Delaware journal., 1828-03-14
FRIDAY; .Narch IN, 1928.


ligious dogmas, founded less upon scripture than
human authority, were received axioms in phil0-
sophy and, in the dread Of heresy, to mpugn them
was frequently treated as derelicton from the true
faith We cannot better illustrate the prejudices
with which Columbus had to contend, even among
the most learned than by extracting the account OF
the council, held at the University Of Salamanca, be-
fore which Columbus appeared, by the command OF.
Ferdinand and Isabella, to ma'iin the truth ct
his belief, that the globe might be navigated
.sReligiUn and science were, at that time, and
more especially in that country, closely associated
The treasures of learning were mmurcd in monas-
teries, and the professors chairs were exclusively
filled from the cloister. The domination of the cler-
gy extended over the state as well as the church,
and posts of honor and influence at Court with the
exception of hereditary mobiles, were almost entire
! ly cOnfded to ecclesiastcs 1t was even common
to find cardinals and bishops in helm and corsle, at
the head Of armies for the croiser had been occa-
sionally thrown by for the lance, during the holy
wars against the Moors. The was distinguish
ed for the revival of learning, but still more for the
prevalence of religious zeal and Spain surpassed
all other countries of Chrisendom, in the fervor OF
her devotion. The Inquisiton had just been estab-
lished in that kingdom, AMI every opinion that sa-
voured of heresy, made its owner obnoxious to odlum
and persecution.
Such was the period, when council Of cercasa-
ges was convened in the collegiate convent OF st.
Stephen, to investigate the new theory OF Columbus
1t was composed of professors Of astronomy, geo.
graphy, mathematics, and the other branches OF SCI
Cnce together with various dgnitaries Of the church,
aud learned friars. He had been scoHed at as a
visionary by the vulgar and the ignorant but he
was convinced, that he only required body OF en-
ghtened men, to listen dispassiona ely to his rea-
sonngs, to insure triumphant conviction.
.sThe greater part OF this learned uno, 1t is very
probable, came prepossessed against him, as men IN
H. u IL IN Ian ms nNnr n.
!, plicants.
II 'sThere is always aproness to consider man un-
der examination, as kind of delinquent impos-
tor whose faults and errors are to be detected ana
+ exposed Columbus too, appeared in most unfa-
vorable light before scholastic body an obscure
navigator member of no learned institution, desti-
: tute of all the trappngs and circumstances which
: sometimes give oracuar authority to dullness' and
:. depending upon the tnrce OF natural genius
e Some of the iunto entertained the popular noton
J. that he was an advenurer at best visionary
and others had that morbid mpatience of any nno-
!, vaon upon established doctrine, which is apt to
f grow upon dull and pedantc men in clustered life
l. What striking spectacle must the hall of the old
j. convent have presented at this memorable confer
e ence A simple mariner, standing forth in the
s midst OF an imposing array of professors. rlars,
e and dgnitaries of the church maintaining his the
d ory with natural eloquence, and as it pleading
in the cause of the new world. We told that when
he DeSdu 10 l1c SOulluS VI bteis
L. ars of ST. Stephen alone paid attention to him that
convent being learned in the sciences, than the
rest of the university The others appear to have
a. entrenched themselves behind one dOgsed position
that after so many profound philosophers and
Id mographers had been studying the form u the world,
n and so many able navgators had been sailing about
lis it for several thousand years, great presump
ry ton in ordinary man to suppose that there re-
n,aned such vast discovery for him to make.
''Several Of the objections opposed by this learn
Ia ed body have been handed down to US, and have
IN provoked many sneer at the expense of the Uni
yersity Of Salamanca but they are proofs, not 81
he much of the peculiar deficiency of that Institution
ia as of the imperfect state Of science at the time,
ce, the manner in which knowledge, though rapidly eS
nt tending, still impeded in its progress by monas
IAN tic bigotry All subjects were still contemplate
through the obscure medium of those ages when tn
of lights of antiquity rampled out, and faith wa
ca left to ill the place Of inquiry. Bewdered in
re- maze of religious controversy, mankind had retri
ra ced their steps, and receded from the boundary lin
I'M of ancient knowledge. Thus. at the very thresho
his of the discussion instead of geographical objections
Columbus was assaed with citations from the Bib
on and the Testament the book of Genesis the Psalm
ge, of David, the oratons Of the Prophets, the epst
his Of the Apostles, and the gospels of the Evangelist
and To these added the expositons of variol
ge, saints and reverend commentators Saint Chryso
asm tom and Saint Augustine, Saint Jerome and Sal,
tyr Gregory, Saint Basil and Saint Ambrose, and La
veil tantius Frmlanus redOubed champion OF the TAFT
ded Doctrnal points were mixed up with philosophc
ory discussions, and mathematical demonstration WI
allowed weight fit appeared to clash with te
nvy of scripture, commentary OF one OF the father
for Thus the possibility of antipodes in the soutlei
srn- hemisphere, an opinion SO generally maintained
ing, the wsest of the ancents. to be pronounced
of Phny the great contest between the learned and Il
the ignorant, became stumbling block with some Of Il
SareS OF Salamanca Several of them StOutlY