The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-01-23

gators. II is claimed that an Engshmsn had
discovered this island in l344 but admitting
this, for all practical purposes, such was the ex-
isting state Of commerce, that IL had gone out
OF the knowledge of Europe.
l434. Cape Bojador, or Nun, doubled for the
first lime by the Portuguese.
l440-l445. Senegal river discovered by the
Portuguese, and explored.
Thus far the Portuguese had proceeded with
timd caution. Nor was il Till l47l, when they
discovered the island Of ST. Thomas, near the
equator. that their navigation became daring.
1884. They discovered Congo under Diego
Cam.
1856. Cape of Good Hope discovered by
! Bartholomew Diaz. IL was originally called
"lhe Cape of the Tempests," from the trench
dous storms which Disz encountered there.
The "stormy spirit of the Cape" imbodied in
Cam9ns's poem-lhe Lusiad-as part OF his
poetieal machinery, IS an idea derived from this
ply steal phenomenon. The sppellaiion OF :" the
Cape Of the Tempests," was changed by John
%, King Of Portugal, who anticipated iavora-
bly, of future attempts at discoveries from Diaz
| having reached the Southern extremity Of AT
rica.
Thus far the Portuguese were the leaders OF
civilization in Europe so far as the extension
Of commerce ioas concerned The mind OF
Columbus. mbued with a scientific knowledge
Of the true theory of the earth, was firmly con-
vinced that there was new land never yet dis
covered by navigation west OF Europe. He
supposed IL, indeed, part Of Asia, but never be-
fore reached from Europe, and might now be
discovered by proceedingweslward. The Por-
tugese discoveries had given the impulse TO the
ardent and philosophical meditalions Of Colum-
bus, but IL was his own great genius that ena-
BLEED him TO draw from them conclusions essen
TALLY sound, and his own extraordinary resolu-
ton that induced him 10 act upon those con-
illusions. The obstacles he surmounted, and
his final success, are familiar TO many Of our
readers, and have been justly the theme of eu-
logy by many pens qualified TO do justice TO
great and illustrious man, who was ungrstefully
treated by the monarch to whose service he had
devoted those nautical and scientific talents
which were unsurpassed in his own day.
As the Portuguese had communicated the i'm
pulse TO Columbus, they were now in their turn
10 be reused to emulation and the maintenance
OF their high reputation by some exploit of cor
responding wisdom and energy. Although
discovered six years, when Columbus made
his first voyage, and returned successful, the
Portuguese had not succeeded in doubling :" the
Cape of the Tempestsn Not until five years
after, in 1897, did they so vigorously pursue the
felictous result Three ships were fitted out
for the purpose, and the command entrusted TO
Vasca di Cana, man at least equally daring
as the bold and ardent dscoverer of America
The particulars of this voyage may be found in
several publications in our language; but in
none, probably, are they given with so much
spirit and elegance as in the history of the Por-
tuguese discoveries in India, prefixed TO Mickle's
translation of that work of genius and taste, the
Lusiadiof Camens.
| In a former article we have referred to the
physical nature Of the negro, and to the wisdom
of conforming to that nature in devisng mea-
sures affecting him. The argument proceeds
upon general principle, which it has been the
part of the wisest men TO respect, in great plans
for human subsistence, improvement, and com
fort. Extraordinary circumstances may justify
temporary or particular deviation, but wise
men will ever regard 1t as a general rule. With
unerring certainty, nature is indicated, in the
long run, from the attempts to do her violence,
whether it be in the moral or physical world
The founders of cities who have justified their
sound judgment to posterity are not those who
have sacrificed the laws of nature to their pas
sions or caprces. After Carthage and Cornth
had been burnt to the ground by Roman jeal-
ousy, Julius Caesar refunded them and their
happy locality soon renovated them they -four
ished again for centuries. Even to this day
the rich city of Tunis exists, with 100000 i'll
habitants, but short remove from ancient Car
thage. But the Metropolis of Augustus, built
opposite the place of his victory at Actium,
which the favor of great Emperor, and the
immense wealth and equal sycophancy of the
Romans, soon made popuous city, decayed
in some four or five ages after his death, and
has long been ruin. Alexandria, founded by
the great Macedonian conquerer, became in a
very short time large city, and maintained ex-
tensive commerce and population, for eighteen
centuries. 1t was selected, not because victo-
nv had been won on or near its site, or the bones
of some great man reposed in or near it, but be-
cause the dscernment of Alexander saw its
natural advantages. He followed nature. We
might mention Smyrna, Naples, Constantine
!, pie, Damascus, Carthagena, in Spain, Lisbon,
selected as sites for cities where the benefits
arising from following nature, are fully proven
We might mention many more; but these will
suffice. These proof, of the general zrf,a-
| ...J. -, u,h;,h xyo ,,rocoedoI IN oo.-o.,uu 81 /.