author of the pamphlets, doubting the genuineness of these remains, who had been sent over by the Spanish Government to investigate these tombs, never took the trouble to examine the coffin and the remains, but had finished his pamphlet before landing in San Domingo. So several highly respected and trustworthy persons in San Domingo have assured us on their word of honor.

We were unfortunately unable to find out whether his colleague Manuel Colmeiro had adopted similar methods. During my stay of a month I made it a business to question a considerable number of persons who had been present at the discovery of the coffin, singly and without each other's knowledge, and found complete agreement in the statements of all of them.

After I had finished my investigation of the coffin and the remains (this took me about three hours) the ashes in the glass vessel were put into a silver casket ornamented with gold, and this casket was also put into the coffin. After the leaden coffin had been put back into the glass case the latter was again carefully closed, a ribbon with the three colors of the Republic San Domingo, red, white, and blue, was tied about it, and it was locked as it had been before; that is, by the governments, the church, and different consulates putting their seals upon it. Notaries who had been called read the report they had made, the coffin was put back into its old place, and those present at this memorable act took their departure. The author, and certainly all those who were there with him, went away with the conviction that the venerable remains of the great discoverer were lying and are still lying in the cathedral of San Domingo.

VI-THE HISTORY AND DETERMINATION OF THE LINE OF
DEMARCATION ESTABLISHED BY POPE ALEXANDER VI,
BETWEEN THE SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE
FIELDS OF DISCOVERY AND COLONIZATION.

BY PROF. EDWARD G. BOURNE, OF ADELBERT COLLEGE, CLEVELAND, OHIO.

THE HISTORY AND DETERMINATION OF THE LINE OF DEMARCATION ESTABLISHED BY POPE ALEXANDER VI., BETWEEN THE SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE FIELDS OF DISCOVERY AND COLONIZATION.

By Prof. EDWARD G. BOURNE, of Adelbert College, Cleveland, Ohio.

The history of the line of demarcation established by Pope Alexander VI separating the Spanish and Portuguese fields f discovery and colonization has received comparatively little ttention from English writers. So far as I have been able to earn no satisfactory or reasonably complete single account of the subject from beginning to end exists in the language. In view of the approaching period of Columbian anniversaries and the reawakened interest in all things pertaining to the discovery of the New World a brief history of this curious yet nomentous transaction will be appropriate.

Columbus upon his return from his first voyage landed near Palos, March 15, 1493. He promptly dispatched a letter to Ferdinand and Isabella giving an account of his discoveries. They replied March 30, and by the middle of April Columbus was in Barcelona in the presence of the Catholic sovereigns. On the 3d of May Pope Alexander VI, in response to their request, issued his first bull granting the sovereigns exclusive rights over the newly-discovered lands.

As it required several days to go from Barcelona to Rome it is evident that no time was lost.* Why this appeal to the

* Gomara states that a messenger was immediately dispatched to Rome with an account of the discoveries. (Hist. General de las Indies, Vol. 1, leafs 29 and 30. Antwerp ed. of 1554.)