years in foreign parts, that his countrymen were unacquainted with his abilities and character; and though a maritime people, were fo little accustomed to diftant voyages, that they could form no just idea of the principles on which he founded his hopes of fuccefs. They inconfiderately rejected his propofal, as the dream of a chimerical projector, and loft for ever the opportunity of restoring their commonwealth to its ancient fplendour'. BOOK II. of Portugal, HAVING performed what was due to his coun- to the king try, Columbus was fo little difcouraged by the repulse which he had received, that, instead of relinquishing his undertaking, he pursued it with fresh ardour. He made his next overture to John II. king of Portugal, in whofe dominions he had been long established, and whom he confi dered, on that account, as having the fecond claim to his fervice. Here every circumstance seemed to promise him a more favourable reception he applied to a monarch of an enterprising genius, no incompetent judge in naval affairs, and proud of patronifing every attempt to discover new countries. His fubjects were the most experienced navigators in Europe, and the least apt to be intimidated either by the 1 Herrera Hift. de las Indias Occid. dec. 1. lib.i. c. vii. novelty II. BOOK novelty or boldness of any maritime expedition. In Portugal, the profeffional fkill of Columbus, as well as his perfonal good qualities, were thoroughly known and as the former rendered it probable that his fcheme was not altogether vifionary, the latter exempted him from the fufpicion of any finifter intention in propofing it. Accordingly, the king listened to him in the moft gracious manner, and referred the confideration of his plan to Diego Ortiz, bishop of Ceuta, and two Jewish physicians, eminent cofmographers, whom he was accustomed to confult in matters of this kind. As in Genoa, ignorance had opposed and disappointed Columbus ; in Lisbon, he had to combat with prejudice, an enemy no less formidable. The perfons, according to whofe decifion his fcheme was to be adopted or rejected, had been the chief directors of the Portuguese navigations, and had advised to fearch for a paffage to India, by fteering a courfe directly oppofite to that which Columbus recommended as fhorter and more certain. They could not, therefore, approve of his proposal, without fubmitting to the double mortification, of condemning their own theory, and of by whom he acknowledging his fuperior fagacity. After teafing him with captious queftions, and starting innumerable objections, with a view of betraying him into fuch a particular explanation of his fyftem, is deceived. fyftem, as might draw from him a full discovery of its nature, they deferred paffing a final judgment with respect to it. In the mean time, they confpired to rob him of the honour and advantages which he expected from the success of his fcheme, advising the king to dispatch a veffel fecretly, in order to attempt the propofed difcovery, by following exactly the course which Columbus feemed to point out. John, forgetting on this occafion the fentiments becoming a monarch, meanly adopted this perfidious counfel. But the pilot chofen to execute Columbus's plan had neither the genius, nor the fortitude of its author. Contrary winds arofe, no fight of approaching land appeared, his courage failed, and he returned to Lisbon, execrating the project as equally extravagant and dangerous". UPON discovering this difhonourable tranfaction, Columbus felt the indignation natural to an ingenuous mind, and in the warmth of his refentment determined to break off all intercourse with a nation capable of such flagrant treachery. He inftantly quitted the kingdom, and landed in Spain towards the close of the year one thousand four hundred and eighty-four. As he was now at liberty to court the protection of Life of Columbus, c. xi. Herrera, dec. 1. lib. i. c. 7. VOL. I. H any BOOK He leaves and repairs to the court Portugal, of Spain. BOOK II. Sends his England. any patron, whom he could engage to approve of his plan, and to carry it into execution, he refolved to propose it in person to Ferdinand and Ifabella, who at that time governed the united kingdoms of Caftile and Aragon. But as he brother into had already experienced the uncertain issue of applications to kings and ministers, he took the precaution of fending into England his brother Bartholomew, to whom he had fully communicated his ideas, in order that he might negociate, at the fame time, with Henry VII. who was reputed one of the most fagacious as well as opulent princes in Europe. Obftacles to his fuccefs in Spain. IT was not without reafon that Columbus entertained doubts and fears with refpect to the reception of his proposals in the Spanish court. Spain was, at that juncture, engaged in a dangerous war with Granada, the last of the Moorish kingdoms in that country. The wary and fufpicious temper of Ferdinand was not formed to relifh bold or uncommon defigns. Ifabella, though more generous and enterprising, was under the influence of her husband in all her actions. The Spaniards had hitherto made no efforts to extend navigation beyond its ancient limits, and had beheld the amazing progrefs of discovery among their neighbours the Portuguefe, without one attempt to imitate or to II. rival them. The war with the Infidels afforded BOOK an ample field to the national activity and love. of glory. Under circumftances fo unfavour able, it was impoffible for Columbus to make rapid progress with a nation, naturally flow and dilatory in forming all its refolutions. His character, however, was admirably adapted to that of the people, whofe confidence and protection he folicited. He was grave, though courteous in his deportment; circumfpect in his words and actions; irreproachable in his morals; and exemplary in his attention to all the duties and functions of religion. By qualities fo refpectable, he not only gained many private friends, but acquired fuch general efteem, that, notwithstanding the plainnefs of his appearance, fuitable to the mediocrity of his fortune, he was not confidered as a mere adventurer, to whom indigence had fuggested a visionary project, but was received as a person to whofe propofitions ferious attention was due. FERDINAND and Ifabella, though fully occu. pied by their operations against the Moors, paid fo much regard to Columbus, as to remit the confideration of his plan to the queen's confeffor, Ferdinand de Talavera. He confulted fuch of his countrymen as were fuppofed beft qualified to decide with refpect to a fubject of this kind. But H 2 His fcheme examined by unskilful judges, |