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

| Ills 'oite sNUIp, MS sptsCh iuiSN eH"
| fluent. His genius was clear and comprohen-
! sIvc, his judgment grave and certain. lie was
! simple in dress and Diet, equable in his tenn
per, devout in his religion, and 80 indefa,gable
IN business, that II was said he seemed TO re-
pose himself by working. He Was great OBJ
server and Judge of men, and unparalleled IN
the science Of the cabinet. such Is the pc
ture given Of him By the Spanish historians Of
his time 1t has heen added. however, that
he had more of b. gotry than religion; tfat his
ambition was craving rather than ma gnanI-
nous; that he made war less like a paladin
than prince less for glory than for mere do
minion: and that his policy was cold, selfish,
and artfuI. He was called the wise and pru-
dent in Spain, IN Italy the p.ous, in France and
England the ambitious and periidIous
"while giving his picture, it may not be
deemed impertinent to sketch the fortunes OF
| monarch, whose policy had such an effect
upon tic history Of Columbus, and the dcsti-
MES Of the new world. Success attended all
his measures Though younger son, he had
ascendcd the throne of Arrsgon by inheritance; ;
CASTLE he obtained by marriage; Granada and
Naples by conquest; and he seized upon Ma
ware as appertalning TO any body, when Pope
julius ii accommodated its severe igns, Juan
and Catalina, and gave their throne To the first
occupant. tie sent his forces into Africa, and
sublugated, or reduced TO vassalage, Tunis and
Trpoi, and lgiers, and most of the Barbary
powers. new world was also given 10 him,
without cost, by the discoveries OF Columbus;
for the expense of the enterprise was borne
exclusively by his consort Isabella. He had
three objects at heart from the commencement
Of his reign, which he pursued with bgoted
and prosecuting zeal; the conquest OF the
Moors, the expulsion Of the Jews, aud the es
Enlistment OF the lnquislton n his doninons
He accomplished them all, and Was rewarded
oy Pope Innocent VII. with the appeilaticn of
Most Catholic Majesty, a tile which his sue
cessors have tenacious y retained.
Contemporary writers have given snhusias-
tic descriptions Of Isabella, but time mas sd nc
toned their eulogies; she is one of the purest
and most beautiful characters Oil the pages al
history. She was well formed, OF the middle
size, with great dignity and srac.fulncss of de-
pertinent, and mingled gravity and sweet
ness Of demeanour. Her complexion was far;
her hair auburn inclining to red; her eyes
we're Of clear blue, with benign expressiun;
and there was a singular mode.ty in her coun-
tenance, gracing as it did a wonderful frnness
of purpose, and earEestucss Of spirit. Though
strongly attached 10 her husb lnd, and stud
ious of his fame, vet she always maintained
her distinct lights as un allied prince. Size
exceeded him in beauty, in personal dIgnfy,ln
acuteness of genius, and IN grandeur OF soul.
Combining the active and rcsulu'e qualities OF
man, with the softer charities OF woman, she
mingled in the warilke co:rclis OF her hus-
band; engaged personally IN las enterprises,
and i'll some instances surpassed HIM III the
6r,nness and lu;repldity Of her measufes;whle,
being inspired with truer idea OF g'ory, she
infused more lofty and generous temper into
his subtle and calculating policy.
cit is in the civil history of Their regn,
however, shat the character OF Isabella shines
most illusrious. Her fostering and maternal
care was continually directed 10 reform tie
laws, and healthe Ills engchGercd by long
course of internal wars, She loved her pco
pie, and while diligently seeking their COED,
she mIgatcd at much as poss bic The marsh
measures Of her husband, directed 20 tbs stne
end, but inhdmcd by mistaken ae.h Thus,
though almost bgotcd in her plo'y, AID per
ha ps too much under the irf ,ence OF ghusliy
advisers, still she so, hostile 10 every measure
calculated to al .lnCe religion al he expense
of humanity. She strcnG"Hsly opposed tte cN-
pulls on Of thc Jews, aud he establishment Of
the lquisiton, though uEioruna;e'" Tor
SPAN, her r"prgn1nCc "3s s.""' tanuuishcd
by her cohicsso.s, ST. was always an adyo-
cate for "l"incncy 10 the M3ors. althou-h she
vas Tie sOGl of the war against Grenaal. SIC
considered mat war essential n protect the
thristla" faith, aHi to "ci"ye her subjects from
fierce and tormiIahlc e"cmes Wiuc all her
public thoughts ami acts we're prncclv ard att
gust, her private imh,'s were simple, frugal,
and Unos;cHtatnas II tie interval of state
business, she assembled round her The ablost
men IN literature au3 science, and directed
herself by thelr councils, ia promoting letters
l,,r ,i.,,
rose 20 th-t height which it assumed among
the learned lnsrutons OF tho arc. Size pro-
NOTED the distribution q. horrors and rewarIs
for the PRONUNCIATION "f knowledge, she foster
ed the art ot ptlatng re- emily invented, and
caropragcd the cstaul sturnt of presses ~ ev.
cry part Of tic hingdon: books nero admit
ted tree of all datv, nuG more, We are tod,
were printed IN SPAN, at that curly peri
Cd Of tnc a!i, tHan III tie present literary age.
81 is wonderful. bow mach ,le dcs,inins o!
cou tries depend Ut times upon the virtues uf
individual, and how 1t Is gwen 20 great spirits,
By comb nnc, exciting, and directing the la
tent powers of nation, 10 stamp it, as i
were, with their own greatness. SIch beings
realize the idea Of guardian angels, appointed
by heaven 10 watch over the dcstrnles Of en-
pres Such had been prince Henry for The
kingdom of Portugal, and such was now FOR
Spain the astriouS isabo,a.'
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