ས་ íí. 1493. after their example, the courtiers, treated him, BOOK on every occafion, with all the ceremonious respect paid to perfons of the highest rank. But what pleased him most, 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 not only to take poffeffion of the countries which he had already discovered, but to go in search of those more opulent regions, which he still confidently expected to find. WHILE preparations were making for this expedition, the fame of Columbus's 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 in the period when, by this extraordinary event, the boundaries of human knowledge were fo much extended, and f Life of Columbus, c. 42, 43. Herrera, dec. 1. lib. ii, £. 3. fuch Aftonishmankind at veries. ment of his difco II. 1493: BOOK fuch a new field of inquiry and obfervation opened, as would lead mankind to a perfect acquaintance with the structure and productions of the habitable globe. Various opinions and conjectures were formed concerning the newfound countries, and what divifion of the earth they belonged to, Columbus adhered tena cioufly to his original opinion, that they should be reckoned a part of those vast regions in Afia, comprehended under the general name of India. This fentiment was confirmed by the obferv. ations which he made concerning the productions of the countries he had difcovered. Gold was known to abound in India, and he had met with fuch promifing famples of it in the iflands which he vifited, as led him to believe that rich mines of it might be found, Cotton, another production of the Eaft Indies, was common there. The pimento of the islands he imagined to be a fpecies of the Eaft-Indian pepper. He miftook a root, fomewhat refembling rhubarb, for that valuable drug, which was then fuppofed to be a plant peculiar to the Eaft Indies". The birds brought home by him were adorned with the fame rich plumage which, diftinguishes thofe of India. The alligator of the P. Mart. epift. 133, 134, 135. See NOTE XVIII. Gomera Hift. c. 17. one II. 1493. one country appeared to be the fame with the BOOK crocodile of the other. After weighing all thefe circumstances, not only the Spaniards, but the other nations of Europe, feem to have adopted the opinion of Columbus. The countries which he had difcovered were confidered as a part of India. In confequence of this notion, the name of Indies is given to them by Ferdinand and Ifabella, in a ratification of their former agreement, which was granted to Columbus upon his return. 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 given by all the people of Europe to the country, and that of Indians to its inhabitants. THE name by which Columbus diftinguished the countries which he had discovered 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 spirit of enterprise among the Spaniards. Life of Columbus, c. 44. Diftinthe name of guished by the West Indies. Preparafecond tions for a voyage. Though II. 1493 BOOK Though little accustomed to naval expeditions', they were impatient to fet out upon the voyage. Volunteers of every rank folicited to be employed. Allured by the inviting prospects which opened to their ambition and avarice, neither the length nor danger of the navigation intimidated them. Cautious as Ferdinand was, and averse to every thing new or adventurous, he seems to have catched the fame fpirit with his fubjects. Under its influence, preparations for a fecond expedition were carried on with rapidity unufual 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 stations. The greater part of these being deftined to remain in the country, were furnished with every thing requifite for conquest. or fettlement, with all kinds of European domeftic animals, with fuch feeds and plants as were most likely to thrive in the climate of the Weft Indies, with utenfils and inftruments of every fort, and with fuch artificers as might be most useful in an infant colony *. Herrera, dec. 1. lib. ii. c. 5. r Life of Columbus, c. 45. 1493. The right of Spain to the confirmed New World BUT, formidable and well-provided as this BOOK fleet was, Ferdinand and Isabella did not reft their title to the poffeffion of the newly-difcovered countries upon its operations alone. The example of the Portuguese, as well as the fuperftition of the age, made it neceffary to obtain by the Pope. from the Roman pontiff a grant of those territories which they wished to occupy. The Pope, as the vicar and reprefentative of Jefus Chrift, was fuppofed to have a right of dominion over all the kingdoms of the earth. Alexander VI. a pontiff infamous for every crime which difgraces humanity, filled the papal throne at that time. As he was born Ferdinand's fubject, and very folicitous to fecure the protection of Spain, in order to facilitate the execution of his ambitious schemes in favour of his own family, he was extremely willing to 'gratify the Spanish monarchs. By an act of liberality which coft him nothing, and that ferved to establish the jurifdiction and pretenfions of the papal fee, he granted in full right to Ferdinand and Isabella all the countries inhabited by Infidels, which they had discovered, or fhould discover; and, in virtue of that power which he derived from Jefus Chrift, he conferred on the crown of Caftile vaft regions, to the poffeffion of which he himself was fo far from having any title, that he was unacquainted with their situation, and ignorant |