READINGS FROM BOOKS OF HISTORY AND

TRAVEL.

XXIV. COLUMBUS AT THE CONVENT OF LA RABIDA.

BY WASHINGTON IRVING.

To Washington Irving rightly belongs the title of "Founder of American Literature." He introduced American literature to the "Mother Country and, after the publication of "The Sketch Book" in 1819, no Englishman asked, "Who reads an American book?" Born in 1783, while the British troops still held possession of his native city, New York, he lived till near the close of 1859; so that he connects Revolutionary times with those just before the opening of the Civil War. His first book, a humorous history of New York, was published in 1809, and the last of his writings, the last volume of "The Life of Washington," appeared a little while before his death at "Sunnyside"; so that his literary life extended through just a half century. Irving displays a pleasing fancy, a delicious humor, and a singular felicity of style. One can not go amiss in reading any of his numerous volumes. This selection is from "The Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus."

WASHINGTON IRVING.

1. About half a league from the little seaport of Palos in Andalusia there stood, and continues to stand at the present day, an ancient convent of Franciscan friars, dedicated to Santa Maria la Rabida. One day a stranger on

foot, in humble guise but of a distinguished air, accompanied by a small boy, stopped at the gate of the convent, and asked of the porter a little bread and water for his child.

2. While receiving this humble refreshment, the prior of the convent, Juan Perez, happening to pass by, was struck with the appearance of the stranger, and observing from his air and accent that he was a foreigner, entered into conversation with him, and soon learned the particulars of his story. That stranger was Columbus. He was on his way to the neighboring town to seek his brotherin-law, who had married a sister of his deceased wife.

3. The prior was a man of extensive information. His attention had been turned in some measure to geographical and nautical science, probably from his vicinity to Palos, the inhabitants of which were among the most enterprising navigators of Spain, and made frequent voyages to the recently discovered islands and countries on the African coast.

He was greatly interested by the conversation of Columbus, and struck with the grandeur of his views. It was a remarkable occurrence in the monotonous life of the cloister, to have a man of such singular character, intent on so extraordinary an enterprise, applying for bread and water at the gate of his convent.

4. When he found, however, that the voyager was on the point of abandoning Spain to seek patronage in the court of France, and that so important an enterprise was about to be lost forever to the country, the patriotism of He detained Columbus as

the good friar took the alarm.

his guest, and, diffident of his own judgment, sent for a scientific friend to converse with him.

5. That friend, a physician resident in Palos, was equally struck with the appearance and conversation of the stranger; several conferences took place at the convent, at which several of the veteran mariners of Palos were present. Among these was Martin Pinzon, the head of a family of wealthy and experienced navigators of the place, celebrated for their adventurous expeditions. Facts were related by some of these navigators in support of the theory of Columbus.

6. In a word, his project was treated with a deference in the quiet cloisters of La Rabida, and among the seafaring men of Palos, which had been sought in vain among the sages and philosophers of the court. Martin Pinzon especially was so convinced of its feasibility that he offered to engage in it with purse and person, and to bear the expenses of Columbus in a renewed application to the court.

7. Friar Juan Perez was confirmed in his faith by the concurrence of those learned and practical councillors. He had once been confessor to the queen, and knew that she was always accessible to persons of his sacred calling.

He proposed to write to her immediately on the subject, delay his journey until an The latter was easily per

and entreated Columbus to answer could be received.

suaded, for he felt as if, in leaving Spain, he was again abandoning his home. He was also reluctant to renew in another court the vexations and disappointments experienced in Spain and Portugal.

8. The little council at the convent of La Rabida now cast round their eyes for an ambassador to depart upon this momentous mission. They chose a pilot, one of the most shrewd and important personages in this maritime neighborhood. The queen was at this time at the military city of Santa Fé. There he found access to the benignant princess, and delivered the epistle of the friar.

9. Isabella had always been favorably disposed to the proposition of Columbus. She wrote in reply to Juan Perez, thanking him for his timely services, and requesting that he would repair immediately to the court, leaving Christopher Columbus in confident hope until he should hear further from her. This royal letter was brought back by the pilot at the end of fourteen days, and spread great joy in the little junto at the convent.

10. No sooner did the warm-hearted friar receive it, than he saddled his mule, and departed privately, before midnight, for the court. He 'journeyed through the conquered countries of the Moors, and rode into the newly erected city of Santa Fé, where the sovereigns were superintending the close investment of the capital of Granada.

11. The sacred office of Juan Perez gained him a ready

entrance in a court distinguished for religious zeal; and, once admitted to the presence of the queen, his former relation, as father confessor, gave him great freedom of counsel. He pleaded the cause of Columbus with characteristic enthusiasm, speaking from actual knowledge of his honorable motives, his professional knowledge and experience, and his perfect capacity to fulfill the undertaking; he represented the solid principles upon which the enterprise was founded, the advantage that must attend its success, and the glory it must shed upon the Spanish crown.

12. It is probable that Isabella had never heard the proposition urged with such honest zeal and impressive eloquence. Being naturally more sanguine and susceptible than the king, and more open to warm and generous impulses, she was moved by the representations of Juan Perez. The queen requested that Columbus might be again sent to her, and, with the kind considerateness which characterized her, bethinking herself of his poverty, and his humble plight, ordered that money should be forwarded to him, to bear his traveling expenses, to provide him with a mule for his journey, and to furnish him with decent raiment, that he might make a respectable appear-, ance at the court.

13. The worthy friar lost no time in communicating the result of his mission; he transmitted the money, and a letter, by the hands of an inhabitant of Palos, to his friend the physician, who delivered them to Columbus. The latter complied with the instructions conveyed in the epistle. He exchanged his threadbare garb for one more