Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-06-17
0be Dailp Direinian.
From the New York Times. June Q.
The Discovery and Colonization Of
America-A Lecture. by Hon
Edward Everett.


at which the various religious. moral and phi.
lanthropic societies usually hold their annual
meetii gs. 10 discuss the stirring topics of The
day, need mol say TO you that the proprietles
of this occasion require rne 10 ebstain from such
objects; and to select theme falling, To some
extent, at least within the pro"ince If an his
torical society. | propose accordingly, this
evening, 10 attempt sketch of The history of
the discovery and colonization of America and
of emigration 10 the United States. | can of
course offer you, within The limits Of single
address, but most superficial view OF so vast
subjeci;but have thought that even sketch
would suggest important trains al reflection 10
thoughtful minds Words written or spoken
are at best but kind Of short hand, to be fill
led up by The reader or hearcr. ! shall be
grolifed If, alier honoring my hasty sketch
with your attention, you shall deem IT worth
filling up from your own stores of knowledge
and thought You will forgive me, II in the
attempt 10 give certain completeness 10 the
narrative, | may be led to glance a, a few facts.
which, however interesting, may seem TO you
100 familiar for repetition.
In The last quarter of the fifteenth century,
an Italian mariner u citizen of tho little Re-
public OF Cocoa, who had hitherto gained n
livelihood as pilot in the commercial marine
of different countries, made his appear ance
snccssively at various Courts in the South and
West of Europe, soliciting patronage and aid
for bold and novel project III navigation
The state of the times was in some degree fa-
| vorable 10 the adventure. The Portuguese
Lad for half century been pushing their dls'
coverles soulhward upon the coast OF Airca,
and they had veniured into tho Atlantic as far
as the Azores. Several conspiring causes, and
especially the invention Of the ART of printing,
Ind produced general revival o intelligence.
Still however. the state of thingsthen prevail
ing in this respect was very different from
what we witness in the middle of tho nine
leenlh century. On the part Of the great mass
of mankind, there VIVA but little Improvement
owe the darkeness OF tho middle ages. The
new culture centered in the Convent and the
Court--places essentially distruslful Of bold
novelties. The idea Of reaching the EAST, by
"a voyage round theAiricanC Continent had begun
tn assume consistency; but the further Jea,that
the earth is globe and capable of being cir.
cnmnavigaled, had by means become in-
corporafed into lhe general intelligence OF the
age. The Portuguese navigators ielt them
selves safe they crept along the African
coast; venurlng each voyage few leagues far
ther; Goublnga new licadland; ascending some
before unexplorcd river; holding palaver with
some new tribe OF the native reces;--but TO
turn the prows of their vessels boldly to the
WEsT;-to embark upon an ocean moi known,
in the popular geography of the day, TO havea an
outer shore,---to pass that bourne from which
no traveller had ever returned, and from whirh
experience had not taught Tint any traveller
could urn,--and thus to reach the East by
sailing in a Western direction.- this was
conception which no human being is known 10
have formed before CoLUMBUs, and which he
proposed TO The Governments Of Italy, y,of Spain,
of Portugal and of England, and for q long
time without success. The state of science
" as not such as to enable men to discriminate
between the improbable and the absurd. They
looked upon Columbus as we did thirty years
ago upon Captain Symmes.
Bu; the iusrious adventurer persevered.--
Sorrow and disappointment elouded his spirits.
but did not shake his faith nor subdue his will.
His well instructed Imagination bad taken firm
hold of the idea that the earth is n sphere. -
What seemed to the multitude. even Of the
educated Of tha, day, doubtful and some-
what mystical theory; what appeared TO the
| uniformed mass nonstrous paradox, con-
tradced by every step we take on the broad,
fiat earth which we daily tread beneath our
feet, that great and fruitful truth revealed it.
self to the serene intelligence of Columbus as
practical fact, on which he was willing to stake
all he had d--charactep and life. And it de-
serves ever TO be borne in mind. as the most
striking illustration ofthe connection OF scien.
tifc theory with great practical results. that
the discovery Of America with all its moment
Gus consequences to mankind is owing TO the
distinct conception of the mind Of Columbus
of this single scientific proposition--the terra.
quenus earth is sphere.
After years of fruitess and heart sick So
icitation, after offering in effect tothis monach
and to that monach the gift of hemishere.
the great Discoverer touches upon partial
success. He succeeds, not in ensting the
sympathy of his countrymen at Genoa ana
| Venice for brave brother sailor; not I'D giving
new direction TO the spirit of maritime adven-
ture which had SO long prevailed ~ Portugal;
rv the Seventh or the pious ambition of the
Catholic king His sorrowful perseverance,
touched the heart of noble princess. worthy