r Lord, who gives to all those who walk in
his ways victory over things which seem impossible; of which this is
signally one, for, although others have spoken or written concerning
these countries, it was all mere conjecture, as no one could say that he
had seen them--it amounting only to this, that those who heard listened
the more, and regarded the matter rather as a fable than anything else.
But our Redeemer has granted this victory to our illustrious King and
Queen and their kingdoms, which have acquired great fame by an event of
such high importance, in which all Christendom ought to rejoice, and
which it ought to celebrate with great festivals and the offering of
solemn thanks to the Holy Trinity with many solemn prayers, both for the
great exaltation which may accrue to them in turning so many nations to
our holy faith, and also for the temporal benefits which will bring
great refreshment and gain, not only to Spain, but to all Christians.
This, thus briefly, in accordance with the events._

_Done on board the caravel, off the Canary Islands, on the fifteenth of
February, fourteen hundred and ninety-three._

_At your orders,

THE ADMIRAL._

_After this letter was written, as I was in the Sea of Castille, there
arose a southwest wind, which compelled me to lighten my vessels, and
run this day into this port of Lisbon, an event which I consider the
most marvelous thing in the world, and whence I resolved to write to
their Highnesses. In all the Indies I have always found the weather like
that in the month of May. I reached them in thirty-three days, and
returned in twenty-eight, with the exception that these storms detained
me fourteen days knocking about in this sea. All seamen say that they
have never seen such a severe winter nor so many vessels lost._

_Done on the fourteenth day of March._

The prayer of Columbus on landing at Guanahani on the morning of Friday,
October 12, 1492:

_Lord! Eternal and Almighty God! who by Thy sacred word hast created the
heavens, the earth, and the seas, may Thy name be blessed and glorified
everywhere. May Thy Majesty be exalted, who hast deigned to permit that
by Thy humble servant Thy sacred name should be made known and preached
in this other part of the world._[25]

COLUMBUS AND GENOA.

Columbus in bequeathing a large portion of his income to the Bank of St.
George in Geno