Excerpt from History of the United States of North America
Several of the European nations have laid claim to the discovery of America, prior to the expedition of Columbus. The Welsh historian affirm that Madoc, a prince of their country, embarked from his native land as early as 1170, and, sailing westward, discovered those regions to which the name of America was afterwards given. But this claim rests upon remote and unfounded traditions.
Similar pretensions are urged in favour of the Norwegians and Icelanders; but a careful examination of all the authorities on the subject, has led the more recent historians to the conclusion, that the discoveries of these nations extended no farther than Greenland; to the more southern portion of which territory they gave the name of Vinland.
To Christopher Columbus, therefore, belongs the glory of having made the first discovery of the western world. At a time when geographical science had long slept in Europe, when distant voyages were rare, and discoverers were few, timid, and ignorant, this extraordinary man formed the noble design of crossing the Atlantic ocean, in search of new regions. His opinions, that such an enterprise would be attended with success, was not unsupported by plausible facts and reasonings.
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