twenty-six ells (not fathoms), or about fifty-two feet.  But even this reduced estimate must be excessive.  Except in the Bristol Channel there is no rise of tide in the seas of Northern Europe which at all approaches this limit.  At Reikiavik (Iceland) the rise is seventeen and a half feet.  In Greenland it varies from a minimum of seven feet at Julianshaab to a maximum of twelve and a half feet at Frederikshaab.]

  Characteristics of Columbus

Considering how much more real the hero of a biography appears if we can picture him accurately in our mind’s eye, and see him “in his habit as he lived,” it is singularly unfortunate that the personal appearance of Columbus has been so variously described by the old historians that it is impossible to speak with certainty on the subject.  Strangely enough, too, no well-authenticated portrait of the great discoverer exists.  Ferdinand Columbus, who would be a good authority, fails to give us, in describing his father, any of those little touches which make up a good literary photograph.  We learn, however, that he had a commanding presence, that he was above the middle height, with a long countenance, rather full cheeks, an aquiline nose, and light grey eyes full of expression.  His hair was naturally light in colour, but, as has been already stated, it turned nearly white while he was still a young man.

The peculiar characteristics of his mind are such as we might naturally expect to find in the originator of such a work as the discovery of America,—­who was, indeed, one of the great spirits of the earth; but still of the same order of soul to which great inventors and discoverers have mostly belonged.  Lower down, too, in mankind, there is much of the same nature leading to various kinds of worthy deeds, though there are no more continents for it to discover.

But to return to the renowned personage of whom we are speaking.  There was great simplicity about him, and much loyalty and veneration.  The truly great are apt to believe in the greatness of others, and so to be loyal in their relations here; while, for what is beyond here, a large measure of veneration belongs to them, as having a finer and more habitually present consciousness than most men of something infinitely above what even their imaginations can compass.  He was as magnanimous as it was possible, perhaps, for so sensitive and impassioned a person to be.  He was humane, self-denying, courteous.  He had an intellect of that largely inquiring kind which may remind us of our great English philosopher, Bacon.  He was singularly resolute and enduring.  The Spaniards have a word, longanimidad, which has been well applied in describing him, as it signifies greatness and constancy of mind in adversity.  He was rapt in his designs, having a ringing for ever in his ears of great projects, making him deaf to much, perhaps, that prudence might have heeded:—­one to be loved by those near him, and likely by his presence to inspire favour and respect.