Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-03-12

or III this proud ana punctlous court
I AT Ihe request OF their majesties, Coium-
bus now gave an account Of the most striking
events Of his voyage, and a description of the
islands which he had discovered. lie display
ed the specimens he had brought of unknown
birds, and other animals; of rare plants OF
medicinal and aromatic virtue; of native gold
! in dust, in crude masses, or lahoured into bar
barrie ornaments; and above all, the natives Of
those countries, who were objects OF intense
and mexhaustble interest; since there Is Moth
| ing to man curious az the varieties OF his
own species. All these he pronounced mere
harbngers of greater discoveries he had yet to
make: which would add realms of incalcula-
| BILE wealth to the donrions OF their majestles,
and whole nations of prose!ytes to the true
| faith
| The words of Columbus were listened TO
with profound emotion by the sovcreigLs.-
When he had finished, they sunk on their
knees, and, raising their clasped hands to
heaven, their eyes filled with tears Of Joy and
gratitude, they poured forth thanks and pras-
| es TO Goa for so great providence. Nj pro-
| sent followed their example; Il deep and SOL
emn enthusiasm pervaded :hat assembly, and
prevented all common acclamatons OF tn
umph, the anthem Of te deum laudamns,
chanted by the choir of the royal chapel with
the meodous responses Of the minsrels, rose
up in the midst in full body of sacred harmo-
ny, bearing up, as il were, the feelings and
thoughts of tho auditors to heaven, so that,
says the venerable Las Casas, 1T seemed as
if in that hour, they communicated with &C.
lesial delights Such was the solemn and
pious manner in which the brilliant court of
Spain celebrated this sublime event; offering
up a grateful tribute of melody and praise, and
giving glory to God for the discovery of ano-
ther world
"When Columbus retired fran the royal
presence he was attended to his residence by
all the court, and followed by the shouting
populace. For many days he was the object
of universal curiosity, and wherever he ap-
peared he was surrounded by an admrlng
multitude.
"Whie the mind Of Columbus was thus
teemlng with glorious anilclpations. his pIous
scheme for the deliveranco of the holy sepul-
chro was not forgotten. 1t has been shown
that he suggested it to the Spanish sovere gns
al the time of first making his propositions,
holding it forth as the great object to be ef
fected by the profits Of his discoveries Flush
cd with the idea Of the vast wealth that was
now to accrue 10 himself, he made vow TO
furnish army, within soven years, consisting
o. five thousand horse, and fifty thousand foot
for the rescue Of the holy sepuIchre, and a
similar force within the five following years.
This VOW was recorded III one Of hls letters TO
| the sovercigns to which he refers, but which is
no longer extant; nor ia it certain whether II
| was made at the ond of the first voyage. or at
| a subsequent date, when the magnitude ond
| lthy result OF his discoveries became more
fully manifest He often alludes to it vaguely
| in his writings, and he refers to It expressly in
! letter TO Pope Alexander W! written in
! 1852, in which he accounts also for its nom
fuiment. II is essential to- a full compreben-
SION Of the character and motives of Columbus
| that tins wild and visionary project should be
borne IN recollection. Ii vii be found TO have
entwned itself IN his mind with his enterprise
| Of discovery, and that holy crusade was to
| be the rOnsuD; ma non of those digInc purp ses
for which h, considered himself selected by
| heaven a. an agent. IL shows how mach his
| mind was elevated above selfish and mercena
| ~ views How it was il,ol with these doyout
! apd heroc schemes, which in the time oi tho
J crdsadcs had nlamed the thoughts, and d.
recicd tho enterprises, of the bravest warriors
and most iIiusIrious princes
FERDINAND AND ISABELLA
Ofthe characters of FERDINAND and lsA-
B&LLA, (the rejgnins princes Of Spainl under
whose patronage Colutnbus m-ds his voyages,
| Mr.. Irving thus speaks:
| "The time when Columbus first sought his
| fortunes III Spain, was at one of the most bril-
liant periods OF the Spanish monarchy. The
union Of the Kingdoms of Arragon and CASTLE,
| bv the marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella,
had consolidated the Christian power in the
| peninsula, and put an end to those internal
| feuds, which had SO long distracted the couu-
try, and ensured the domination of the Mussul-
mans. The " hole force of united SPAN was
.,f
Moorish empire. The Moors, who had once
spread over the whole country like an inunda-
ton, were now damned up within the moan
| tain boundaries Of the kingdom Of Grenada .--
! The v.ctorio IS armies of Ferdinand and lsI-
! bella were continually advancing, and press
| ing this fierce people within narrower limits -
| Under these sovcrclgns, the various petty
! kingdoms of Spain began TO feel and act as
| one n ltion, and to rise to emlneIce IN arts as
well as arms. Ferdinand aud Isabella, ii has
| been remarked, lived together, not like man
! and wife whose estates are common under the
orders Of the husband; but like two m0narchs,
| strictly allied. They had separate claims To
sovereignty, in virtue of their respective king
doms; they bad separate councils and were OF
ten distant from each other IN different pasts
oftheir empire, each exercising the royal au-
thority; yot they were so happily united by
common views, common interest, and great
dciorcnte for each other, that this double adj
mnisiralion never prevented unity OF pur.
pose and of action. All acts of sovereignty
were executed in both ,acT names; all public
writings were Subscribed " tn both their slg-
natures; their likeneSses were stamped togcih
er on the public con; and tho royal seal dis
played the united arms of Castle aud ARA.
gon.
Ferdinand vas Of The middle stature, well
proporioncd, and hardy, aud active from ath
lnlic exercise. lis carr'ags was free, erect,
aud n,,t.s,t, IIp had ,lpl srrCup fire.