city by Fernando Columbus, the natural son of Chris topher, he saw an old volume in folio, bound in parch ment, (published soon after the invention of printing,) which had belonged to Christopher Columbus. This volume was a collection in Latin of astronomical and cosmographical tracts of Pedro de Aliaco, and of his disciple John Gerson. Las Casas had spoken of the volume being so familiar to Columbus, that he had filled its whole margin with Latin notes in his hand writing. It was a great satisfaction to Mr. Irving to discover this identical volume, this Vade Mecum of Columbus, in a state of good preservation. The notes he says are written in a very small but neat and distinct hand, and call attention to the most stri king passages, or to those which bore most upon the theories of Columbus; occasionally containing brief comments, or citing the opinions of other authors, ancient and modern, either in support or contradic tion of the text. “ This volume,” Mr. Irving adds, “ is a most curious and interesting document, the only one that remains of Columbus prior to his dis covery. It illustrates his researches, and in a manner the current of his thoughts, while as yet his great en terprise existed but in idea, and while he was seeking means to convince the world of its practicability.”* Columbus arrived at Lisbon about 1470, and his marriage there, soon after, fixed him in that city. Prince Henry, so instrumental in promoting discove ries, was no longer living. But a like passion for discovery was evinced by John the Second. His call
