132 M ARYLAND

CHAPTEK XI.

CHUOKOLCGICAL EVICTS

RELATING TO THE

Settlement of America.

1447—Christopher Columbus, born in the Re-
public of Genoa.

1474—He communicates his impression in

writing to Paul, the Physician, of Florence,

that by sailing west, he could reach India..—

He applied first to John the 2d of Portugal,

to enable him to prosecute the enterprize.
That monarch declined the proposal of Co-
lumbus, but at the same time taking advan-
tage of his suggestions, ordered one of his
own ships upon a voyage to anticipate that
navigator, if discoveries were to be trade
in the west. The ship returned after a fruit-
less voyage, and served to throw ridicule
upon the project of Columbus.

Disgusted with this base artifice, Colum-
bus left Portugal, and sought at the court
of Ferdinand, King of Spain, a better re-
ception of his proposals. To the Queen
Isabella, who offered to pavrn her jewels
to raise the 2,500 crowns required for the
equipment of the enterprize, he owed the
final success of his application, which was
thrice rejected by the King.