An Enquiry into the Truth of the Tradition, Concerning the Discovery of America Part 4

By the Way, we are told by Travellers, that some of these Customs now prevail among the Tartars. As we have no Satisfactory, or even a plausible, Account of the Ten Tribes carried Captives to the East by Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, we may be disposed to think that the Tartars are descended from them. All the Discoveries of our late Navigators shew that the North Continent of America is at no great distance from the Northern, North Eastern, and North Western parts of Asia and Europe. It is therefore possible that the Tartars, at different Periods, might have been driven on that Coast, and people the Country. Some Tartars hunting upon the Ice, on a sudden Thaw, might be carried on the Ice to America, from whence they could not return.[oo]

[Footnote oo: See Hornius, ubi supra, pages, 183, 186, 205, 215.

Forster's History of the Voyages and Discoveries made in the North.

Clavigero's History of Mexico and Brerewood on the Languages and the Religion of the World.

In the Hebrew we have [Ill.u.s.tration] exploravit, "he search'd,"

and a Substantive, [Ill.u.s.tration] exploratores, "Searchers." Hence some would derive the word Tartar, [Ill.u.s.tration] "Tartar," after the Hebrew manner. They also think that the British word "Tor or Torriad," "a breaking or cutting off," has the same Origin. Those who travel, may be said to "search." When they travel in foreign, unknown Countries, they may be said to be "cut off" from their Friends, as the Ten Tribes were from their native Land by Nebuchadnezzar.

But it is not at all probable that the Tartars derived their Name from this Hebrew word; for, omitting other reasons, the original Name of that People is Tatar.]

As the Captivity happened near 600 Years before Christ, we may reasonably believe that in the Course of about 2000 Years, the Americans descended from Tartars might become as numerous as they are said to have been, when the Europeans landed on their Coast.

This will fully Account for Jewish Customs and Manners in some parts of America.

I now proceed to consider the Objections raised by two very respectable Authors to Prince Madog's Voyages to America; Lord Lyttelton, and Dr. William Robertson.

I have already observed, that the Account we have of this Event in Caradoc's History, was not written by him, but by Humphry Llwyd and Dr. Powel; but I conceive that Lord Lyttelton was not right in calling there additions to Caradoc's work "Interpolations."

Besides the Unpoliteness, indeed, the Impropriety of the Word, this is to charge the above Writers with wilful and direct Forgeries.

Llwyd and Powel were Gentlemen of fair and unblemished Characters, and good Scholars. Mr. Llwyd's Writings shew him to have been a Man of Learning and Judgment; and Dr. Powel was the same; and was well acquainted with all the Transactions in his Native Princ.i.p.ality, and published several things on that Subject, besides this Work; such as Ponticus Virunnius, and Giraldus's History.

Dr. Powel says that he had compared Llwyd's Translation with the British Book, of which he had at first two Copies, (meaning, as I understand him, of Guttun Owen's Book) and that he had received a third and a larger Copy of it from Robert Glover, Somerset Herald.

This Circ.u.mstance shews that he was a diligent and careful Enquirer; and that Llwyd's Translations and Additions were just, true, and correct. A Gentleman in the Herald's Office must have known what degree of Credit was to be given to a Writing on a Subject with which a Person in his Office must have been conversant; otherwise, it is not probable that he would have been at the trouble of correcting it, nor would he have sent it to a Friend as a Voucher of a Fact.

Where he found his Copy to differ from others of Authority and Consistency, he corrected his Copy by them; for a Person in his Situation must have had free access to all the Repositories of Antiquity in his own Office, and to others.[pp] Dr. Powel also corrected his Copy; whence it appears evident that Guttun Owen's Compilations were extant in Dr. Powel's Days.

[Footnote pp: Were the Herald's Office carefully searched, there possibly might be found some papers on this Subject.]

His Lords.h.i.+p supposes that the Doctor dressed up some Tradition concerning Madog which he found in Guttun Owen and others, in order to convey an Idea that his Country-man had the Honour of first discovering America.--It hath already been observed (page 8th) that this part of History from 1157, to 1270, was not written by Dr.

Powel, but by Humphry Llwyd. Had these additions been Inventions, Humphry Llwyd and Dr. Powel must have been very bad and weak Men; for as Guttun Owen's Works were extant in their Time, the Forgeries must have been immediately detected. I really believe that his Lords.h.i.+p is the first Writer that has charged Dr. Powel with wilful and designed misrepresentations.

Those writings of Guttun Owen's, which his Lords.h.i.+p allows were extant in the Days of Dr. Powel, were certainly known before Columbus's first Voyage; for the Doctor expressly says that he found the particulars concerning Madog's emigration noted by Guttun Owen, who wrote, in 1480: consequently this Bard's Writings were known to Dr. Powel.

Lord Lyttelton grants that Prince Madog was a bolder Navigator than any of his Countrymen, in the age he lived, and that he was "famous for some Voyage; but as the Course was not mark'd, it is of no Importance to the matter in question."

With Submission to his Lords.h.i.+p, I think that the Course is clearly marked, and so thought Hornius, as appears from what he says in the Extract above cited: for it is said that Madog sailed west-ward, and left the Coast of Ireland to the North, and that he fell in with Land in that Direction. And it is certain that no Land is found in that Direction, but America.

His Lords.h.i.+p also says "that if Madog did really discover any part of America, or any Islands lying to the South-west of Ireland, in the Atlantic Ocean, without the help of the Compa.s.s, at a time when Navigation was ill understood, and with Mariners less expert than any other in Europe, he performed an atchievement incomparably more extraordinary than that of Columbus."

I agree with his Lords.h.i.+p, that is was an extraordinary atchievement, superior to that of Columbus, who had many advantages which the other had not: but as I have already observed, it does not appear that Prince Madog's first Voyage was the result of Sagacity and Judgment, but of meer Necessity and Prudence. Most probably, chance threw him on the American Coast.[qq]

[Footnote qq: In the s.p.a.ce of about 300 Years, a report of Prince Madog's successful Western Navigations might obtain through Europe; and the penetrating and enterprizing Genius of Columbus might excite him to pursue the same Course, in Hopes of finding a nearer Way to China and other Countries.]

In this paragraph his Lords.h.i.+p, happens, unfortunately, to be mistaken.

The Naval force of the Britons seems to have been very considerable in the Days of Julius Caesar.

The Reason for which he invaded this Island was, as he says, because the Britons a.s.sisted the Gauls by Land and Sea. Their Naval Power must have been very considerable, when Vincula dare Oceano, and Britannos subjugare, were convertible Terms.[rr] Had not the British Naval Power been then formidable, this would not have been said.

[Footnote rr: Caesar says that the Britons a.s.sisted the Gauls with s.h.i.+ps. Hence we may infer that their s.h.i.+ps were of the same Construction with those of the Gauls, which Caesar says were built of Oak so strong that they were impenetrable to the Beaks of the Roman s.h.i.+ps, and so high that they could not be annoyed by the Darts of the Roman Soldiers. To the 9th Century, Alfred the great had a very formidable fleet.]

Their Maritme Force, it is true, was much weakened by Caesar; yet in no long Time it seems to have been considerably restored, as appears from the Conduct of later Emperors. Had their Navy, as hath been a.s.serted by some Writers, consisted only of small Fis.h.i.+ng Boats, now, in the Princ.i.p.ality called, Coracles, they could not have afforded such a.s.sistance to the Gauls, as to bring upon them the Roman power. As to unskilfulness, it doth not appear from History, that this, with truth, could be said of them.

I know not upon what Authority, it is said by his Lords.h.i.+p that the Britons were less expert Mariners than any other in Europe; for they seem to have had Connections in the way of Commerce, with very distant Nations, before Julius Caesar; indeed, a very considerable and extensive Trade with the Phoenicians, and others.

For these Reasons, I am inclined to believe that the Naval power of the Britons was considerable before the coming of the Romans.

As to succeeding Times, when the Britons were driven into Wales, a Country with an extensive Sea Coast, they had little to subsist upon, but a scanty Agriculture, and rich Fisheries; so that very great Numbers of them were compelled by necessity to pursue a Seafaring Life.

The strongest objection to the Truth of this Event, which is urged by his Lords.h.i.+p and by others, is the great Improbability that such a Voyage could be performed without the a.s.sistance of the Mariner's Compa.s.s, not then discovered. This Discovery was made about the Year, 1300; others say, by Behain above mentioned, above 100 Years later. In answer to this Objection, it may be observed that previously to Madog's Voyage we read of several others, which appear to me full as improbable. It is generally understood that the Phoenicians, Grecians, &c. were acquainted with, and sailed to Britain, and other Countries, for Tin and Lead, and unto the Baltic Sea for Amber; Voyages which seen as difficult as that of Madog's, and a longer Navigation. It was hardly possible for the Britons, not to learn how to navigate s.h.i.+ps, when they saw how it was done by others.

The return of our Prince to North Wales, and back again to his Colony, is the most difficult to be accounted for, in the whole Story: However, I apprehend, that this is not altogether impossible.

Let it be observed that the s.p.a.ce of Time in which there Voyages of Madag's were performed is no where mentioned. They might have taken up twenty Years or more. Madog, on his return to Wales, might have sailed Northward by the American Coast, till he came to a situation where the light of the Sun at Noon was the same, at that Season, as it was in his Native Country, and then sailing Eastward (the Polar Star, long before observed would prevent his sailing on a wrong point) he might safely return to Britain. The experience he derived from his first Voyage would enable him to join his Companions whom he had left behind.

That there are strong Currents in the Atlantic Ocean, is well known.

On his return to North Wales, Madog might fall into that Current, which it is said, runs from the West Indian Islands Northward to Cape Sable in Nova Scotia, where interrupted by the Land, it runs Eastward towards Britain.

There is a Tradition that a Captain of a s.h.i.+p dined at Boston, in New England, on a Sunday, and on the following Sunday, dined at his own House, in Penzance, Cornwall. This is by no means impossible; for with favourable Winds and strong Currents, a s.h.i.+p may run above 14 miles in an Hour.

The late celebrated Dr. Benjamin Franklin of Philadelphia, in a letter to a Friend well known in the literary World, which I heard read, said that he was fully convinced that there was such a Current from West to East, and that he did not think that the Captain's remarkable Expedition impossible, nor even, altogether, improbable.

It seems to me not a little strange that Lord Lyttelton should say, "that no certain Monument, Vestige or Memorial of Madog's Voyage was ever found." It is hardly possible that his Lords.h.i.+p would say it, if he saw Hornius, and some other authorities, above produced, especially Peter Martyr for we have above seen that many such Memorials were, and are now to be found in America.

His Lords.h.i.+p, indeed, seems to have entertained a most contemptible opinion of the Ancient and the Modern Britons, as appears in his Letter from Snowdon.

These Remarks, I presume, if they do not remove, yet very considerably weaken, Lord Lyttelton's Objections.[ss]

[Footnote ss: Lord Lyttelton's, History of Henry the 2d. Book V.

Note 339. 8th Edit. 1773.]

I shall now confider Dr. Robertson's Observations on this Subject.[tt]

[Footnote tt: History of America. Vol. I. p. 373. Edit. 1788.]

What he hath, in general, advanced, is much the same with what had been said by Lord Lyttelton and others; and therefore, what I have already said, will serve as a general Answer: but I must examine some particulars.

He first says, "that the Pretensions of the Welsh to the Discovery of America, seem not to rest on a foundation much more solid, (than the Discovery of it by Behaim) because that Powel, on whose Testimony the authenticity of the Story rests, published his History above four Centuries from the Date of the Event which he relates." It is granted that Humphry Llwyd, and Dr. Powel, lived some Centuries after Madog's Emigration; but Dr. Robertson must also grant that there are several Events, mentioned in History, now commonly believed, even by the learned, which have no memorials for as long a Period.

Where shall we find any Evidence for the Originality of Ossian and Fingal, from the Time in which they are said to have been written, till their publication, a few Years ago by Mr. Macpherson? Whether these Poems are of Scots or Irish Origin I know not; but they were not known to the World till very lately. If Dr. Robertson says that they always were, and now are known in the Highlands of Scotland; I say in Answer, so was the Expedition of Madog in the High Lands of Wales, as appears from the Poems of Sir Meredyth ab Rhy's, and of other Bards. This, by the Way, is an Evidence in which the Poems of Ossian and Fingal are deficient. The silence of History for about 1400 Years is much more unfriendly to the Authenticity of these Poems, than that of about 400 to the Truth of Madog's Voyages.

Ossian and Fingal are supposed to have flourished about the End of the 3d Century. The Bards drew their Information, chiefly, from the Collections preserved in the Abbies of Conway and Strata Florida, and from the current Traditions of the Country. We have no regular History of the period in which this Prince emigrated, but this History of Caradoc, and of Llwyd's, and Dr. Powel's additions. I think that Dr. Robertson cannot produce better Authority for any Facts, equal in Antiquity; I am sure none, for Ossian and Fingal.

The Manner in which Dr. Robertson mentions the Verses published, by Hakluyt and others, is rather observable. "Later Antiquarians, indeed, appealed to the Testimony of Meredith ab Rhees, a Welsh Bard, who died in 1477; but he cannot be considered of much more credit than Powel." This pa.s.sage implies a severe Reflection on Dr.

Powel. His Evidence is of no weight; it is not worthy of belief; and, indeed, Sir Meredith ab Rhys, is no better. However I must beg leave to differ very much, _indeed_, from the Doctor on this Head, though I much admire him as a Writer and Historian; because I think their Evidence is not only equal, but much superior to his, concerning an Event which took place between two and three hundred Years nearer to their Times than to his.

I should be very sorry to suspect that Dr. Robertson took notice of Sir Meredyth ab Rhys, only because he could not well avoid it.

However, as if he wanted to destroy his Authority, he speaks of him with great Indifference, with a formal, _indeed_.

He adds, "But if we admit Powel's Story; (Humphry Llwyd's) it does not follow that the unknown Country which Madog discovered was any part of America: it is much more probable that it was Madeira, or some of the Western Isles." With submission, this is altogether improbable. It is very little farther from North Wales to some parts of America, than to the Madeiras; and, upon the whole, it is more secure to sail in an open Sea, than among Shelves and Shoals on an unknown Coast.

But not to insist upon this Circ.u.mstance; if the Country Madog discovered was Madeira, or any of the Western Islands, he must have found them uninhabited, and entirely uncultivated, covered with Wood, and without any Traces of Human Beings; for as the Doctor himself says, this was the state of the Madeiras when discovered by the Portuguese in 1519. The other Western Isles were not, even, settled, for some Centuries after Madog's Voyages.[uu]

[Footnote uu: Dr. Robertson. ubi supra. Vol. I. p. 64. If the Country on which Madog landed was uninhabited, how could he have found the Customs and Manners of the People different from those of Europe?

Where there were no Inhabitants, there could be no Customs.]