oud and glad to see
that here is a noble example of the triumph of faith.

The life of Columbus is an illustration constantly brought forward of
the success which God gives to those who, having conceived of a great
idea, bravely determine to carry it through.

His singleness of purpose, his unselfishness, his determination to
succeed, have been cited for four centuries, and will be cited for
centuries more, among the noblest illustrations which history has given,
of success wrought out by the courage of one man.

APPENDIX A.

(The following passages, from Admiral Fox's report, give his reasons
for believing that Samana, or Atwood's Key, is the island where Columbus
first touched land. The interest which attaches to this subject at the
moment of the centennial, when many voyages will be made by persons
following Columbus, induces me to copy Admiral Fox's reasonings in
detail. I believe his conclusion to be correct.)

This method of applying Columbus's words in detail to refute each of the
alleged tracks, and the study that I gave to the subject in the winter
of 1878-79 in the Bahamas, which has been familiar cruising ground to
me, has resulted in the selection of Samana or Atwood's Key for the
first landing place.

It is a little island 8.8 miles east and west; 1.6 extreme breadth, and
averaging 1.2 north and south. It has 8.6 square miles. The east end
is in latitude 23 degrees 5' N.; longitude 73 degrees 37' west of
Greenwich. The reef on which it lies is 15 by 2 1/2 miles.

On the southeast this reef stretches half a mile from the land, on the
east four miles, on the west two, along the north shore one-quarter
to one-half mile, and on the southwest scarcely one-quarter. Turk is
smaller than Samana, and Cat very much larger.

The selection of two so unlike in size show that dimension has not been
considered essential in choosing an island for the first landfall.(*)

(*) I am indebted to T. J. McLain, Esq., United States
consul at Nassau, for the following information given to him
by the captains of this port, who visit Samana or Atwood's
Key. The sub-sketch on this chart is substantially correct:
Good water is only obtained by sinking wells. The two keys
to the east are covered with guano; white boobies hold the
larger one, and black boobies the other; neither
intermingles.

The island is now uninhabited, but arrow heads and stone hatchets are
sometimes found; an