The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-07-13
DISCOVERY OF FAMERICA-REVIVAL OFTHE
CLAIMS OF AMERICUS NESPUCIUS.
Correspondence Of the Ne,cart Daily AdrertScr.I
L. Ill

CLAIMS OF AMERiClS ) NESPUClUS.
Correspondence Of the Ae,oark Daily 41drertiserl
FLORENCE, July 20, 1858.
Another attempt is made to renState Americus
Vespucius. Since Humboldt absoved him from the
old Spanish charge OF defrauding Columbus, there
Is a better disposition to remember his really
memorable services, so priced and hOnOred by all
cotemporary authorities, including his friend and
guide, the pioneer navigator himself. But his claim
W she highest distinction remains under protest;
ana p a chivarous South American-M. Varnhagen
i "Hl,lah Minister at Berlin-now comes forward
~: ~ eueem III, with elaborate dissertation the
20 and ~ ana @ hrst exploration of the Gulf Of Mexi
The learned researches of Uupboldt bovino
brought TO light the fact that the name was first
given to the continent by contemporary French and
German writers without the kuowlndra Of Anericns
probably because they first heard 0f Il tbronrb
his popular reports of his own explorations 10 the
Duke OF Lorraine and other corresnondents for
with superior literary attainments he confessedly
had more decided itch for writing than onv of his
companions-M. Varnhagen would infer his title to
the rewards OF discovery, and rummagcs eagerly
among the scant vestiges of the time for evidence
to establish it.
The claim that he first saw the main land turns
wholly on the question whether his first VOYAGE
was made in 1897 in l499 since it is certain that
Columbus did reach it during his third voyage in
9S. The most diligent search has hitherto failed to
find any other unequivocal record of a voyage in
'91, than that contained in the famous gratuatory
letters written by Americas at Seville in 1904, to
the Chiet Magistrate of his native city, Florence,
pleted.
Mr.. Irving, following Herrera and other early
Spanish writer's regards the first of these, report
ing the discovery of the coasts of Central and North
America in 97, so important if true, as pure in
vention; while llumboldt's more extended subse-
quent studies serve to show that it is probably
perverted copy of a genuine report of his visit in
the expedition of H0ieda in 80, and that the con,
fused dates and manifest msprintS, like similar er-
rors in other versions of his VOYAGES are attibuta
BILE to careless or designing editors, as Americas
whose integrity is now cOnceded-did not himself
publish any of them: and such corruptions were
frequent in writings of the day.
NJ. Narnhagcn makes an issue with both; and in
sists that undisputed Italian, French and Latin YER
sions OF the latter extensively published with
in three years ofits date, as proved by incidental
references in authentic contemporary maps and
other documents that the minute description of
countries not visited by the expedition in '99 evin-
ces personal observation and thus corroborates the
dates; that it was unquestioned for centu-
ry, when Herrera, histOriOgrapher of the King of
Spain, first denounced it as mpOsture; and that
there is no reason to doubt that it was among the
narratives of Americas in the hands of the son
and first bographer of Columbus, in which he
found ono deceit, or injustice towards the Admi-
ral."
Having thus inferred the authenticity of the let
ter, it is claimed as conclusive testimony, since the
integrity of the author whom Columbus pronounced
'worthy of all confidence" never impeached
by any contemporary authority. The objection that
no other proof or monument of so remarkablea voy-
age remains is rather summarily disposed ofby the
testimony of Humboldt, that ''through a concourse
of circumstances difficult to explain, many other
events that by their novelty have equally thrown
light on all Europe, have left sign in any of its
archives"
rather labored effort is made to supply this abb
sence of documentary evidence, by series of pro-
liabilities such as that Americus was engaged at
Seville In 30 and 96 with contract to furnish four
vessels for an exploring expedition, and that no
trace can be found of his presence in Europe during
~: that the honOrs subsequently conferred upon
him by both Spain and Portugal were beyond the
merits OF a mere subordinate member of an eXpedi-
ton: that Peter Martyr, the friend of Columbus,
writing Of the Admrals exploration of the Bay Of
Honduras, comedies that it had been visited before
by Others which Oviedo's History of the Indias
firms that Republican Florence celebrated his
services by public festival; and that the various
continental writings which ascribe to him the credit
of discovering the continent, received at
Seville while he was yet striving there among the
friends of Columbus, without protest.
fragmentary letter of 1906 from Vanello
to the Seignory of Venice, found by Ranke in
collection of old MSS. in 1882 speaking of the dis
covery of terra irma by Americas in company with
Juan de la COsa, is also urged in corroboraton.-
There is certainly degree of plausibty in the
argument thus briefly indicated, and if the writer
has failed to make out his case, his earnest effort
may at least help to determine the proper place of
his hero among the notable men of the great epoch
of Columbus.
1t would appear by the letter which is so insisted
upon rs his title to the of the New World,
that he sailed from Cadz with expedition of four
vessels on the 10th of May, 1897, and reached what
is now called the Bay of Honduras at the end Of
thirty-seven days. That pursuing the coast, they
explored the great Gulf frequently stopping to ex-
anime the country, and parley with the natives,
who are graphically described, and that passing
thence by the mouths of great river, apparently
the Mississippi (Which was explored some leagues,
they sailed round the Cape Floridal and cOasted
north to the Gulf of st. Lawrence
Here in the Spring of '9S being well entertained
by the Indians of whom unmistakabIe descriptions
are given, they remained over a month for repairs
and the putting together the materials of a small
vessel and in return for avors received co-operated
with their native friends in subdung a beligerent
tribe on neighboring island called tie, not easy to
identify, and succeeding in taking many prisoners
as hostages. At the close this seven days war,
the expedition returned to Cadiz, in October, hay
ing been absent about seventeen months.
Such is the claim; whether precisely Just in the
manner and form stated is, nevertheless, a question
of secondary interest, since it must be conceded that
the great glory of discovery is due to the master
man who first opened the way.
INDEPENDENCE DAY IN 1874.
Cp OE NEW