LIFE OF COLUMBUS. 355 



bread by it. He made proficiency also in arithmetic, 

 drawing, design, grammar, and the latin language. But 

 in consequence of decided evidences which he soon gave 

 of a strong passion for geography and navigation, his edu- 

 cation was chiefly directed to these studies. He was 

 sent to a famous school at Padua, for a short time, and 

 there instructed in geometry and astronomy, in addition 

 to the studies just named. Here, the foundation was laid 

 in his mind for his future greatness ; for he devoted 

 himself to his books with all the ardor and energy of his 

 nature, and late in life he often spoke ofthis youthful ap- 

 plication, as a secret impulse of the Deity, guiding and 

 inspiring him in reference to the great end he was chosen 

 to accomplish. But he could have learned nothing more 

 at Padua than the rudiments of what he studied, for he 

 left that university while yet extremely young, and re- 

 turned to his father's house at Genoa. Whether he there 

 engaged with him in wool-combing does not appear. He 

 could not, however, have continued long in that employ- 

 ment, as his nautical life commenced at the age of fourteen 

 years. Upon this his heart had been long set ; and the 

 passion was undoubtedly quickened, as well by the gen- 

 erally reviving and curious spirit of the times, as by the 

 peculiarly maritime and adventurous habits of the Geno- 

 ese citizens, and the situation of the city itself. 



His first voyages were made with an old and hardy sea- 

 captain of his own name, who had acquired considerable 

 reputation by his daring cruises ; and who, from a distant 

 relationship, probably took some pains to initiate the young 

 mariner into the toils of the ocean, and the perils of the 

 piratical wars then common in the Mediterranean se%. 

 He was engaged also in an expedition fitted out in 1459, 

 by the Duke of Calabria against Naples. Genoa furnished 

 aid in money and ships on this occasion, and the vete- 

 ran Colombo probably had a share of the command of their 

 forces. This war, which lasted four years, was finally 

 unsuccessful ; but that the young discoverer rather gained 

 than lost honor in the course of it would appear from his 

 being at one time appointed to a separate command, and 

 despatched on a hazardous cruise, to cut out a galley 

 from the harbor of Tunis. A characteristic expedient 



