THE DEATH OF COLUMBUS

By Washington Irving THE death of Isabella was a fatal blow to the fortunes of Columbus. While she lived, he had everything to anticipate from her high sense of justice, her regard for her royal word, her gratitude for his services, and her admiration of his character. With her illness, however his interest had languished, and when she died, he was left to the justice and generosity of Ferdinand!

During the remainder of the winter and a part of the spring, he continued at Seville, detained by painful illness, and endeavoring to obtain redress from the government by ineffectual letters. . . .

The cold and calculating Ferdinand beheld this illustrious man sinking under infirmity of body, heightened by that deferred hope which "maketh the heart sick." A little more delay, a little more disappointment, and a little longer infliction of ingratitude, and this loyal and generous heart would cease to beat: he should then be delivered from the just claims of a well tried servant, who, in ceasing to be useful, was considered by him to have become importunate. . . .

In the meantime the cares and troubles of Columbus were drawing to a close. . . . His last voyage had shattered beyond repair a frame already worn and wasted by a life of hardship; and continual anxieties robbed him of that sweet repose so necessary to recruit weariness and debility of age. The cold ingratitude of his sovereign chilled his heart. The continued suspension of his honors, and the enmity and defamation experienced at every turn, seemed to throw a shadow over that glory which had been the great object of his ambition. This shadow, it is true, could be but of transient duration ; but it is difficult for the most illustrious man to look beyond the present cloud which may obscure his fame, and anticipate its permanent luster in the admiration of posterity.

Being admonished by failing strength and increasing sufferings that his end was approaching, he prepared to leave his affairs in order for the benefit of his successors. . . .

Having thus scrupulously attended to all the claims of affection, loyalty, and justice upon earth, Columbus turned his thoughts to heaven ; and having received the holy sacrament, and performed all the pious offices of a devout Christian, he expired with great resignation, on the day of Ascension, the 20th of May, 1506, being about seventy years of age. His last words were, "In manus tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum:" Into thy hands, 0 Lord, I commend my spirit.

THE NAMING OF AMERICA

By Martin Waltzee-Muller VESPUCIUS' letters to Soderini (the Chief Magistrate of Florence) were first published at Florence in 1505-6.

Americus Vespucius claimed to have made four voyages to America, the first in May, 1497, and the next three at intervals of two years. In reporting his first expedition he writes that they touched a coast "which we thought to be that of the continent." And he was the first to use the term "The New World." It was in a letter to Lorenzo de Medici, dated 1503, but there is nothing in any of his letters to indicate that he ever presumed to give his name to the land discovered by Columbus. The linking of his name with the newly discovered continent seemed to have been nothing more than an accident which occurred in this way.

In 1507 a German schoolmaster, Waltzee-Muller (Hylaco-Mylus or "Miller of the wood-pond") published a book on the new discoveries. It was a compilation made from the narratives of Vespucius.

The brief reference in which the name America first appeared is given on this page, and was issued at St. Die in Alsace. The name was taken up by successive map-makers until it was finally applied to both continents. The first book in English in which the name appears (it was printed Armenica) was issued in Antwerp in 1511.

BUT now these parts (that is, Europe, Asia and Africa) have been more extensively explored, and another fourth part of the world having been discovered by Americus Vespucius (as will appear in what follows) : wherefore I do not see what is rightly to hinder us from calling it Amerige or America, i.e., the land of Americus, after its discoverer Americus, a man of sagacious mind, since both Europe and Asia have got their names from women. Its situation and the manners and customs of its people will be clearly understood from the twice two voyages of Americus which follow."

PONCE DE LEON IN FLORIDA

By George Bancroft THE first volume of George Bancroft's History of the United States appeared in 1834, the last 40 years later which conveys some idea of his patience in gathering material. His work expresses his abounding faith in democracy and liberty, but he was more interested in mankind than in individuals.

President Polk appointed him Secretary of the Navy in 1844. By an adroit assumption of powers which he did not technically possess, Bancroft organized the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. And his foresight in ordering the Pacific Squadron to seize California, if hostilities should break out with Mexico, resulted in our acquisition of California.

His services were rewarded by appointment as Ambassador to England, 1846-49. Thereafter his life was devoted to his historical studies, except for interruptions of a diplomatic nature. The passage given here is from the first volume of his history.

NO SOONER had the New World revealed itself to Castile and Aragon than theSpanish chivalry of the ocean despised the range of Europe as too narrow, and offering to their extravagant ambition nothing beyond mediocrity. Blending avarice and religious zeal, they sailed to the west, as if they had been bound on a new crusade, for which infinite wealth was to reward their piety. America was the region of romance, where the heated imagination could indulge in the boldest delusions; where the simple natives ignorantly wore the most precious ornaments; and, by the side of the clear runnels of water, the sands sparkled with gold. To carve out provinces with the sword; to plunder the accumulated treasures of some ancient Indian dynasty; to return from a roving expedition with a crowd of enslaved captives and a profusion of spoils became their ordinary dreams. Ease, fortune, life all were squandered in the pursuit where, if the issue was uncertain, success was sometimes obtained, greater than the boldest desires had dared to anticipate. Is it strange that these adventures were often superstitious? Or that they indulged the hope that the laws of Nature themselves would yield to men so fortunate and so brave?

The youth of Juan Ponce de Leon had been passed in military service in Spain ; and, during the wars in Granada, he shared in the wild exploits of predatory valor. He was a fellow-voyager of Columbus on his second embarkation. In the wars of Hispaniola he proved himself a gallant soldier ; and Ovando rewarded him with the superintendence of the eastern province of that island. From the hills in his jurisdiction he could behold Porto Rico. A visit to the island stimulated his cupidity; and in 1509 he obtained the appointment to its government. His new authority was used to oppress the natives and to amass wealth. But his commission conflicted with the claims of the family of Columbus; and it was revoked.

Yet age had not tempered his passions : he longed to advance his fortunes by the conquest of a kingdom, and to retrieve a reputation which was not without a blemish. Besides, the veteran soldier had heard, and like many in Spain believed, that the forests of the new world concealed a fountain which had virtue to renovate life.

On the third of March, 1513, according to our present rule for beginning the year, Ponce embarked at Porto Rico, with a squadron of three ships, fitted out at his own expense, for his voyage to the fabled land. He touched at Guanahani; he sailed among the Bahamas. On Easter Sunday, which the Spaniards call Pascua Florida, and which in that year fell on the twenty-seventh of March, land was seen. It was supposed to be an island, and received the name of Florida from the day on which it was descried, and from the aspect of the forests which at that season were brilliant with bloom. After delay from bad weather, the aged soldier was able to go on shore, in the latitude of thirty degrees and eight minutes; some miles, therefore, to the north of St. Augustine. The territory was claimed for Spain. Ponce remained for many weeks to investigate the coast. He doubled Cape Florida; he sailed among the group which he named Tortugas; and, despairing of entire success, he returned to Porto Rico, leaving a trusty follower to continue the search, which was extended toward the bay of Apalachee. The Indians had everywhere displayed determined hostility. Ponce de Leon remained an old man ; but Spanish commerce acquired a new channel through the Gulf of Florida, and Spain a province, which imagination could esteem immeasurably rich, since its interior was unknown.

The government of Florida was the reward which Ponce received from the king of Spain; but the dignity was accompanied with the onerous condition that he should colonize the country. Preparations in Spain, and an expedition against the Caribbee Indians, delayed his return. When, in 1521, after a long interval, he proceeded with two ships to select a site for a colony, his company was attacked by the Indians with implacable fury. Many Spaniards were killed; the survivors were forced to hurry to their ships; Ponce de Leon himself wounded by an arrow, returned to Cuba to die. So ended the adventurer, who had gone in quest of immeasurable wealth and perpetual youth.