But none of the monarchs or rulers of Europe had either sufficient reach of thought to comprehend the schemes of Columbus, or sufficient generosity to en courage an adventurous speculation, el en with Cie pro bability of the fullest return from the success of the un dertaking. He was considered as a dreamer by man. He was rejected by the dignified and the great, because he was a man of low condition ; and he was repelled by the learned, because they were mortified to hear tha•_ an obscure pilot had humid what had escaped the dis cernment of more cultivated minds. He applied, first to the Genoese, his countrymen, who were satisfied with the productions of India as they were brought to their hands ; then to the Portuguese, whose bishops and physicians objected to his design with every argument which their ignorance or ingenuity could supply, and among whom he w as almost deprived, by treachery, of the honour which would attach to the discoverer of the New World ; then to Spain ; and then, by means of Bar tholomew, his brother, to Henry VII. of England. All these applications, however, were unsuccessful ; objec tions were every where raised, and difficulties exhibited ; the refusal of one monarch was urged as a reason for a similar conduct on the part of another ; and had not the perseverance of Columbus been equal to his genius, the American continent might yet have been unknown to the inhabitants of Europe.
But the time was not far distant when more encour aging prospects were about to open. The Moors had been drip en from Spain, and Ferdinand and Isabella, the sovereigns of that country, had leisure for attending to objects which pressed less immediately upon their notice. The chivalrous spirit of the age had been sufficiently employed in the contest with the African intruders ; but now, it wanted some other object, and required to be guided into a different channel. Columbus, disappointed, but not moved from his purpose, was at this time about to quit the Spanish territories for England, whither his brother Bartholomew had already been sent. By the orders of Isabella, he was desired to relinquish his in tention of soliciting the patronage of foreign courts ; and invited into her presence, with every mark of condescen sion and respect. The character and dispositions of Columbus were such as highly recommended him to the rulers of Spain. To that quickness and decision which are the usual indications of genius, he added, that so lemnity of aspect, and gravity of manners, which the Spaniards cultivate with so much care, and which con tribute to distinguish them from the other nations of Europe. His appearance was dignified, and his beha iour respectful ; he was resolute in his purposes, and lira in his demands. At his interview with Isabella,he relaxed in nothing of what lie had originally proposed : the conditions on which he declared himself willing to undertake the expedition were still the same ;—that he should be appointed admiral of all the seas which he might explore, and governor of all the continents and islands which he might visit ; that these offices should be hereditary in his family ; and " that the tenth of every thing, bought. bartered, found, or got, within the
'bounds of his admiralship, abating only the charge of the conquest," should be settled upon him, and should de scend to his heirs in case of his death. (Life of Cohan hu,y, chap. xiv.) It was his desire that a small fleet should be equipped and put under his command, in or der that lie might attempt the discovery ; and to demon strate his integrity, as well as his firm hope of success, lie offered to advance an eighth part of the money which would be necessary for building the ships, provided he were allowed a corresponding share of the advantage re .-ulting from the enterprize. John Perez, guardian of the monastery of Rabida, near the town of Palos, and the friend and confident of Columbus, was the person to whom he was indebted for this interview with Isabella. Ile was confessor to the queen, and an ecclesiastic of great respectability and influence. By his represcnta tions, and by those of Alonzo de Quintanilla, and Lewis de Santangel, both ufficeis in high place under the Spanish crown, a favourable ear was lent to the pro positions of the Genoese adventurer. They stated to Isabella, that he was a person of a sound and collected mind, of acknowledged integrity, well informed in geo graphy and history, and practised in the art of naviga tion ; they spoke to her of the glory which would result from the success of the enterprize, and which would for ever attach to her reign ; and of the extension of the Christian faith, which would be promulgated in the re gions that might be discovered. The time was propi tious. Granada had surrendered to the arms of Spain ; and the Moors were expelled from the provinces which they had long occupied in the heart of the kingdom. And such were the exertions of Quintanilla and of San tangel, that Isabella resolved to patronise Columbus, and engage him in her service on his own terms. Orders were issued, that a squadron should be fitted out from the harbour of Palos. It consisted of tii•ee vessels : but as the art of building ships was then rude, and in its in lancy, and as distant voyages were comparatively un known, the largest of these vessels was of inconsidera ble dimensions, and the others were not much above the size of ordinary boats. They were victualled for twelve months, and had on board ninety men. The expense of building and equipping the whole was not more than L.4000 ; yet the greatness of this expense was the cause of much serious alarm to the Spanish rulers, and contri buted not a little to prevent them from accceding to the proposals of Columbus.