every particular which might affect his father's honor. Moreover, it is certain that Vespucci did not himself propose the name 'America;' it is not certain that he even used the term Mundus Novus or its equivalent in his letters; and it is quite possible that he never even knew of his name being applied to the New World, since the name did not come into general use until many years after his death, which occurred in 1512. The most serious charge which in my opinion can be brought against Vespucci is neglect—perhaps an intentional deception for the purpose of giving himself temporary prominence in the eyes of his correspondent—in failing to name the commanders under whom he sailed; and with exaggeration and carelessness in his details. But it is to be remembered that his writings were simply letters to friends describing in familiar terms the wonders of his voyages, with little care for dry dates and names, reserving particulars for a large work which he had prepared, but which has never come to light. "After all," says Irving, "this is a question more of curiosity than of real moment ... about which grave men will continue to write weary volumes, until the subject acquires a fictitious importance from the mountain of controversy heaped upon it." _Cancellieri_, _Notizie di Colombo_, pp. 41-8; _Humboldt_, _Exam. Crit._, tom. iv. and v., and Preface to _Ghillany_; _Navarrete_, _Col. de Viages_, tom. i. p. cxxvi.; _Major's Prince Henry_, pp. 380-8; _Kohl's Hist. Discov._, p. 496; _Harrisse_, _Bib. Am. Vet._, pp. 65-6; _D'Avesac_, _Martin Hylacomylus_, Paris, 1867; _Muñoz_, _Hist. Nuevo Mundo_, p. x.; _Stevens' Notes_, pp. 24, 35, 52 et seq.; _Viages de Vespucio_, in _Navarrete_, tom. iii. p. 183; _Carta del Excmo. Sr. Vizconde de Santarem_, in _Navarrete_, tom. iii. pp. 309-34. Ludd, _Speculi Orbis_, Strasburg, 1507, adopts Waldsee-Müller's suggestion so far as to speak of the 'American race,' or people, _gentis Americi_. Major, _Prince Henry_, pp. 380-8, explains the connection between this and other works of the time influenced by the St Dié clique. See also _Stevens' Notes_, p. 35. [1508.] Pinzon and Solis, with Pedro Ledesma as pilot, were sent by Spain for the third time to search southward for the strait which they, as well as Columbus and Bastidas, had failed to find farther north and west. Sailing from San Lúcar June 29, 1508, they touched at the Cape Verde Islands, proceeded to Cape St Augustine, and followed the coast south-west to about 40° south latitude, returning to Spain in October, 1509. _Viages Menores_, in _Navarrete_, tom. iii. p. 47. Kohl, _Die beiden ältesten Karten von Am._, p. 110, joins this voyage to the preceding one of 1506. Another of the uncertain French voyages to Newfoundland is reported to have taken place in 1508, under the command of Thomas Aubert, from Dieppe. _Viages Menores_, in _Navarrete_, tom. iii. p. 41; _Kohl's Hist. Discov._, pp. 203-5.