finds readers, in which his character is summed up in the line,

"His people's conqueror and father too."

Henault says of him, “He united to extreme frankness, the most dexterous policy; to the most elevated sentiments, a charming simplicity of manners; to a soldier's courage, an inexhaustible fund of humanity." The openness and familiarity with which he conversed, his natural and ardent sallies, and the gentlemanlike ease of his demeanour, appear to have been the qualities which threw a peculiar charm about his person.

As a king, he was distinguished by a fellow-feeling for his subjects, which is seldom met with in that condition. He had lived so much among them that he knew all the detail of common life; and their comfort and prosperity were as much his wish as his own glory. This rendered him "the good" Henry, in spite of foibles and defects which will not allow him the appellation of "the Great."

It was perhaps solely owing to Sully, his sagacious minister and sincere friend, that his attachment to gaming, and to profusions of other kinds, did not ruin his finances, and defeat all his plans for alleviating the burthens of his people. As a warrior, it has been lamented that his principal successes were over his own revolted subjects: no one surpassed him in activity and enterprise, but he can scarcely be reckoned a great general. On the whole, he was a sovereign happily suited to the country he governed, which still fondly cherishes his memory, and satirizes its other kings by an almost exclusive affection borne to him.

1. Where was the heart of Henry IV. of France deposited? 2. For what, as a king, was he particularly distinguished? 3. What was solely owing to friend and minister Sully?

LESSON CXXXV.—MAY THE FIFTEENTH.

The Discovery of America by Columbus. CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS, celebrated as the discoverer of a new continent, was born at Genoa, in 1442, being the son of a woolcomber in that city. In early youth he discovered a great fondness for the study of navigation, and made himself perfect master of geography, geometry, astronomy, and cosmography. After trading in the Mediterranean, he settled at Lisbon, where his brother Bar

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tholomew was established; and here he married the daughter of a master of a vessel who had been engaged in discoveries, whose charts he perused; and he increased his knowledge of maritime affairs by several voyages to the Canaries and the coast of Africa. Guided by experience, and encouraged by the correspondence of Paul Foscanelli, a learned Florentine, he became persuaded that a continent must exist in the western ocean. He presented his plans to the Genoese, and afterwards to the King of Portugal; but instead of patronage, he met in both applications with coldness. In Spain, Ferdinand and Isabella showed him greater attention; and after many delays, which his zeal successfully removed, he was permitted to sail in quest of unknown regions.

On Friday, the 3d of August, the fleet, viz. the Santa Maria and two other vessels, the crews, altogether, amounting to ninety seamen and a few adventurers, got under weigh, a little before sun-rise, in the presence of crowds of spectators, who poured forth blessings and prayers for its success. On the 13th of the same month, Columbus reached the Canary Islands, and there refitted his ships, which were found to be ill-appointed and scarcely seaworthy; but nothing could damp the commander's ardour; and, after giving them such repairs as were absolutely requisite, and laying in fresh provisions and water, he again set sail on the 6th day of September. And now the perils of the voyage began. For thirty-three days he sailed across an unknown ocean, and saw stars unseen before by European eyes. On the 13th of September, Columbus perceived that the magnetic needle, hitherto the unerring guide of the mariner, no longer pointed to the true north. On the 17th, the prodigy, for such it then seemed, became known to the sailors, and there was fear and alarm, which rose almost to mutiny in the ships; but still Columbus calmed their disquiet. When the tradewind blew stronger and stronger, and every day in the same direction, the seamen thought that they must sail on for ever before that commanding blast, and despaired of being able to return: so they mutinied again, but were again quieted by their pious commander, whose faith and trust in God enabled him to bear up against the murmurs of his men and the strange perils of the sea, as it had kept him from despair in the long attendance he had paid at the court of Isabella. At length, on Thursday, 11th of October, a man, named Roderigo de Triana, shouted land! from the mast-head of the Pinta; but it was too

late to be sure that he was not deceived. No one slept that night, and the ships sailed on till two hours past midnight, when the shore of the island Guanahani, one of the Bahamas, was distinctly visible. The hymn of Salva Regina was instantly sung, and the ships lay-to till next morning, when they ran close in to examine the land they had discovered, while the Te Deum was sung by the crews of all the vessels.

And now, those who had murmured against their commander, who had talked of putting him in chains, and forcing him to return to Spain, threw themselves at his feet, and entreated forgiveness for their distrust, promising confidence and obedience in future; and indeed they were now ready to worship him as one inspired by heaven. As soon as the sun rose, a boat from each vessel was manned and armed. The standards of the green cross, which distinguished Columbus's fleet, were displayed; and the admiral, dressed in a rich dress, having a naked sword in his hand, was the first European who set his foot in the new world. His men followed, and kneeling down, they all kissed the ground they had so long desired to see. A cross, having on its arms the initials of Ferdinand and Isabella, each surmounted by a crown, was erected, solemn mass was performed before it, and formal possession was taken of the land in the name of Isabella, queen of Castile and Leon.

A number of the natives surrounded the strangers, and gazed with wonder on ceremonies whose import they could not guess, any more than they could foresee the cruel consequences to themselves and their countrymen. The colour and dress of the Spaniards, the size of their ships, with their sails, and their fire-arms, all impressed the ignorant and gentle natives with an idea that their visitors were beings of a superior order; as such they were ready to worship and obey them, until their subsequent conduct gave the poor Indians room to believe that they were demons, not men. But Columbus was free of

all blame. He was just to their claims, careful for their interests, and too truly pious to wish to injure those who, equally with himself, were the children of his Almighty Father.

The island of Guanahani, with some others of the same group, at which Columbus touched, were all extremely poor, but the natives pointed to the south as the quarter from whence some pieces of gold, found among them, were procured. Thither the admiral accordingly steered, and

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discovered first Cuba, and then Hayti, to which he gave the name of Hispaniola; there, having obtained the consent of the natives, he built a small fort, which he called Navidad, and left Diego de Arado of Cordova to act as its governor, until he should return from Spain.

On the 16th of January, 1493, Columbus having on board of his ships some of the natives of the new land, a quantity of gold, specimens of all the productions likely to become objects of commerce, and a collection of rare animals, plants, and other curiosities, set sail on his return to Spain. Just as he had reached the coast of Europe, a violent storm arose, which forced him into the Tagus; and, notwithstanding the jealousy of all discoverers entertained by Portugal, the king received him with great respect, and listened with admiration to his account of the voyage. The moment the weather permitted he left Lisbon, and proceeded to Palos, where he arrived on the 15th of March, 1493, seven months and eleven days after his departure. As soon as the ship was seen approaching, all the inhabitants of the place ran to the shore to welcome her. When they saw the strange people, the unknown animals, the singular productions brought from the new countries, their joy was unbounded. The bells were rung, the cannon fired, and all the people accompanied Columbus and his crew to the same church where they had offered up their prayers on departing, to return thanks for the prosperous issue of the voyage.

Ferdinand and Isabella were at Barcelona when they heard of his return and his success. He was respectfully invited to court, that they might hear from his own mouth the details of his voyage. On his way thither, the people from all parts of the country flocked together to see him as he passed, and his entrance to the city was conducted with pomp suitable to the great event, which had added another land to their dominions. The natives of the new country marched first; then the rude ornaments of gold were borne along, together with the grains and sand of the same precious metal, found in the mountains and rivers; and after these the new and strange animals, and other curious or useful productions of the islands. Columbus himself closed the procession.

Ferdinand and Isabella received him clad in their royal robes, seated on a throne under a magnificent canopy. They stood up as the admiral approached, and when he knelt to kiss their hands, they raised him, and commanded him to take his seat on a chair provided for him, and to

give them an account of the wonders and dangers of his voyage. When he had finished his narration, the king and queen fell on their knees and offered up solemn thanks to God for the discovery. Every mark of honour that gratitude could suggest was paid to Columbus.

His family was ennobled, and the whole court, following the example of the sovereigns, paid him the highest respect: but that which gratified him most was an order to equip a squadron of sufficient force to take possession of the new countries, and to prosecute his discoveries.

1. When and where was Columbus born?

2. What did he notice with regard to the compass on the 13th of September ?

3. On what day did they first discover land?

4. When did Columbus set sail on his return to Spain?

5. How was he received by Ferdinand and Isabella?

LESSON CXXXVI. -MAY THE SIXTEENTH.

The Discovery of America by Columbus.
(CONTINUED.)

THE success of Columbus excited a wonderful degree of enterprise throughout Spain. Volunteers of every rank solicited employment in the new expedition, and even Ferdinand, cautious as he was, now caught the general enthusiasm. A fleet of seventeen sail was speedily fitted

out.

On board of it were 1500 persons, many of whom were of noble families. They were furnished with domestic animals, and with such seeds and plants as were likely to thrive in the climate of the Western Indies, as the new country was called. Utensils and instruments of every sort were taken on board, and there were all such artificers as might be useful to a rising colony. In order to secure themselves from the intrusion of strangers in these new dominions, Ferdinand and Isabella now applied to Pope Alexander VI. for a grant of whatever they might explore to the westward as far as 100 leagues beyond the Azores, while all discoveries to the eastward were confirmed to the Portuguese.

Columbus, after touching at the Carribee Islands and Jamaica, proceeded to Hispaniola, where he arrived on the 22d November, 1493, and found that the insolence and rapacity of the men he had left behind him at Navidad had provoked the natives to burn the fort and murder the