of Burgundy deserted their interests; the duke of Bedford soon after died; and the French were every where victorious. Paris surrendered to their arms on Low Sunday, 1436, after having been fourteen years in the possession of the English. Normandy and Guienne, with Bordeaux, its capital, were conquered, and the English for ever expelled from France, with the single exception of Calais; which they still retained, as a solitary monument of their former greatness on the continent.

DISCOVERY OF AMERICA.

1. It has been believed by many, that America was not unknown to the ancients; and from certain passages in the works of some of the writers of antiquity, as well as coincidences in the languages and customs of some nations of the old and new continent, plausible reasons have been advanced in favor of the theory. Whatever knowledge, however, the inhabitants of Europe possessed of America, no traces of it existed at the period of the revival of letters; it was generally supposed that the Canaries, or Fortunate Islands, formed the western boundary of their world. For the correction of this error, and the discovery of a new continent, mankind are indebted to the genius and enterprise of Christopher Colon, a native of Genoa, better known to us by the name of Christopher Columbus. From a long and close application to the study of geography, this great man had obtained a knowledge of the true figure of the earth, far beyond what was common to the age in which he lived. Another continent, he conceived, necessarily existed, to complete the balance of the terraqueous globe; but he erroneously conceived it to be connected with that of India. This error

arose from the construction of the maps of that period, which represented the oriental countries of Asia as stretching vastly further to the east, than actual observation has proved them

to extend.

When did Paris surrender to the French arms?-How long was it in the hands of the English ?-Who discovered America -What led Columbus to suppose there was another continent ?

2. Having fully satisfied himself with the theoretical truth of his system, his adventurous spirit made him eager to verify it by experiment. For this purpose he applied to the senate of Genoa, developing his views, and representing the advantages which would accrue to the republic from the possession of a new route to the great source of opulence. The Genoese, however, treated the idea as absurd and chimerical, and rejected the proposal with contempt. Although disappointed in this first attempt, Columbus was not discouraged. Through his brother Bartholomew, he applied to Henry VII. of England; but the cautious prudence of that monarch deprived him of the honor of patronising a man whose friendship would have immortalized him. The next attempt of Columbus was at the Portuguese court, which had in that age greatly distinguished itself by favoring the spirit of discovery along the African coast. Here he met with an additional mortification, from an attempt to anticipate him in the enterprise, which, however, proved abortive at an early period. As a last resource, he now laid his scheme before the court of Spain.

3. After eight years of anxious solicitation and contemptuous neglect, he obtained a gleam of royal favor on his bold and original project. The interest of queen Isabella procured him three small vessels, with which he set sail from the port of Palos, in Andalusia, on the 3d of August, 1492. He steered directly for the Canaries, whence after having refitted as well as he could his crazy and ill-appointed flotilla, he again sailed on the 6th of September, keeping a due western course over an unknown ocean. Several days passed without a sight of land; and the anxieties of the sailors, arising from this circumstance, were heightened by the variation of the compass, then first perceived. An open mutiny took place, which required all the courage and address of the great navigator to quell. They pursued their course; but when thirty days had elasped without any indication of an approach to land, both officers and men joined in a second revolt. Columbus was forced partially to give way to their remonstrances. He consented to return, if, after

To whom did Columbus apply for aid in prosecuting his intentions?-Who finally aided him?-What difficulties did he have to encounter, after he left the Canaries?

proceeding three days longer, nothing appeared to conarm is expectations.

4. With these assurances, they again proceeded, and about nidnight, on the 11th of October, Columbus, who was standng on the fore-castle, discovered a light ahead. Morning lisplayed the joyful sight of land; and the sailors were now is ardent in their expression of repentance and admiration, is they had before been insolent and ungovernable. The sland of St. Salvador, one of the Bahamas, was the first part of America trodden by the feet of Europeans. From the rude poverty of the inhabitants, Columbus soon perceived that he was still at a distance from the shores of India. The fertile island of St. Domingo was next discovered; and from some specimens of gold, Columbus began to entertain brighter hopes. Here he left some of his men to form a colony; and having touched at some of the other West India islands, among which were Cuba and Hispaniola, he returned to Spain. On his arrival, he immediately proceeded to court, where he was received with admiration and respect. glory and benefit which promised to result from the discovery, rendered the government eager to forward his design. A fleet of seventeen sail was prepared; and Columbus, who was now appointed viceroy of all the countries he should discover, departed on his second voyage, accompanied by many persous of rank and distinction. During the progress of the voyage, he discovered the islands of Dominica, Marigalante, Guadaloupe, Montserat, Antigua, Porto Rico, and Jamaica.

The

5. The success of this great man did not fail to excite envy and intrigue against him at the court of Spain. An officer was sent to act as a spy over his actions; and Columbus soon found it necessary to return to Europe, for the purpose of defeating the machinations of his enemies. After great

difficulty, he obtained leave to set out on a third expedition in 1498. Sailing south from Spain as far as the equator, he then directed his course to the west, and steered with the trade winds across the Atlantic. At the end of seventeen days the island of Trinidad was discovered, and on the 1st of August he reached the mouth of the great river Orinoko.

When did Columbus discover land?-What Island did he first discover? What discoveries did he make in the third voyage ?