to have the honour of sending forth the discoverer of the New World.

On the western coast of the province of Andalusia, in Spain, on the shores of the Mediterranean

DEPARTURE OF COLUMBUS FROM PALOS.

Sea, lies the small sea-port of Palos de Moguer. At the time of which we are speaking, there stood, a short distance from it, at Rabida, an ancient convent of Franciscan friars, dedicated to the Virgin. One evening a stranger on foot, accompanied by a little boy, stopped at the gate of the convent, and begged for some bread and water for his child. There was something in the appearance of the traveller which attracted the attention of the prior, or superior of the convent, Friar Juan

Perez de Marchena, who was passing by at that moment, and he entered into conversation with him. Columbus, for it was he, told the Prior that he was on his way to a neighbouring town to visit a relation, and in a few words gave him the particulars of his history and of his great project. The Prior, who was a clever, well-informed man, quickly perceived the grandeur of Columbus' views, and, detaining him as his guest, sent for a scientific friend, Garcia Fernandez, the physician of Palos, with whom to take counsel; and in the shade of the quiet cloisters of the convent the three men discussed the plan together. After much talk, his friends recommended Columbus to lay his proposition before the crown of Spain, and the prior gave him a letter of introduction to Fernando de Talavera, confessor to the queen, with whom he was well acquainted. At the same time he showed the real friendliness that he felt towards· Columbus by undertaking to educate his young son at the convent.

The kingdom of Spain was at this period in a most flourishing condition. The country, with the exception of the southern province of Granada, which was in the possession of the Moors, had recently been united under one sceptre, by the marriage of Ferdinand King of Aragon to Isabella Queen of Castile; and Spain, for the first time, had taken her place as one of the principal powers of Europe. The two sovereigns, who were warmly attached to each other, were possessed of more

than ordinary abilities; but Ferdinand, with all his talents, was cold, selfish, and ambitious, and of a most artful and designing character, while Isabella was of a noble and generous mind, possessed of strong religious feeling, and devoted to the good of her people. Unfortunately for Columbus, the Spanish sovereigns were then occupied with the conquest of the Moors, whom they were determined to drive out of Spain; and when Columbus arrived at Cordova, where they were residing, he found it impossible to obtain even a hearing. His letter of recommendation to the confessor proved of little use, for the latter would have nothing to say to him, and no one gave ear to the poor, unknown stranger. Columbus, however, was not easily discouraged. He remained at Cordova for some months, supporting himself by designing maps and charts, and gradually he gained a few friends, and was introduced to the celebrated Cardinal de Mendoza, one of the most important persons at court. To him Columbus unfolded

his views at some length. Pleased with his noble and earnest manner, which carried with it a conviction of truth, the cardinal listened with atten- . tion, and, entering into his plans, procured him an interview with the sovereigns.

Columbus appeared before Ferdinand and Isabella with modesty, yet with self-possession; for he felt himself, as he afterwards declared in his letters, "an instrument in the hand of Heaven to accomplish its grand designs." Ferdinand,

with his accustomed penetration, perceived the glory that the proposed discoveries would shed upon Spain, and the advantages that might accrue from them, and lent a favourable ear to Columbus. Like the King of Portugal, he determined to take the opinion of the most learned men of the country on the subject, and for this purpose he called together the Council of Salamanca. Before this assembly, which was principally composed of dignitaries of the church,—for at that time learning was chiefly confined to religious orders,-Columbus appeared, but only to encounter prejudice and ridicule. In vain he refuted the objections of the council, and cited his own experience, and the works of ancient writers, to prove the truth of his argument. The members of the council laughed at his speculations, and especially at his idea that the earth was round, and, in their turn, quoted the ancient writers, and even texts from Scripture, to prove that he was mistaken. As the discussion proceeded, Columbus became more eloquent and fervent, and his mind enkindling with religious zeal, he cast away his maps and his scientific arguments, and poured forth upon his opponents other texts of Scripture, particularly the mysterious words of the prophets, foretelling, as he imagined, the grand discoveries which Heaven had destined him to make known to the world. But it was all in vain he failed to overcome the ignorance and narrow-mindedness of the council, who, after keeping him for some time in un

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certainty, returned an unfavourable report of his propositions to the king. Ferdinand, however, still delayed giving him an answer, and even gave him a kind of silent encouragement, by making him an allowance to defray his expenses, and Columbus lingered on at court for some time, till at last, tired of waiting, he made another application to the sovereigns. Again he was doomed to be disappointed, for Ferdinand and Isabella were too much engrossed with the conquest of Granada to attend to his suit, and, after a further delay, he received for a final answer that the expenses and cares of the war were too great to allow of their engaging in any new enterprise, though possibly, at a future period, when the war was over, they might be inclined to treat with him.

Indignant and disappointed, Columbus left the court, and after making application to two or three powerful Spanish noblemen with equal unsuccess, returned to the convent of La Rabida, having wasted seven years of his life in these fruitless solicitations. He would now have quitted Spain altogether, and have applied to the King of France, had it not been for his friend Friar Juan Perez, who implored him to delay his departure for a little while. The good man was grieved to see Columbus thus disappointed, and was unwilling also that his country should throw away the opportunity of acquiring new dominions, and he resolved to assist him. He again sent for his friend the physician, and also for Martin Alonzo Pinzon, a distinguished