go in fearch of those n ore opulent regions, which he fill confidently expected to find f).

See NOTE XVII.

f) Life of Columbus, c. 42. 43.

Herrera, déc. i. lib. ii,

C. 3.

ROBERTSON Vol. I.

K

Aftonifhment of mankind at his difcoveries.

While preparations were making for this expedition, the fame of Columbus fuccefsful voyage fpread over Europe, and excited general attention. The multitude, ftruck with amazement when they heard that a new world had been found, could hardly believe an event fo much above their conception. Men of fcience, capable of comprehending the nature, and of difcerning the effects, of this great discovery, received the account of it with admiration and joy. They spoke of his voyage with rapture, and congratulated one another upon their felicity, in having lived at the period when, by this extraordinary event, the boundaries of human knowledge were fo much extended, and fuch a new field of inquiry and obfervation opened, as would lead mankind to a perfect acquaintance with the ftructure and productions of the habitable globe g). Various opinions and conjectures were formed concerning the new-found countries, and what divifion of the earth they belonged to. Columbus adhered tenacioufly to his original opinion, that they fhould be reckoned a part of thofe vaft regions in Afia, comprehended under the general name of India. This fentiment was confirmed by the obfervations which he made concerning the productions of the countries he had discovered. Gold was

g) P. Mart. epift. 133-155. See NOTE XVIII,

The

known to abound in India, and he had met with
fuch promifing famples of it in the islands which
he vifited, as led him to believe that rich mi-
nes of it might be found. Cotton, another pro-
duction of the Eaft Indies, was common there.
The pimento of the islands he imagined to be a
fpecies of the East Indian pepper. He mistook
a root, fome what refembling rhubarb, for that
valuable drug, which was then fuppofed to be
a plant peculiar to the Eaft Indies h).
birds brought home by him were adorned with
the fame rich plumage which diftinguishes those
of India. The alligator of the one country ap-
peared to be the fame with the crocodile of the
other. After weighing all these circumstances,
not only the Spaniards, but the other nations
of Europe, feem to have adopted the opinion
of Columbus. The countries which he had dif-
covered were confidered as a part of India. In
confequence of this notion, the name of Indies
is gives to them by Ferdinand and Isabella, in
a ratification of their former agreement, which
was granted to Columbus upon his return i).

Diftinguifhed by the name of the Weft Indies.

Even after the error which gave rife to this opinion was detected, and the true pofition of the New World was afcertained, the name has remained, and the appellation of West Indies is

h) Herrera, dec. 1. lib. i. c. 20. i) Life of Columbus, c. 44.

Gomara Hift. c. 17.

given by all the people of Europe to the country, and that of Indians to its inhabitants.

Preparations for a fecond voyage.

The name by which Columbus diftinguished the countries which he had difcovered was fo inviting, the fpecimens of their riches and fertility, which he produced, were fo confiderable, and the reports of his companions, delivered frequently with the exaggeration natural to travellers, fo favourable, as to excite a wonderful fpirit of enterprise among the Spaniards. Though Hittle accustomed to naval expeditions, they were impatient to fet out upon the voyage. Volunteers of every rank folicited to be employed. Allured by the vaft profpects which opened to their ambition and avarice, neither the length nor danger of the navigation intimidated them. Cautious as Ferdinand was, and averfe to every thing new or adventurous, he feems to have catched the fame fpirit with his fubjects. der its influencé, preparations for a fecond expedition were carried on with a rapidity unusual in Spain, and to an extent that would be deemed not inconfiderable in the prefent age. The fleet confifted of feventeen fhips, fome of which were of good burden. It had on board fifteen hundred perfons, among whom were many of noble families, who had ferved in honourable ftations. The greater part of thefe being destined to remain in the country, were furnished

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