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I.

BOOK feem to have kept pace with other nations on this fide of the Alps in literary pursuits.

Its fuccefs.

Prince
Henry the

director of
the Portu-
guefe difco-
veries.

1417.

As the genius of the age favoured the execution of that new undertaking, to which the peculiar state of the country invited the Portuguese, it proved fuccessful, The veffels fent on the discovery doubled that formidable Cape, which had terminated the progrefs of former navigators, and proceeded a hundred and fixty miles. beyond it, to Cape Bojador. As its rocky cliffs, which stretched a confiderable way into the Atlantic, appeared more dreadful than the promontory which they had paffed, the Portuguese commanders durft not attempt to fail round it, but returned to Lisbon, more fatisfied with having advanced fo far, than afhamed of having ventured no farther.

INCONSIDERABLE as this voyage was, it in, creased the paffion for discovery, which began to arife in Portugal. The fortunate iffue of the king's expedition against the Moors of Barbary, added ftrength to that spirit in the nation, and pushed it on to new undertakings. In order to render these successful, it was neceffary that they fhould be conducted by a perfon who poffeffed abilities capable of difcerning what was attainable, who enjoyed leifure to form a regular

fyftem

BOOK

1.

fyftem for profecuting discovery, and who was
animated with ardour that would perfevere in -
spite of obstacles and repulfes. Happily for
Portugal, fhe found all thofe qualities in Henry
Duke of Vifeo, the fourth fon of king John by
Philippa of Lancaster, fifter of Henry IV. king
of England. That prince, in his early youth,
having accompained his father in his expedition
to Barbary, distinguished himself by many deeds
of valour. To the martial spirit, which was the
characteristic of every man of noble birth at that
time, he added all the accomplishments of a
more enlightened and polished age. He culti-
vated the arts and fciences, which were then
unknown and defpifed by perfons of his rank.
He applied with peculiar fondness to the study
of geography; and by the inftruction of able
masters, as well as by the accounts of travellers,
he early acquired fuch knowledge of the habit-
able globe, as difcovered the great probability of
finding new and opulent countries, by failing
along the coaft of Africa. Such an object was
formed to awaken the enthusiasm and ardour of
a youthful mind, and he espoused with the ut-
moft zeal the patronage of a defign which
might prove as beneficial, as it appeared to be
fplendid and honourable. In order that he
might pursue this great fcheme without inter-
ruption, he retired from court immediately after

BOOK his return from Africa, and fixed his refidence

1.

at Sagres, near Cape St. Vincent, where the prospect of the Atlantic ocean invited his thoughts continually towards his favourite project, and encouraged him to execute it. In this retreat he was attended by fome of the moft learned men in his country, who aided him in his refearches. He applied for information to the Moors of Barbary, who were accustomed to travel by land into the interior provinces of Africa, in quest of ivory, gold-duft, and other rich commodities. He confulted the Jews fettled in Portugal. By promifes, rewards, and marks of refpect, he allured into his service feveral perfons, foreigners as well as Portuguese, who were eminent for their fkill in navigation. In taking those preparatory steps, the great abilities of the prince were feconded by his private virtues. His integrity, his affability, his refpect for reli gion, his zeal for the honour of his country, engaged perfons of all ranks to applaud his design, and to favour the execution of it. His fchemes were allowed, by the greater part of his countrymen, to proceed neither from ambi tion nor the defire of wealth, but to flow from the warm benevolence of a heart eager to promote the happiness of mankind, and which justly entitled him to affume a motto for his device, that defcribed the quality by which

I.

he wished to be distinguished, the talent of doing BOOK good.

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1418.

His firft effort, as is ufual at the commence- Discovery of ment of any new undertaking, was extremely Porto Saninconfiderable. He fitted out a fingle fhip, and giving the command of it to John Gonzalez Zarco and Tristan Vaz, two gentlemen of his household, who voluntarily offered to conduct the enterprise, he inftructed them to use their utmost efforts to double Cape Bojador, and thence to steer towards the fouth. They, according to the mode of navigation which still prevailed, held their courfe along the fhore; and by following that direction, they must have encountered almoft infuperable difficulties in attempting to pafs Cape Bojador. But fortune came in aid to their want of skill, and prevented the voyage from being altogether fruitless. fudden fquall of wind arose, drove them out to fea, and when they expected every moment to perish, landed them on an unknown island, which from their happy escape they named Porto Santo. In the infancy of navigation, the discovery of this small island appeared a matter of fuch moment, that they inftantly returned to Portugal with the good tidings, and were received by Henry with the applaufe and honour due to fortunate adventurers. This faint dawn

A

of

BOOK

1.

1419.

of fuccefs filled a mind ardent in the purfuit of a favourite object with fuch fanguine hopes as were fufficient incitements to proceed. Next year Henry fent out three fhips under the fame commanders, to whom he joined Bartholomew Pereftrello, in order to take poffeffion of the ifland which they had discovered. When they began to fettle in Porto Santo, they obferved towards the south a fixed spot in the horizon like Of Madeira, a small black cloud. By degrees they were led to conjecture that it might be land, and steering towards it, they arrived at a confiderable island, uninhabited and covered with wood, which on that account they called Madeira". As it was

1420.

Henry's chief object to render his discoveries ufeful to his country, he immediately equipped a fleet to carry a colony of Portuguese to these islands. By his provident care, they were furnished not only with the feeds, plants, and domeftic animals common in Europe; but as he forefaw that the warmth of the climate and fertility of the foil would prove favourable to the' rearing of other productions, he procured flips of the vine from the island of Cyprus, the rich wines of which were then in great request, and plants of the fugar-cane from Sicily, into which "Historical Relation of the first Discovery of Medeira, tranflated from the Portuguese of Fran. Alcafarana, p.15,

&c.

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