VASCO DE GAMA. 
4 . 
the rack of the Inquisition, impelled him to adventure his little 
bark, on the hitherto unploughed Ocean of the Atlantic, and no 
nobler or grander object can the History of the human character 
present, than Columbus sitting at the helm of his vessel, his eye 
directed to the westward, as if it would penetrate into the very 
depths of an almost illimitable distance, and exclaiming in all 
the enthusiasm of a noble mind—“ It must—It must be so, for 
God is my guide." 
If however we look into the motives which, in the majority 
of cases, swayed the mind of the earliest navigators, we shall find 
but little to admire or to applaud, with the exception of an 
occasional display of high personal courage, which appeared to 
brave all obstacles, and to look down with disdain on common 
difficulties. On such occasions, however, the priesthood inter¬ 
fered and gave to some favourite Saint the merit of the act, as 
without his most special interposition, it would not have been 
possible to accomplish the deed, and thus in every undertaking 
of importance or difficulty, it became necessary by largesses, or 
benefactions, to enlist the priesthood in the cause, as by their 
all powerful influence, men could be found at all times to embark 
in an undertaking, although distinguished by the greatest diffi¬ 
culty and danger. This was peculiarly the case w r ith Columbus, 
previously to the undertaking of his perilous voyage across the 
Atlantic; and it was subsequently exemplified with greater force, 
in the expeditions of Vasco de Gama. The latter of these enter¬ 
prising men, foreseeing the dangers which awaited him in his 
daring projects, and the effects which they would naturally have 
upon his crew, unseasoned to hardships, and in their natures 
w eak and effeminate, enlisted in his cause, the two most power¬ 
ful engines, which then ruled the human mind, lucre and religion, 
and by their concentrated force, he succeeded in infusing courage 
into the hearts of his dispirited mariners in the midst of the 
most appalling dangers, and finally led them to triumph over 
difficulties, at which, but for the seasonable influence of the 
priest, they would have shrunk abashed. If fear and irresolution 
came upon them, the priest, with the crucifix in his hand, was 
immediately in their presence, proudly exclaiming to them that 
