In supplement to the history of Columbus by his son, we have chosen to give an account of the first Discovery of America, by _Herrera_ the royal historiographer of Spain. To some readers this may appear superfluous: But, as _Don Ferdinand Columbus_ may naturally enough be supposed to have written under a degree of partial attachment to the glory of his immortal father, it seems fortunate that we possess an authentic early history of the same unparalleled event, from a more certainly impartial and well informed author, having access to the public archives. That portion of our work is given as an original record, almost without any remark; leaving it to the ingenious industry of such of our readers as may be so disposed, to make a critical comparison between the work of _Don Ferdinand Columbus_, a rare and valuable monument of filial piety, and that of _Antonio de Herrera_. We have only to regret, that the transcendent genius, who possessed the unexampled sagacity to devise, and the singular good fortune, perseverance, capacity, and conduct, to succeed in _Discovering the Western Hemisphere_, had not sufficient health and leisure to have favoured the world with his own _commentaries_ of this greatest enterprise that was ever achieved by man.--_Ed_. * * * * * _Abridged Series of the Epochs of American Discovery_[2]. A.D. 982. East Greenland discovered by the Norwegians or Icelanders, who planted a small colony. This was long afterwards shut in by the accumulation of arctic ice, and entirely lost. 1003. Winland, either Newfoundland or Labradore, was discovered by the Icelanders, but soon abandoned and forgotten. 1492, August 3d. COLUMBUS commenced his first voyage. 12th October discovered _Guanahani_, one of the _Bahama_ group, which he named _St Salvador_, now named _Cat Island_. In this voyage, besides several others of the Bahama islands, he discovered _Cuba_ and _Hispaniola_, leaving a colony in the latter, which was cut off by the natives. He returned to Spain from this voyage on the 4th March 1493. 1494, September 25th. Second voyage of COLUMBUS began; in which he discovered the _Carribbee_ islands, and founded a permanent colony in _Hispaniola_ or Haiti. He returned from this voyage in 1496. 1497. _Giovanni Gabotta_, a Venetian, employed by Henry VII. of England, discovered _Newfoundland_, and traced the eastern coast of North America as far south as _Virginia_. 1498. Third voyage of COLUMBUS, in which he discovered _Trinidad_ and the coast of Paria in _South America_; now called the _Spanish Main_ by the English. He was _sent home in irons_ from Hispaniola in 1500.