Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. II.djvu/508

482 482 PROGRESS OF DISCOVERY. PART II. The admi- ral's despon- dency. though, as it turned out, to the great inconven- ience of the commercial world, most erroneously, must open somewhere between Cuba and the coast of Paria. Four caravels, only, were furnished for the expedition, the largest of which did not exceed seventy tons' burden ; a force forming a striking contrast to the magnificent armada lately intrusted TO Ovando, and altogether too insignificant to be vindicated on the ground of the different objects proposed by the two expeditions.^^ Columbus, oppressed with growing infirmities, and a consciousness, perhaps, of the decline of popular favor, manifested unusual despondency pre- viously to his embarkation. He talked, even, of resigning the task of further discovery to his broth- er Bartholomew. " I have established," said he, " all that I proposed, — the existence of land in the west. I have opened the gate, and others may enter at their pleasure ; as indeed they do, arrogat- ing to themselves the title of discoverers, to which they can have little claim, following as they do in my track." He little thought the ingratitude of mankind would sanction the claims of these adven- turers so far as to confer the name of one of them on that world, which his genius had revealed.^^ 37 Garibay, Comprndio, torn. ii. lib. in, cap. 14. — Feriiaiuio Co- lon, Hist, del Aliiiii-;nit«^, cap. 88. — llerrera, Indias Occidentalcs, lib. 5, cap. 1. — Benzoni, Novi Orbis Hist., cap. 14. "^ It would be pointj out of our Way to investijjate the pretensions of Amcrif;o Vcsj)ncci to the hon- or of first discoverinc: tiie South American continent. The reader will find them displayed with per- S|)iciiily and candor by Mr. Ir- ving, in his " Life of Columbus." (Appendi.x, No. 9.) Few will be disposed to contest the auilior's conclusion respecting their fullacy, Ihough all may not liave the same ciiarity as he, in tracing its possi- ble origin to an editorial bhnK.vjr,