Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-07-31

soN-llls fHlENDSi hELATIoNs, EARLY
LIFE, AND VOYAGES: DELIVERED BE-
FORE THE HIsToRIoAL Society OF
DELAWARE, 18th OCTOBER, 1864, 1T
GENERAL JOHN MEREDITH READ, JR.,
OF ALBANY, New YORK.
[oONcLuDED.
In the interval between the last crusade and
tho discovery Of America, interest in the East
was kept alive by pilgrims to the Holy Land,
and by travellers. Marco Polo, Benjamin Of
Tudela, the Jew, and Sir John Vaudeville, fur
nished, with mOnstrous fables many valuable
facts. The attention of Europe was mainly
fixed on India, it's trade regarded as a source Of
wealth inoaioulabla, and the shortest route by
which it could be obtained was subject Of
anxious and ingenious inquiry. Specuations
more enlarged were indulged. Lands richer
than India, Cathay and Cepango, perhaps, ex-
listed. Speculation was soon manifested in
action. The lead was taken in the great work
of discovery, then inaugurated, by Portugal
The wars long waged by the Christians of an-
cient Lusitania with the Moors had made them
brave and enterprising. John the lst, the bas-
tard, led expeditions into Africa, against the
Moors, with success, and was fired with noble
ambition to give wealth and power to his little
kingdom. Spain, bounding her to the West
was On impossible barrier to the extension of
her territory. The grandeur he coveted for his
people could only be won by commerce and dis
cOvery, the encouragement of which became the
leading policy Of his government. His son
Henry Duke of ViseO, by Philippa, of Lancas-
ter sister of Henry the IVth, Of England, sur
named the Navigator, adopted his enlightened
views with enthusiasm. In the expeditions of
his father against the MoOrs Of Barbary, he had
by his exploits won high renown. Without the
ordinary incentives which nerve men to contest,
he withdrew from Court. to a solitary dwelling,
near Cape st. Vincent lie here devoted him
self to the study Of geography and navigation.
He sought everywhere for information. He in
vited to his little Court learned men, especially
travellers. His integrity, his generosity and
bl0meless life, secured for him the confidence Of
his cOuntrymen. He was, happily, not merely
a student. He soon planned and executed voy-
ages of discovery, attracting to his service emil
ncnt navigatOrs, foreigners as well as Portuguese.
His first successes we're the discoveries of Porto
Santo and Madeira; and under his patronage
exploration of the African coast was continued
until, OF tho time of his death, A. D. l465, the
Portuguese had reached to within Eve degrees of
the equator, establishing forts and factories as
they advanced. John the I'd was q worthy
successor of his grAndsire, John the lst. He
embraced and carried out his policy, prosecuting
discovery with ardOr and perseverance. The
knowledge gained of the conformation of Africa
made him confident that by sailing Ground its
southern terminus the Indies could be reached.
To accomplish this great object, he dispatched
fleet under Bartholomew Diaz, who, advancing
u thousand miles further than his countrymen
had done, saw at q distance the object Of his
search, but the disabled condition of his ships
and the mutinous temper of his seamen, COM
PEELED him to yield to another, more fortunate
than himself, the honor of doubling the cabo
tormentosa, as he named it, In 1897 Vasco dc
Cana doubled this Cape, and opened that lew
route to India, the basis of the subsequent COM
mercial and colonial greatness of Portugal. The
Luaiad, cOmmcmoratng this event, has gained
for her fame more enViable than the repute won
for her by this discovery with the reproach that
Camoens, his slave, begging bread for him in the
streets of Lisbon died from starvation. Who
can forget that, shipwrecked in the East, while
his ship sank beneath him, he swan to shore,
with nothing but the Lusiad, which he bore
above the waves, more precious than the freights
Of many OrgOsies The Portuguese quickly prose-
cuted the trade opened to them, which, fostered
by their Monarchs, most fortunate in their
choice of viCeroys and Generals, Admirals and
agents, of rare talents and fidelity, soon became
considerable and gradually great. Portuguese
forts and factories were established at every
suitable point on the coast of India, and domi-
mating influence secured at the Courts of her
Rajahs.
By accident Portugal acquired vest territory
in South America. A squadron was sent by
King Emanuel to make O treaty with the King
of Callicut, commanded by Pedralez Cabral.-
Standing far wcstwardly to escape the calms of
the African coast, he undesignedly discovered
tho land, afterwards named Brazil. 1t was
colonized by Portugal, augmented by its rich
productions her wealth and power; and in 1908
gave refuge to the house Of Braganza fleeing
from French army marching upon Lisbon, and
having become Independent, has enjoyed a sta.
bility in its government which the Spanish Re-
publics of South america, Chill excepted, have
failed to attain. The usurpation of the throne
of Portugal by that cold, crafty and perfdious
bgot, Philip the second, Of Spain, caused the
neglect of that wise policy which had fostered
her trade with the East, and this neglect COM
bined with the efforts of the Dutch, the loss of
this traffic.
Looking on the map of Europe, we see SO
small space occupied by Portugal, it is with
difficulty We credit that she attained to the rank
Of = first rate European power. But if extent
of territory determines the rank of n people,
where, in the roll of nations, will stand the an-
cient Commonwealth of Greece where England,
that little Island2 where Holland, shaking
quagmire, woa from the sea No!
What constitutes Slater
Not cities proud-with spires and turrets crowned
Nor hays and harbors, where rich navles ride;
Nor territories vast;
No MEN, high-mndel men,
Who know their rights, aud knowing, dare maintain
They constitute State
Holland carried on her war for independence
very much by her ships hence her people be-
came expert seamen, and their rapid increase,
after their independence was won, on narrow
territory, forced them to look to commerce for
their sustenatiOn, and they became traders, bold
and cnterprising. They engrOssed the commerce
Of Europe, mainly, and by the middle of the
18th century were the foremost maritime pow
er Of the world, and by their East India Com