as absurd, upon the credit of a maxim under which the ignorant and indolent, in every age, shelter themselves, “That it is presumptuous in any person to suppose that he alone possesses knowledge superior to all the rest of mankind united.” They maintained, likewise, that if there were really any such countries as Columbus pretended, they would not have remained so long concealed; nor would the wisdom and sagacity of former ages have left the glory of this discovery to an obscure Genoese pilot.
Meanwhile, Columbus, who had experienced the uncertain issue of applications to kings, had taken the precaution of sending into England his brother Bartholomew, to whom he had fully communicated his ideas, to negociate the matter with Henry VII. On his voyage to England, he fell into the hands of pirates, who stripped him of every thing, and detained him a prisoner several years. At length, he made his cscapo, and arrived at London in extreme indigence, where he employed himself some time in selling maps. With his gains, he purchased, a decent dress, and in person presented to the king the proposals which his brother had entrusted to his management. Notwithstanding Henry’s excessive caution and parsimony, he received the proposals of Columbus with more approbation than any monarch to whom they had been presented. After several unsuccessful applications to other European powers of less note, he was induced, by the entreaty and interposition of Perez, a man of considerable learning, and of some credit with Queen Isabella, to apply again to the Court of Spain. This application, after much warm debate, and several mortifying repulses, proved at last
