_THE FIRST AMERICAN CITIZEN_ (_BY ADOPTION_) BY W. L. ALDEN [Illustration] NEW YORK HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY 1881 COPYRIGHT, 1881, BY HENRY HOLT & CO. Electrotyped and Printed by S. W. GREEN’S SON, 74 and 76 Beekman Street, NEW YORK. CONTENTS CHAPTER I. Early Years. CHAPTER II. First Plans of Exploration. CHAPTER III. In Search of a Patron. CHAPTER IV. He Receives His Commission. CHAPTER V. He Is Commissioned, and Sets Sail. CHAPTER VI. The Voyage. CHAPTER VII. The Discovery. CHAPTER VIII. Adventures on Land. CHAPTER IX. The Homeward Voyage. CHAPTER X. His Reception, and Preparation For a Second Expedition. CHAPTER XI. Explorations in the West Indies. CHAPTER XII. Attempts at Colonization. CHAPTER XIII. Search For China.--subjugation of Hispaniola. CHAPTER XIV. Difficulties and Discouragements. CHAPTER XV. His Third Expedition. CHAPTER XVI. His Return in Disgrace. CHAPTER XVII. His Fourth Expedition. CHAPTER XVIII. His Last Years. CHAPTER XIX. His Character and Achievements. CHAPTER I. EARLY YEARS. [Æt. 0; 1436] Christopher Columbus was born at more places and to a greater extent than any other eminent man known to history. He was born at frequent intervals from 1436 to 1446, and at Cogoletto, Genoa, Finale, Oneglia, Savona, Padrello, and Boggiasco. Learned historians have conclusively shown that he was born at each one of the places, and each historian has had him born at a different date from that fixed upon by a rival historian. To doubt their demonstrations would be to treat history and historians with gross irreverence, and would evince a singular lack of business tact on the part of one proposing to add another to the various histories of Columbus. Perhaps the majority of people believe that Columbus was born exclusively at Cogoletto; but no one retains that belief after having once visited Cogoletto, and drank the painfully sour wine produced at that wretched little village. It is true that Mr. Tennyson, who remarks that he once “Stay’d the wheels at Cogoletto, And drank, and loyally drank, to him,”