All these pretended proofs of any previous knowledge of the western
world, resolve into complete demonstrations of perfect ignorance, even in
the art of deception and forgery. Not only is the world indebted to
COLUMBUS for this great and brilliant discovery, but every subsequent
improvement in navigation, geography and hydrography, is justly
attributable to his illustrious example. Much and deservedly as our COOK
and his coadjutors and followers have merited from their country and the
world, they are all to be considered as pupils of the truly great
archnavigator COLUMBUS; himself a worthy scholar from the nautical academy
of the truly illustrious and enlightened father of discoveries, DON HENRY.
All other discoveries, whether nautical or by land, dwindle into mere
ordinary events, when compared with his absolutely solitary exertion of
previous scientific views. The sagacious and almost prophetic induction,
persevering ardour, cosmographical, nautical, and astronomical skill,
which centered in COLUMBUS, from the first conception to the perfect
completion of this great and important enterprize, the discovery of a
large portion of the globe which had lain hid for thousands of years from
the knowledge of civilization and science, is altogether unexampled. He
was incontestibly the first bold and scientific mariner who ever dared to
launch out into the trackless ocean, trusting solely to the guidance of
the needle and the stars, and to his own transcendent skill and
intrepidity.
There can be no doubt that Greenland, in some measure an appendage of
America, was discovered in 982, by the Norwegians or their Icelandic
colony; and that the same people accidentally fell in with Newfoundland,
or a part of Labradore, in 1003; of which early real discoveries
particular notices have been taken in the first part of this work. But
these were entirely accidental, and were lost to the world long before
COLUMBUS began his glorious career; and do not in the least degree detract
from the merit or originality of his discovery.
The name even of the great COLUMBUS has of late been fastidiously
endeavoured to be rejected, in favour of the Spanish appellation Colon,
which he adopted on entering into that service, which repaid him with base
ingratitude and cruel injuries for his transcendent services. It will be
seen, however, from the authority of his own son, that the original name
of his family was Colombi; though some branches in other parts of Italy
had adopted the modern or middle age Roman name of Collona. COLUMBUS,
therefore, ought certainly to remain in our language as the Latinized
original name of this illustrious person.
In supplement to the history of Columbus by his son, we have chosen to
give an account of the first Discovery of America, by Herrera the royal
historiographer of Spain. To some readers this may appear superfluous: But,
as Don Ferdinand Columbus may naturally enough be supposed to have
written under a degree of partial attachment to the glory of his immortal
father, it seems fortunate that we possess an authentic early history of
the same unparalleled event, from a more certainly impartial and well
informed author, having access to the public archives. That portion of our
work is given as an original record, almost without any remark; leaving it
to the ingenious industry of such of our readers as may be so disposed, to
make a critical comparison between the work of Don Ferdinand Columbus, a
rare and valuable monument of filial piety, and that of Antonio de
Herrera. We have only to regret, that the transcendent genius, who
possessed the unexampled sagacity to devise, and the singular good
fortune, perseverance, capacity, and conduct, to succeed in Discovering
the Western Hemisphere, had not sufficient health and leisure to have
favoured the world with his own commentaries of this greatest
enterprise that was ever achieved by man. - Ed.
* * * * *
Abridged Series of the Epochs of American Discovery[2].
A.D. 982. East Greenland discovered by the Norwegians or Icelanders, who
planted a small colony. This was long afterwards shut in by the
accumulation of arctic ice, and entirely lost.
1003. Winland, either Newfoundland or Labradore, was discovered by the
Icelanders, but soon abandoned and forgotten.
1492, August 3d. COLUMBUS commenced his first voyage. 12th October
discovered Guanahani, one of the Bahama group, which he named St
Salvador, now named Cat Island. In this voyage, besides several others
of the Bahama islands, he discovered Cuba and Hispaniola, leaving a
colony in the latter, which was cut off by the natives. He returned to
Spain from this voyage on the 4th March 1493.
1494, September 25th. Second voyage of COLUMBUS began; in which he
discovered the Carribbee islands, and founded a permanent colony in
Hispaniola or Haiti. He returned from this voyage in 1496.
1497. Giovanni Gabotta, a Venetian, employed by Henry VII. of England,
discovered Newfoundland, and traced the eastern coast of North America
as far south as Virginia.
1498. Third voyage of COLUMBUS, in which he discovered Trinidad and the
coast of Paria in South America; now called the Spanish Main by the
English. He was sent home in irons from Hispaniola in 1500.
1499. Ojeda was sent from Spain to interfere with the great privileges
granted to COLUMBUS; but did very little more than retrace some of his
previous discoveries. In this voyage, as already mentioned, Ojeda was
accompanied by Americus Vespucius, who usurped the right of giving the
New World his own name America, which still continues universal.
1500. Cabral, a Portuguese admiral, while on a voyage to India,
accidentally discovered Brazil.
In this year likewise, Corte de Real, a Portuguese navigator,
discovered Labradore, while in search of a north-west passage to India.
1502. Fourth, voyage of COLUMBUS, in which he discovered the
continental coast, from Honduras to near the Isthmus of Darien.
