his merit in devising a plan for raising the cupola of Florence cathedral
was questioned.


EVIDENCES OF A WESTERN WORLD.

Of the amount of evidence furnished by the testimony of sailors, it is
difficult to speak with any degree of accuracy. Rumours of drift-wood,
apparently carved with some savage implements; of mammoth reeds,
corresponding with Ptolemy's account of those indigenous to India; even of
two corpses, cast up on one of the Azores, and presenting an appearance
quite unlike that of any race of Europe or Africa; all seem to have come
to the willing ears of Columbus, and to have been regarded by him as
"confirmations, strong as proofs of holy writ," of the great theory.

About the year 1470 Columbus arrived at Lisbon. According to the account
given by his son, and adopted by the historian Bossi, he had sailed with
Colombo el Mozo (the nephew of that "first Admiral of the family" of whom
we have already heard) on a cruise to intercept some Venetian merchantmen
on their way home from Flanders. At break of day the battle began, off
Cape St. Vincent, and lasted till nightfall. The privateer commanded by
Columbus grappled a huge Venetian galley, which, after a hand-to-hand
struggle, caught fire, and the flames spread to the privateer. Friends and
enemies alike sought safety in the sea, and Columbus, supporting himself
on an oar, succeeded, when nearly exhausted, in gaining the land, which
was at some six miles distance. God preserved him, says his son, for
greater things.


COLUMBUS AT PORTO SANTO.