human probability, must eventually be the beneficial effects arising from the discovery of the western world.

In South America, when we consider how much longer time has elapsed since its first invasion, conquest and settlement, principally by the Spaniards, than since the first permanent settlements in North America, it must be confest, that the progress of refinement, the diffusion of literature and the extension of the arts and sciences, have been impeded by that inaptitude to exertion or enterprize, which has arisen from the abundance of, and from the facility of extracting, silver and gold" out of the bowels of our mother earth;" as well as from the general ignorance and superstition of the priesthood, and the gloomy and oppressive tendency of their religion, thus rigidly taught and rigorously enforced.

The very gradual increase of population may be in a great degree attributed to the inhospitality of the climate in many places ; but, in a greater, to the manners and habits of the people. If we compare the growth of some of the large cities in South America with those of the United States, the great disparity of increase will be apparent.

LIMA was founded in 1535. In the year 1600 its inhabitants were 14,000; in 1700 they were 27,000; in 1790, they amounted to 52,000. Potosi was founded in 1545,and now contains about 100,000 inhabitants. Quito was founded in 1534, and contains about 65,000 inhabitants. There are many other cities, founded about the same time, the site of which for commerce, or on account of their nearness to rich mines, seems extremely favorable for a far greater population.

Eighty years since, where Baltimore now stands, there were not ten dwelling houses. In 1790 it contained above 13,000 inhabitants; and in 1810 its population amounted to 46,555. Philadelphia, founded by Penn in 1682. contained in 1790, 43,525, and in 1810, 92,247, including the suburbs. The city of New-York, in 1697, contained 4.302 souls; in 1790, 33, 131; in 1810 its population was 93,914.

Not in the cities only, but in the United States at large, there has been a similar increase of population. When the census was first taken in 1790, the number of inhabi aets was 3,950,000. In 1800, 5,303,666. In 1810, 7,230,514. At this computation of increase, the number of souls double in less than twenty-five years; at which rate the following table will show the result for 150 years. No. of Inhabitants in

1810-7,230.514

Allowing that in the United States, including Louisiana, there are two millions of square miles,or twelve hundred and eighty millions of acres; in one hundred and fifty years there would be about 230 persons to a square mile, not three acres to a man. That the present territory of the union may increase in population, in the above proportion, for a century, is not at once to be considered improbable ; though many causes may conspire against it."

What may be the effects of divisions and consequent wars, of the increase of luxury and intemperance, of famine, of pestilence, or a decrease of migrations from Europe, it is impossible to foresee. It is however delightful to anticipate the continuance of the union for centuries; and to contemplate three or four hundred millions of our fellow creatures, enjoying climates profuse in every variety of good, basking in the sunshine of temperate liberty, and bound by the beneficent laws of one government and one constitution; extending, not over the present dominions of the United States only, but stretching their limits to the shores of the Arctic Sea and Western Pacific.

The longevity of the oldest the most important changes

individual is so limited, that and transactions of empires

far distant or near, of ages remote, recent or present,

speaking in the aggregate, have little effect on his own happiness; otherwise than as he, from sentiments of philanthropy or patriotism, in sympathy enjoys the pleasures of nations once happy; participates in the happiness of such as are now so; or foretastes the expansion, continuance and augmentation, of national felicity in approaching ages.

Notwithstanding all the unmerited disappointments,cruel hardships and severe maltreatment, which embittered so great a part of the life of Columbus, we cannot but suppose he received in his latter days, not merely consolation, but high satisfaction, in reflecting on the magnitude and success of his vast enterprise; in anticipating the justice that would be rendered his character; the unbounded benefits that would result to mankind; and the exaltation of his name, permanent as the world he discovered, and coextensive with the annals of time.

"A light-a light," on board the little fleet of Columbus, was the joyful exclamation, at midnight, on the 11th of October 1492; and the next day the soil of America was prest by the footsteps of Europeans.

Who can peruse the accounts of this voyage without sharing with a moistened eye, in the feelings of indignation, of hope and dread suspense, doubt and anxiety, that tenanted the bosom of the daring adventurer, for several days. before this discovery; or be less effected with ardent exultation, when the land became visible to his long gazing eyes; and his labors of twenty years were at last crowned with success ?

Of the difficulties he encountered before he could prevail on any of the powers of Europe to patronize the undertaking; of his fortitude and perseverance, and of his final success, it may be proper to take a brief notice.

Columbus is supposed to have been a native of Genoa. In 1647 he repaired to Lisbon. The Portuguese at this time were anxious to find a passage to the East Indies round Africa. Columbus, from various consideratious which to him appeared plausible, believed that a passage to

*1447

the East Indies might be found by a western course over the Atlantic.

He sought the assistance of the Genoese, but was denied; the project appearing to them chimerical. He next solicited the Portuguese, but was unsuccessful. He sent his brother Bartholomew to England, to lay his plan be.. fore Henry VII; but his brother was captured, and did not reach England for several years.

Ferdinand and Isabella now governed the united kingdom of Castile and Arragon. To them he applied; and, after much urgency, the negociation ended in a treaty with Columbus, April 17th, 1492. On the Sd of August of the same year, a little before sunrise, Columbus set sail with three small vessels.

He steered directly to the Canary Islands, which he left the 6th of September, and held his course due west, over seas never before ploughed by European keels. Mis men ere long began to murmur; and several days before land was discovered threatened to throw him overboard. By threats and flattery he persuaded his men to continue the voyage three days longer; when, if land should not be discovered, he would return,

Little however did he risque by this stipulation; the indications of the nearness of land being so numerous and almost indisputable. On the 11th of October, at the approach of night, he ordered all his sails furled, lest the vessel should be driven on shore. Not an eye was closed. All was doubt, expectation, fear, hope, and the trepidation of awful suspense. Each gazed with dreadful anxiety to that quarter where it was hoped land would be discovered.

A little after midnight the cry of Land, Land, was heard on board the Pinta, the most forward vessel. Having been often before deceived, suspense became the more painful, till morning, when all doubts were dispelled. Land was visible. With tears of joy the crews of the three vessels sung a hymn of thanksgiving to Almighty God.

In a rich dress, with a drawn sword, Columbus landed,

b

and took possession, for the crown of Castile and Leon. The Spaniards were surprised at the novelty of the scene. The naked simplicity of the natives, beardless, with long black hair, and other shape than their own; struck them with astonishment; nor less the novelty of every herb, each shrub and tree.

Nor less was the wonder of the natives, at the sight of the Spaniards, whom they regarded as the children of the sun; but greater was their astonishment at the sight of the ships, which they considered as living animals with wings; with eyes of lightning and with tongues of thunder.

Columbus made several voyages after this; but Americus Vespucius, a Florentine adventurer, robbed him of a name that ought to have been given the New World.

Gold and silver were the great objects of search; and these were found in South America; and here the settlements of the Spanish were made; while above a century elapsed, from the first discovery of North America, before it was again visited with success for purposes of settlement, excepting in Mexico and about the Isthmus of Darien.

May 1497. Giovanni Caboto, or John Cabot, a Venitian, having received a commission from Henry VII, of England, sailed from Bristol; and, on the 24th of June, discovered Newfoundland. Leaving this Island, and steering westwardly, he soon discovered the continent. His course was now directed northwardly in pursuit of a northeast passage to the East Indies, to the 67th degree of N. Latitude, according to some authors, and, according to others, which account we consider the more probable, to about the 56th or 57th.

Thence returning, he pursued a S. W. course, along the continent of N. America, to the bay of Chesapeak; or, as others suppose, to East Florida; and thence returned to England, without any where attempting a settlement.

From this time, although Cabot had pretended to take possession of the coast in the name of Henry VII, nothing was done towards effecting a settlement till the reign of Elizabeth.