Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-06-11
ADDRESS
BEFORE THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
AT METROPOLITAN HALL,
BY THE Hon. EDWARD EVEhEl4'
On Wednesday Epening, Jaiv !, 1898

SOCIETY," Although appear before you at the season al
which the various religious, moral and phanthropc So
oiees usually hold their annual meetings 70 discuss the
st;no and oontroyerted topics of the day. need not
say to YOU that the propretes OF this occasion require
nae to abstain such SUBJECTS and TO select theme
falling to some extent at least within the province of
historical society propose accordingly this evening
TO attempt sketch Of the history Of the discovery and
colonization Of America and of emigration to the United
States can Of offer you, within the limits Of
single address, but most superficial view of vast
subject but have thought that sketch of such
subject would suggest important trains of reflection to
thoughtful minds. Words written spoken at best
but kind of shorthand to be filled by the reader
hearer Ishall be gratifed if after honorng my hasy
sketch with your attention. you shall deem worth filling
up from your stores of knowledge and thought You
will forgive if in the attempt to give certain com
pleteness to the narrative, may be led to glance at
few facts which, however interesting, may to you
too familiar for repetition.
In the last quarter of the fifteenth century an Italian
mariner citizen of the little Republic of Genoa who
had hitherto gained livelihood as pilot in the CONNER
cal marine Of different countries made his appearance
successfully at various courts in the south and west OF
Europe soliciting patronage and aid for bold and novel
project in navigation. The state of the times in
degree favorable to the adventure The Portuguese
had for half century been pushing their discoveries
southwark upon the coast Of Africa, and they had
tured into the Atlantic far the Azores Several
consprng causes and especially the invention of the art
of printing, had produced general revival Intelligence
Still however, the state Of things prevailing, in this
spect was very different from what witness in the
middle Of the nineteenth century. On the part of the
great of mankind there but little Improvement
over the darkness Of the middle ages. The culture
conferred in the convent the court and the university
places essentially distrustful Of bold novelties.
The idea of reaching the East by voyage around the
African continent had begun to consistency but
the vastly more significant idea that the earth is globe
and capable of being crcumnavigated had by means
become incorporated into the general intelligence Of the
age The Portuguese navigaors felt themselves safe
they crept along the African each voy
age few leagues Notwithstanding new headlandas-
cending some before unexpored rver-holdhg paaver
with tribe Of the native races but to turn the
prows their vessels boldly to the west to embark upon
known in the popular geography OF the day.
to have outer shore to pass that bourne from which
traveller had returned and from which experience
had not taught that any traveller could return and thus
to reach the by sailing in western direction this
was o conception which human being is known to have
formed before Columbus and which he proposed to the
Governments Of Italy, of Spain of Portugal and of Eng
land, and for long time without The state of
science such enable to discriminate be-
the improbable and the absurd They looked upon
Columbus we did thirty years ago upon Capt Symmes
Applause
But the lustrous adventurer persevered Sorrow and
disappointment couded his spirits but did not shake his
faith subdue his will His well-jnstructed magma
ton had taken firm hold of the idea that the earth
sphere What seemed to the multitude of the edu
Gated of that day doubtful and somewhat mystical
theory-what appeared to the uniformed mass mon
paradox, contradcted by every step take upon
Vie broad fat earth which daily tread beneath
feethat great and fruitful truth revealed itself to the
serene intelligence u Columbus practical fact on
which he willing stake all hehad-character and life
And it deserves to be borne in mind, the IL
ustrous example Of the connexon of scientific theory
with great practical results that the discovery of Amer
ca, with all its momentous consequences to mankind is
owing to the distinct conception in the mind of Columbus
Of this single scientific erraqueous earth
is sphere. Applause
After years of rutess and heartsck solicitation after
To md IN hat mon
gift of hemisphere the great dscoyerer touches upon
partial success. He succeeds not in enstng the SYM
pathy of his countymen at Genoa and Venice for brave
brother sailor not in giving direction to the spirit
OF maritime adventure which had long prevailed in
Portugal, not in stimulating the commercial thrift of
Henry VII the pious ambition Of the Catholic King.
His sorrowful touched the heart of noble
Princess worthy the throne which she adorned. The
New World which just escaping the subtle kingcraft
of Ferdinand, was saved to Spain by the womany com
passion of Isabella. CONTINUED applause
1t is truly melancholy, however, TO contemplate the
wreched equipment for which the most powerful Prin-
cess in Chrstendom ready to pledge her jewels.
Floating castles Win be fitted out to convey the mis-
cradle natives of Africa to the golden shores of America
towering gaeons will be dispatched bring home the
guilty treasures to Spain but three small vessels one of
which without deck and neither of them probably
exceeding the capacity of pilot boat and these i'm
pressed into the public service composed the exhibition
fitted out under royal patronage to realize that magnif
cent conception in which the creative mind of Columbus
had planted the germs of new world
No chapter Of romance equals the interest Of this expe
dition. The most fascinating Of the works OF fiction
which have issued from the modern press have to my
TASTE attraction compared with the pages in which the
first voyage Of Columbus is described by Robertson and
still by Irving and Prescott the last two
enjoying the advantage the great Scottish historian
possessing the journals and letters of
Columbus himself The departure from Palos where a
few before he had begged morsel of bread and
cup of water for his child his final farewell
the Old World the Canares his entrance upon the
trade Winds which them for the first time filled Euro
pean sail the portentous variation of the needle never
before observed the fearful westward and west
ward day after day and night after night the
known the mutnous and ill-appeased crew; AT
length when hope had turned to despair in every heart
but one the tokens Of land the cloud banks the west
horizon the logs OF drift wood the fresh shrub
birds the shoals Of fish that nhab shallow water the
indescrbabe smell Of the shore the mysterious present.
ment that goes before great event and, finally
that ever memorable night of the 18th OF October
1882 the moving light by the seepless eye Of the
great discoverer himself from the deck the Santa Marin
and in the morning the real undoubted land swelling
from the bosom of the Deep with its plains aud hills
forests and rocks and streams and strange
these incidents in which the authentc history
Of the discovery Of continent exces the speeous
ders of romance, much gold exces tnsel or the
sun in the heavens outshnes that Pickering taper
plause
But II is no part of my purpose to dwell upon this in
teresting narratve follow out this wonderful
Of histories sinking it did into tale of
for Columbus himself and before long ending in
the most fighfu tragedies in the annals of the world
Such to be the law Of humanity that events The
most desirable and achievements the most important
should either in their conception progress, be mixeo
up with disaster crimes and which il makes TIE