EVE BARLOW'S COLUMBIAD. VERY circumstance relating to the discovery and settlement of America, is an interesting object of inquiry; yet it is presumed that many are but slightly acquainted with the life and character of the hero, whose extraordinary genius led him to discover the continent of America, and whose singular sufferings, arising from that service, ought to excite the indignation of the world. We shall, therefore, make so some extracts from the Introduction to Joel Barlow's patriotic poem, the "Columbiad."-In this poem the author wishes to en courage and strengthen in the rising generation, a sense of the importance of republican institutions; as being the great foundation of pub. lic and private happiness, the necessary aliment of future and permanent amelioration in the condition of human nature. Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa, about the year 1447, when the navigation of Europe was scarcely extended beyond the limits of the Mediterranean, and the other narrow seas that border the great ocean. The mariner's-compass had been invented, They acquired wonderful applause by sailing along the coast of Africa, and discovering some of the neighbour. ing islands; and after pushing their researches with great industry for half a century, the Portuguese, who were the most fortunate and enter. prising, extended their voyages southward no farther than the equator. The rich commodities of the East had, for several ages, been brought into Europe by the Red Sea and the Mediterranean; and it had become the object of the Portuguese, to find a passage to India, by sailing round the Southern extremity of Africa, and then taking an Eastern course. Although every year added to their experience in navigation, and seemed to promise some distant reward to their industry, the prospect of arriving at India by that route was still by no means encouraging. Fifty years perseverance in the same track having brought them only to the equator, it was probable that as many more would elapse before they could accomplish. their purpose. But Columbus, by an uncommon exertion of genius, formed a design no less astonishing to the age in which he lived, than beneficial to posterity. This design was to sail to India by taking a Western direction. By the accounts of tra vellers who had visited that part of Asia, it seemed almost without limits on the East; and by attending to the spherical figure of the earth, Columbus drew the natural conclusion, that the Atlantic Ocean must be bounded on the West either by India itself, or by some other continent not far distant from it. This illustrious navigator, who was then about twenty-seven years of age, appears to have possessed every talent requisite to form and execute the greatest enterprises. He was early educated in such of the useful sciences as were taught in that day. He had made great pro ficiency in geography, astronomy, and drawing, as they were necessary to his favourite pursuit of navigation. He had been a number of years in the service of the Portuguese, and had acquired all the experience that their voyages and discoveries could afford. His courage had been put to the severest test; and the exercise of every amiable as well as heroic virtue, the kindred qualities of a great mind, had secured him an extensive reputa tion. Such was the situation of Columbus, when he formed and digested a plan, which, in its operation and consequences, has unfolded to the view of mankind one half of the globe; diffused wealth and industry over the other, and is extending commerce and civilization through the whole. To corroborate the theory he had formed of the existence of a Western continent, his discerning mind, which knew the application of every circumstance which fell in his way, had observed several facts, which by others would have passed unnoticed. In his voyages to the African islands, he had found, floating ashore after a long Western storm, pieces of wood carved in a curious manner, canes of a size unknown in that quarter of the world, and human bodies with very singular features. The opinion being well established in his mind, that a considerable portion of the earth still remained to be discovered, his temper was too vigorous and persevering to suffer an idea of this importance to rest merely in speculation, as it had done with Plato and Seneca, who seem to have entertained conjectures of a similar nature. He determined, therefore, to bring his theory to the test of experiment. But an object of that magnitude required the patronage of a Prince; and a design so extraordinary, met with all the obstructions that an age of superstition could invent, and personal jealousy enhance. It is happy for mankind that, in this instance, a genius capable of devising the greatest undertakings, associated in itself a degree of patience and enterprise, modesty and confi dence, which rendered him superior to these misfortunes, and enabled him to meet with fortitude all the future calamities of his life. Excited by an ardent enthusiasm to become a discoverer of new countries, and fully sensible of the advantages that would result to mankind from such discoveries, he had the mortification to wear away 18 years of his life, after his system was well established in his own mind, before he could obtain the means of executing his projected voyage. As a duty to his native country, he made his first proposal to the senate of Genoa, where it was soon rejected. Conscious of the truth of his theory, and of his own abilities to execute his plan, he retired, without dejection, from a body of men who were incapable of forming any just ideas upon the subject, and applied with fresh confidence to John 2d, king of Portugal; who had distinguished himself as the great patron of navigation, and in whose service Columbus had acquired a reputation, which entitled him and his project to gene. ral confidence. But here he experienced a treatment much more insulting than a direct refusal. After referring the examination of his scheme to the council who had the direction of naval affairs, and draw. ing from him his general ideas of the length of the voyage, and the course he meant to take, that splendid - monarch had the meanness to conspire with his council to rob Columbus of the glory and advantage he expected to derive from his undertaking. While Columbus was amused with the negociation, in hopes of having his scheme adopted, a vessel was secretly despatched, by order of the King, to make the intended discovery. Want of skill or courage in the pilot, rendered the plot unsuccessful; and Columbus, on discovering the treachery, retired with an ingenuous indignation, from a court which could be capable of such duplicity. Having now performed what was due to the country that gave him birth, and to the one that had adopted him as a subject, he was at liberty to court the patronage of any other which should have the wisdom to accept his proposals. He had communicated his ideas to his brother Bartholemew, whom he sent to England to negociate with Henry 7th; at the same time he went himself to Spain, to apply in person to Ferdinand and Isabella, who governed the United Kingdoms of Arragon and Castile. His brother's application in England was unsuccessful. His own negociation in Spain occupied him eight years; in which the various agitations of suspense, expectation, and disappointment, must have borne hard upon his patience. At length, his scheme was adopted by Isabella, who undertook, as queen of Castile, to defray the expenses of the expedition, and declared herself ever after the friend and patron of the hero who projected it. Columbus was constituted High Admiral and Viceroy of all the seas, islands, and continents, which he should discover; with power to receive one tenth of the profits arising from their productions and commerce. Which offices and emoluments were to be made hereditary in his family. These articles being adjusted, the preparations for the voyage were brought forward with rapidity; but they were by no means adequate to the importance of the expeditions Three small vessels, scarcely suffi cient in size to be employed in the coasting business, were appointed to traverse the vast Atlantic, and to encounter the storms and currents always to be expected in tropical climates, uncertain seasons, and unknown seas. These vessels, as we must sup pose them in the infancy of naviga tion, were ill constructed, in a poor condition, and manned by seamen unaccustomed to distant voyages. But the tedious length of time which Columbus had passed in solicitation and suspense, and the prospect of being able soon to obtain the object of his wishes, induced him to overlook what he could not easily remedy; and led him to disregard those circumstances which would have intimidated any other mind. He accordingly equipped his small squadron with as much expedition as possible, manned with ninety men, and victualled for one year. With these, on the third of August, 1492, amidst a vast crowd of spectators, he set sail on an enterprise, which, if we consider the ill condition of his ships, the inexperience of his sailors, the length and precarious nature of his voyage, and the consequences that flowed from it, was the most daring and important that ever was undertaken. He touched at some of the Portuguese settlements in the Canary Isles; where, although he had been but a few days at sea, he found his vessels needed refitting. He soon made the necessary repairs, and took his departure from the most westerly island that had hitherto been discovered. Here he left the former track of navigation, and steered his course due west. Not many days after he sailed from the Canary Isles, he perceived the symptoms of a new scene of difficulty. The sailors now began to contemplate the dangers, and uncertain issue of a voyage, the nature and length of which were entirely left open to conjecture. Besides the fickleness and timidity natural to men unaccustomed to the discipline of a sea-faring life, several circumstances contributed to inspire an obstinate and mutinous disposition; which required the most consummate art as well as fortitude in the Admiral to control. Having been three weeks at sea, and experienced the uniform course of the trade winds, they contended that, should they continue the same course for a longer time, the same winds would never permit them to return to Spain. The magnetic needle began to vary its direction. This being the first time that this phenomenon was ever noticed, it was viewed by the sailors with astonishment; they thought it an indication that nature itself had changed its laws, and that Providence was about to punish their audacity in venturing so far beyond the bounds They declared that the commands of the government had been fully obeyed in their proceeding so many days in the same course, and so far surpassing all former na vigators in quest of discoveries. of man. Every talent requisite for governing, soothing and tempering the passions of men is conspicuous in the conduct of Columbus on this occasion. The dignity and affability of his manners, his surprising know. ledge and experience in naval affairs, his unwearied and minute attention to the duties of his command, gave him a great ascendancy over the minds of his men, and in spired that degree of confidence which would have maintained his authority in almost any circumstances. But here, from the nature of the under BELFAST MAG, NO. XL. taking, every man had leisure to feed his imagination with the gloominess and uncertainty of the prospect. They found from day to day the same steady gales wafting them with rapidity from their native country, and indeed from all countries of which they had any knowledge. He addressed himself to their passions with all the variety of management that the situation would admit, sometimes by soothing sometimes by soothing them with the prognostics of approaching land, sometimes by flattering their ambition, and feasting their avarice with the glory and wealth they would acquire from discovering the rich countries beyond the Atlantic, and sometimes by threatening them with the displeasure of their King, should their disobedience defeat so great an object. But every argument soon lost its effect, and their uneasiness increased. From secret whisperings it rose to open mutiny, and dangerous conspiracy. At length, they determined to rid themselves of the remonstrances of Columbus, by throwing him into the sea. The infection spread from ship to ship, and involved officers as well as sailors. They finally lost all sense of subordination, and addressed themselves to their com mander in an insolent manner, de manding to be conducted immediately back to Spain; or, they assured him, they would seek their own safety by taking away his life. Columbus, whose sagacity had discerned every symptom of the disorder, was prepared for this last stage of it; and was sufficiently apprized of the danger that awaited him. He found it vain to contend with passions he could no longer control. He there. fore proposed that they should obey his orders for three days longer; and should they not discover land in that time, he would then direct his course for Spain. They complied with his Ddd |