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 Canaries to Hayti in 1484, mentioned by the Inca Garcilaso and some other Spanish writers, is regarded as a fable. The accounts, however, of Spaniards and Portuguese who had sailed westward so far as to perceive indications of land, were useful to Columbus, according to his own avowal. Ferdinand and Isabella, in a written declaration of the 4th of August 1494, ascribe the new discoveries to Columbus.

It is only necessary to add, that, among the other adventurers to the New World in pursuit of gold, was Americus Vespucius, a Florentine gentleman, whom Ferdinand had appointed to draw sea-charts, and to whom he had given the name of chief pilot. This man, as a pilot, accompanied Ojeda, an enterprising Spanish gentleman, to America; and having, with much art, and some degree of elegance, drawn up an amusing history of his voyage, he published it to the world. It was circulated rapidly, and was read with admiration. In his narrative, he had insinuated that the glory of having first discovered the continent in the New World belonged to him. This was in part believed, and the country began to be called after tho name of its supposed first discoverer. The unaccountable caprice of mankind has perpetuated the error; so that now, by the universal consent of all nations, this new quarter of the world is called AMERICA. Thus, the name of Americus has supplanted that of Columbus; and mankind are left to regret an act of injustice, which, having been sanctioned by time, they can never redress.

is universally allowed to be the largest quarter or grand division of the globe, and is