COLUMBIAN HISTORICAL EXPOSITION AT MADRID. 217 



(3) A copy of the letter written to the Catholic sovereigns by Colum 

 bus after his wreck on the coast of Jamaica in 1503. Exhibited by the 

 Queen Begent. 



(4) The original of a memorial addressed by Don Luis Colon, the 

 grandson of the discoverer, to the Licenciado Prado, treasurer of their 

 majesties, demanding the rights to which he was entitled under the 

 contract made with the Catholic sovereigns by his grandfather. Exhib 

 ited by the Queen Regent. 



There were also several medals struck in Spain and elsewhere from 

 time to time commemorating the discovery of America. 



In the Papal exhibit was a facsimile of an autographic letter from 

 Alexander VI, Pontiff, dated at Borne, May 3, 1493, congratulating 

 Ferdinand and Isabella upon the triumphant return of Columbus and 

 invoking for them the divine blessing. 



There was also a facsimile of the famous Bull of Demarcation by 

 which the same Pope, upon the same date, divided the world between 

 the Spaniards and the Portuguese. 



Also a facsimile of a communication from Pope Alexander VI, dated 

 June 25, 1493, to Friar Bernardo Boil, the first missionary to the New 

 World, who accomparied Columbus on his second voyage. 



Also a facsimile of a letter from Pope Julius II, dated at Borne, April 

 10, 1507, commending Bartholemew, the brother, and Diego, the son, of 

 Christopher Columbus, to King Ferdinand, then an exile in Naples or 

 Sicily, 



The Government of Santo Domingo exhibited a facsimile of a cross 

 set up by Columbus in 1493 at Santo Cerro in token of his first victory 

 over the Indians, and a number of photographs of that island, which 

 was the scene of the first civilized settlement in the New World; and 

 the Government of Guatemala exhibited two manuscripts which are 

 claimed to be genuine autograph letters of Columbus, but which are 

 only clever copies of the originals, to Nicolo Oderigo and the directors 

 of the Bank of St. George, preserved in the municipal palace at Genoa. 



Spain is rich in precious manuscripts. In the archives of the Indies, 

 and the Colombina Library at Seville; in the collection of the Duke of 

 Veragua, the Duke of Alva, and the Boyal Historical Society at 

 Madrid are the most valuable and interesting historical documents in 

 the world, while scattered through the Kingdom are private collections 

 relating to the discovery and the conquest of America that are both 

 unique and extensive. But for some reason none of them were exposed 

 at the Columbian Historical Exposition, and it was noticeable that 

 during all the festivities that attended the celebration of the anniver 

 sary the descendants of Columbus were conspicuous by their absence. 



It was, therefore, as opportune as it was appropriate that a consid 

 erable portion of the space allotted to the United States should be occu 

 pied by objects illustrating the life and achievements of Christopher 

 Columbus, and it was not unnatural that they should attract more than 

 ordinary attention. 



