[Footnote ll: Journal of a Two Month's Tour, &c. by Charles Beatty. A. M. dedicated to the Earl of Dartmouth. London. 1768. p. 24, &c. Note.]
Before I make any Remarks on the above long Extract I will produce another Evidence of late Date, to confirm the Truth of Mr. Jones's Narrative. It is an Accouut given by Captain IsaacStewart, taken from his own Mouth, in March 1782, and inserted in the Public Advertizer, 0ct. 8th, 1785.
"I was taken Prisoner about 50 Miles to the West-ward of Fort Pitt, about 18 Years ago by the Indians, and was carried by them to the Wabash with many more White Men who were executed with Circumstances of horrid Barbarity. It was my good Fortune to call forth the Sympathy of what is called the good Woman of the Town, who was permitted to redeem me from the Flames, by giving, as my Ransom, a Horse.
"After remaining two Years in Bondage among the Indians, a Spaniard came to the Nation, having been sent from Mexico on Discoveries. He made Application to the Chiefs for redeeming me and another White Men, who was in a like Situation, named John Davey (David) which they complied with. And we took our Departure in Company with the Spaniard to the Westward, crossing the Mississipi near Rouge or Red River, up which we travelled 700 Miles, when we came to a Nation of Indians remarkably White, and whose Hair was of a reddish Colour, at least, mostly so. They lived on the Banks of a Small River which is called the River Post. In the Morning of the Day after our Arrival, the Welsh Man informed me that he was determined remain with them, givingus a Reason, that he understood their Language, it being very little different from the Welsh. My Curiosity was excited very much by this Information, and I went with my Companion to the Chief Men of the Town, who informed him in a Language that I had no knowledge of, and which had no affinity to that of other Indian Tongues that I ever heard, that their Fore Fathers of this Nation came from a Foreign Country, and landed on the East Side of the Mississipi, describing particularly the Country now called Florida, and that on the Spaniards taking possession of Mexico, they fled to their then Abode. And as a proof of the Truth of what he advanced, he brought forth Rolls of Parchment, which were carefully tied up in Otter's Skins, on which were large Characters written with blue Ink. The Characters I did not understand, and the Welsh Man being unacquainted with Letters, even, of his own Language, I was not able to know the meaning of the writing. They are a bold, hardy, and intrepid people, very Warlike, and the Women beautiful when compared with other Indians."
Captain Stewart and Mr. Beatty's account are nearly of the same Date, though related by the Captain in March 1782.
The Riches of the Country I take no Notice of, as they do not concern my Subject, which isonly the Manners, Customs, Traditions, and Language of the Inhabitants.
The Information given us by the Captain and Mr. Beatty, seems to confirm, I may almost say, establish, the Truth of Llwyd's and Powel's History, and of Mr. Jones's Narrative. The latter says that in the Year 1660, some Indian Tribes spoke Welsh; and his Testimony appears to me unquestionable because he understood it. Messrs. Stewart and Beatty say that it was the Language of some Indian Tribes about the Years 1766 and 1768.
This is said by Mr. Beatty on the Testimony of Four different Persons, Benjamin Sutton, Levi Hicks, Jack (who was himself a Delaware Indian) and Joseph the Interpreter, who each of them had lived a long time in the Country, and were acquainted with the Traditions that prevailed among the Inhabitants. These Persons declared that they know Tribes of Indians who used the ancient British Tongue.
There is not the least reason to call their Veracity in question, or even to charge Them with Credulity, for they could have no Interest in propagating such a report among Persons who were not Welsh, if it were not true. Captain Stewart seems to have visited parts of the Country to the West, andSouth West, far beyond the Extent of Mt. Beatty's Tour.
From these accounts, accurately compared together, it would seem that the Welsh Tribes are now divided into three Tribes, separate from one another. The Tuscoraras, on the South side of Lake Erie, between the Ohio and Mississipi Rivers, behind Pensylvania. The Delawares, whom I take to be the same with the Doegs, lower down on the Ohio, and Delaware Rivers; and the other Tribe to the West of the Mississipi, from whose Country, we are told the Rivers flow to the South Sea or Pacific Ocean. The Account which the above named Persons gave to Mr. Beatty is the more credible, as it is not at all probable, I may say, possible, that either of these had ever heard of Llwyd and Powel's History; and very little if any thing of Mr. Jones's Narrative. Of Mr. Jones, however, there seems to have been some Tradition in the Country, perhaps, among the Indians; for he must have been the Clergyman alluded to by Mr. Beatty.
A Tradition supported by such corroborating Circumstances must have had some foundation of Truth, and as the Language was evidently Welsh, it appears to me, beyond all reasonable Doubt, that these Tribes are descended from Prince Madog's Colony. That the Language was Welsh cannotbe denied; for one Lewis a Welsh-man conversed with Indians in their own Language. It is observable also that they had a Book among them upon which they set a great Value, though they could not read it. This Book, I conclude was a Welsh Bible, which Mr. Jones could read and understand. The Book which Captain Stewart saw seems also to have been a Welsh Bible, for it was found in the Hands of a people who spoke Welsh; and we are told by Mr. Beatty that Mr. Jones's being able to read this Book, much recommended him to the Indians. The Captain says that the "Welsh-man was not acquainted with Letters, even, those of his own Language." This seems rather surprizing to me; for whatever may have been the original alphabetical Characters of the Ancient Britons, they used the Greek Characters in the Days of Julius Cæsar.[mm] which I presume, the Captain could read; and it is almost certain, that the Britons used the Roman Characters in the twelfth Century when Madog emigrated.
[Footnote mm: Græcis Literis utuntur. Com. Lib. VI. As the Gauls and the Britons at this period, were Friends and Allies, and of the same Origin, without doubt, they made use of the same alphabetical Characters.
Drych y prif Oesoedd. p. 25 and 35.]
I have no authority positively to assert it, but it is possible that the Scriptures, translated intoWelsh, might be written in Creek Characters, for the Welsh-man could not read them. Those Characters might be thought Sacred, because in these Characters, the Gospel was first written. Had they been Roman, as they had been long in use, the Welsh-man, if he knew any Letters at all, could not be ignorant of them. Some parts of North Wales, till of late Years, were far behind other parts, in every kind of Knowledge; but as Charity-Schools were opened in South Wales, above fifty Years ago, and in North Wales, above thirty, the Country is very much improved in this respect.[nn] Or, perhaps, the Book was written in the Ancient Greek Characters, of the same Form with those of the Alexandrian Manuscript in the British Museum. In that Case it is not at all surprizing that neither the Captain, nor the Welsh-man could read them.
[Footnote nn: A Welsh Gentleman observed to me that there may be found whole Parishes, in the principality, where there are more Persons who cannot read, than those who can; and as he very justly added, there is hardly any one in the whole Number, who can read a Manuscript of the twelfth Century.]
Though the Art of Printing was not discovered in the Days of Madog, yet there can be no doubt, but that the Britons had Copies of the Scriptures in their own Language many Centuries before that period; for it is almost certain thatthey were converted to Christianity about the Year 177. Madog was of a Princely Family: it may therefore be reasonably thought that he and his Companions had one or more Copies among them.
The Jewish Customs mentioned by Mr. Beatty seem to establish the opinion, that some of the Original Inhabitants of the New Continent, were Jews, Carthaginians, or Phœnicians, among who those Customs prevailed.
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 onthe 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 haveFig. 1exploravit, "he search'd," and a Substantive,Fig. 2exploratores, "Searchers." Hence some would derive the word Tartar,Fig. 3"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 Principality, 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 Circumstanceshews 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 Lordship 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 Lordship is the first Writer that has charged Dr. Powel with wilful and designed misrepresentations.
Those writings of Guttun Owen's, which his Lordship 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 Lordship, 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 Lordship 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 Compass, 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 Lordship, 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 Space 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 Lordship, happens, unfortunately, to be mistaken. The Naval force of the Britons seems to have been very considerable in the Days of Julius Cæsar.
The Reason for which he invaded this Island was, as he says, because the Britons assisted 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: Cæsar says that the Britons assisted the Gauls with Ships. Hence we may infer that their Ships were of the same Construction with those of the Gauls, which Cæsar says were built of Oak so strong that they were impenetrable to the Beaks of the Roman Ships, 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 Cæsar; 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 asserted by some Writers, consisted only of small Fishing Boats, now, in the Principality called, Coracles, they could not have afforded such assistance 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 Lordship that the Britons were less expertMariners than any other in Europe; for they seem to have had Connections in the way of Commerce, with very distant Nations, before Julius Cæsar; 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 Lordship and by others, is the great Improbability that such a Voyage could be performed without the assistance of the Mariner's Compass, 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 Phœnicians, 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 Ships, 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 space 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 interruptedby the Land, it runs Eastward towards Britain.
There is a Tradition that a Captain of a Ship 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 Ship 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 Lordship 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 Lordship, indeed, seems to have entertained a most contemptible opinion of the Ancient and theModern 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 memorialsfor 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 passage 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 Walesto 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 Circumstance; 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.]
What the Doctor hath said, after Lord Lyttelton, concerning the Literature and Naval skill of the ancient Britons, hath been already animadverted upon. To add more on those particulars, is unnecessary.
If we could find no Word, among the Americans, similar to the ancient British, in sound and sense, but Pengwyn, I should no more depend upon that circumstance than Mr. Pennant doth;but that is not the case: for many such words were found among the Natives of the New World, and in the West Indian Islands, which are neither obscure nor fanciful; for they had not only a strong resemblance in found, but convey the same Idea precisely, in both Languages.
As to traces of Christianity, Hornius hath enumerated many that were found there by the Spaniards; such as the Cross, Baptism, the Lord's Supper, 35 days Fast, and the Trinity.[vv]
[Footnote vv: Hornius. ubi supra. p. 128, 178, Peter Martyr. Decade 3d. ch. 5. p. 58. C. and de Insulis nuper inventis. p. 71. C.]
It is true, that these Customs may have been introduced by other Nations; by the Chinese, Japanese, &c. as Hornius hath observed: but this does not concern my subject, which is only to examine which of theEuropeanNations first visited America. As no Nation in Europe, but the ancient Britons, hath ever pretended, or does pretend to have discovered America before, the Spaniards in 1492, I am inclined to believe that some of these Christian ordinances and superstitions were introduced by the Britons.
The space of time between the landing of Prince Madog, and Columbus, above 300 Years, was sufficiently long to disseminate such Notions and practices through a very great part of America.
In short, the account given by Llwyd and Powel hath all the marks of strict Truth. If it be an Invention without any Foundation, it is a very singular one, the like to which is hardly to be met with. All imaginary Heroes and Conquerors, are adorned with every Virtue; whereas Madog is represented as possessed of no Virtue, but prudence and Courage.
Having thus made some Animadversions on Lord Lyttelton's, and Dr. Robertson's Objections to Prince Madog's Adventures, and endeavoured to shew, that they do not absolutely overthrow the Truth of the Fact, I only observe farther here, that these eminent Writers have entirely omitted to take Notice of Mr. Jones's Narrative, and Mr. Lloyd's Letter, which they had, or ought to have seen, before they wrote upon the Subject.
That the Welsh Tribes above mentioned are not better known to the Europeans at this Time, is owing to what I have already observed. They dwell far to the West of the English provinces. They may have been driven thither by more powerful Tribes of Indians, or by Europeans, and may now be reduced to an inconsiderable number, comparatively, by intestine quarrels or foreign Enemies. However, they seem to have been numerous when Mr. Jones was among them, andabout 20 or 25 Years ago, when Messrs. Beatty and Stewart were among them.
If Missionaries from different Nations, with cultivated understandings, and enlarged Minds, acquainted in some measure, at least, with the Languages of Europe, Asia, and Africa, were sent to the Western Inland parts of North America, they might be able, to a very considerable degree of probability, if not of certainty, from their Language, Customs, and Manners, to trace the Origin of many Tribes on that vast Continent.[ww]
[Footnote ww: A Society of public spirited Gentlemen have lately employed persons to explore the interior parts of Africa. It were to be wished, that they, or others would extend their plan, and carry on the like design, in the interior parts of America.]
No Credit can be given to those who are called Traders in the Country; for as their chief pursuits are profit, they can make but few discoveries. The Origin and Manners of Nations are not the objects which they have in View. Instead of conciliating the friendship and affections of these unhappy, uncivilized and savage people, they very often shamefully over-reach them, and impose upon them in Business; and when they are detected and chastised for their fraudulent Practices, they bitterly complain of ill treatment, though it often is much better than they deserve.
My design, in the above Extracts and Observations, I presume, hath been answered, which was to shew that the Spaniards have not an unquestionable right to the Continent of America, as the first Discoverers among the Europeans; for it appears from well attested and numerous Relations, Facts and Circumstances, that the Ancient Britons landed on the American Shores about 300 Years before either, Behaim, Columbus or Americus Vespucius.
But after all, what is it that gives a people right to a Country?
This question is very easily answered. If Voyagers, by chance, fall in with a Continent, or Island, uninhabited and uncultivated, they have a right of possession by the Law of Nature, and or reason; because no human Being is injured or deprived of his right. But if they find any Inhabitants there, they can have no right. The Man who robs us on the High Way, or who breaks open, and plunders our Houses, hath as good a right to what he takes from us, as Conquerors to a Country, which they may be able to subdue by Force of Arms. The right obtained by Conquest if admitted, will justify every Kind and every degree of oppression, even the slavery of our poor African Brethren. This principle will justify a Nation in wresting whole Countries out of the Hands of acultivated, well ordered and peaceable people. In short, this Principle will justify the greatest Inhumanity, Cruelty, and Barbarity.
Nations engaged in open Way may, perhaps, be justified in invading and subduing their Enemies' Territories, because it may be the happy means of hastening a Peace, and put an end to the shedding of human Blood. But, on such Occasions, the innocent Inhabitants should not be wantonly injured; because the quarrel, is not between private Individuals, but between their Governors, in which their real Interests are seldom consulted. Very few necessary Wars have ever disturbed the peace of the World: they generally are the consequence of Ambition, Pride, and Vanity.
To invade and wantonly destroy, or plunder, the Lands or the Houses of a quiet, inoffensive and peaceable people; to carry away or destroy their property, without any provocation on their part, only because they are not able to resist, are acts in themselves highly wicked and diabolical.
How Madog and his Colony behaved, when they landed, to the original Inhabitants of the Country, does not appear; not in a hostile, but in an amicable and affectionate manner, as may be supposed; for his memory was held in high esteem by the Mexicans when Cortez arrived there. He wasthe Hero whose praises they celebrated in various places. How the Spaniards behaved is well known. One Author says that Cortez, and his Army slew four millions of Mexicans and two Emperors, Montezuma, and Guatimozin, the latter in the most cruel manner.
But if two millions, or evenone, were destroyed, it was a carnage that will reflect the highest disgrace upon the infernal Perpetrators for ever.
Private Persons are often chargeable with fraudulent Practices, in their dealings with the unsuspicious Natives of America. There is no doubt but that the English, as well as other Nations, are often guilt. But public Bodies, as well as Individuals, are chargeable with unjust and dishonest proceedings, not only with the Indians, but with one another.
The Bay of Honduras, and the parts of the adjoining Continent, in which the English have a right, "to load and carry away Logwood," by the 17th article of the Peace in 1762, and by the 6th article of the Peace in 1783, we are told are already dangerous to the British Traders. The Conduct of the Spaniards in this matter, is not only unjustifiable, but shameful among enlightened Nations, and ought to be represented, in its true Light, to the World. If the Accounts we have are not exaggerated, their Conduct, if not altered,ought to be resented and chastised. We should not tamely give up the Sovereignty of the Seas, to any people on Earth, when Justice and Humanity require us to claim and defend it.
Spanish Pride is become a proverb: however, it requires no inspiration to foretel, that in the course of not many Years, the Spanish Power in America will be much reduced.[xx] The Independence of the late British Colonies in that Country, will, I fear, make them ambitious; will lead them to enlarge their Territories; the consequence, most probably, will be, a great Extent of Dominion, and another conquest of Mexico. This indeed, in no long time, must naturally take place, if these Colonies firmly adhere to the principlesof their Union. This may be expected for the following reasons.
[Footnote xx: The Close of the 18th Century seems teeming with great Events. The separation of the American Colonies from great Britain, hath roused the attention of Europe. Religious and Civil Liberty are hitherto claimed and successfully maintained in France. In the Austrian Netherlands, and in other Countries, the principles of Liberty seem to prevail, and though checked for the present, cannot fail of becoming triumphant in the End. It, possibly, may have been the design of the Spanish Court, in the present fermented state of Europe, to lead the people's attention to a foreign War, lest they should persue the measures taken in France. May the Divine Blessing accompany every attempt made to establish Truth, Viriue, and Liberty, all over the World!]
The American Forces are at Hand, ready to undertake Expeditions, and to accomplish any purpose, before the Spaniards, at so many thousands of miles distance, can be apprized of their Designs; and long before they possibly can send sufficient Reinforcements. Another Reason is, that the Native Spanish Indians, being in the most abject Slavery to the Prince and the Priests, will naturally and heartly join the late British Colonies, and assist them in subduing the Spaniards, in order to emancipate themselves from bondage, and to regain their long lost Liberties.
The British Colonies have set the example, when they thought themselves aggrieved. The Tyranny, Oppression and Extortion of the Spaniards in the higher Ranks, will dispose the Native Descendants of the original Inhabitants, and doubtless, many of the Native Spaniards, in the lower Ranks, to imitate their Example.
The Spanish Military Forces in the Country cannot defeat a general confederacy of the Indians and others; when strengthened by an Army from the associated American Colonies.
But this prospect, as far as it regards the independent States, I cannot reflect upon with anypleasure, rather, with Pain; because I am convinced, that it will not be of any advantage, but rather injurious to them to enlarge their Territories. It will lead their attention to the Gold Mines of Mexico, and cause them to neglect their own more fruitful Mines at home; Commerce and Industry, the nearest and most certain Way to Honour, Opulence, and Happiness.
This Conduct, at least chiefly, reduced the Spaniards to their present comparative insignifancy, among the Nations of Europe; and should this be the conduct of the united States, they may expect the total Destruction of their Religion, Laws, and Liberties.
May they seriously reflect upon the Conduct of the Athenians and Carthaginians, in ancient Times; and upon the Conduct of the Venetians, Genoese, and, especially, Holland, (a District less in dimensions, than New Jersey, the least of their Colonies by above 2000 square Miles) in later Times, and they will be soon convinced that Commerce is the shortest and surest Way to Wealth and Power!
I have above cited a passage from the ancient Universal History, in which the Writer appears inclined to believe the reality of Prince Madog's Voyages. But the Author of the History of America, Modern Part, Vol. 38, p. 5. treats them withcontempt. "To recite, says he, the fabulous story of Madog, a Welsh Prince, and the Tale related by William of Newbury, of two green Children, who were found in a Field, in the Reign of King Stephen, would afford the judicious Reader as little Amusement as Instruction."
This voluminous Work, upon the whole, seems well executed, but like all others of great Length, is very unequal; because written by persons of different Abilities and Opinions. Gentlemen of great eminence in the literary World, and of unimpeached Integrity were engaged; and others, though of acknowledged Abilities, yet, to say the least, of very suspicious Characters, were employed. Among the latter, Psalmanazar, who, if he was a Spanish Jesuit, as has been said, and wrote this article, might be induced by the Amor Patriæ, to ascribe to his Countrymen the honour of having, first discoved America. The Author of the above paragraph, whoever he was, affected to look upon the Tradition concerning Madog, and the Tale of the two green Children, as equally ill founded, and unworthy of credit. Whereas in Truth, the one is plainly an idle monkish Tale, the other a simple Narrative of an Event. One is a Fact supported by numerous authorities, the other evidently is one of those prodigies, pretended miracles, and priestly Inventions, which areto be found in most Authors who wrote during the dark ages of Popery.
We have above seen, that one has been favourably thought of by several Writers, at home and abroad, and is confirmed by circumstances and memorials in America: the other I have not seen mentioned by any Writer, but by William of Newbury, and by a few who have cited him.[yy]
[Footnote yy: That the ancient Britons were descended from the Trojans was asserted by several Writers before Jefferey of Monmouth, who wrote about the Year 1152. It is alluded to by Taliessyn, who flourished about the middle of the 6th Century. A Welsh Author, already mentioned, Mr. Theophilus Evans, says, that the first Writer, who questioned the Fact, was William of Newbury, in welsh called, Gwilym bach, about the Year 1192, on this occasion. When Jefferey ab Arthur, (of Monmouth, who was Bishop of St. Asaph) died; William an English-man applied to David ab Owen to succeed him, and was refused. The refusal so mortified him, that he immediately set about composing his Book, in which he abused Jefferey, and the whole Welsh Nation. There is great reason to believe that resentment, upon some account, guided the Pen of William.
See Drych y prif Oesoedd, and the Preface to Jefferey's History.]
It is true that in this Century, and about the close of the last, if not near the beginning of it, manyWelsh people settled in America.[zz] But it is as true, that long before the earliest of these periods, there were whole Tribes in the inland parts of that Country, who spoke Welsh, and who consequently, must have been descended from some Colony or Colonies, who had settled there long before the Year, 1660.
[Footnote zz: See a performance entitled, Hanes y Bedyddwyr ymhlith y Cymru. "The History of the Welsh Baptists," by Joshua Thomas. Carmarthen. 1778.]
Mr. Jones says that they were numerous, in 1660, and Messrs. Beatty and Stewart, intimate the same, in 1766, and 1768. It cannot be thought that there Tribes are descended from emigrants in the present or last Century. Their Numbers, Customs, Manners, and Traditions, prove that they have been settled there for many Ages. Besides, the difference between the European and American Welsh, in Mr. Jones's time, shews that the two people had then been long asunder; for it was greater than could take place, within 60, indeed, within 100 Years.
For these reasons I am strongly of opinion, that several American Tribes are descended from Prince Madog's Colony.
From the earliest account we have of the ancient Britons they seem to have been the best informed,formed, and most enlightened of all the northern Nations in Europe. The speech of Caractacus, addressed to the Emperor Claudius, and preserved by Tacitus, is a proof that good natural Sense and Literature, such as it was in that Age, in some measure, flourished in Britain.[aaa]
[Footnote aaa: Tacitus annal. Lib. XII. This Author lived in the reign of Claudius. Caractacus, in Welsh, Caradoc, appeared before the Emperor in 52. His address to Claudius made a great impression upon all the audience, so that his Fetters were immediately taken off. It is possible that Tacitus was himself one of the Audience. As the Romans had been in Britain then about 100 Years, Caractacus might understand and perhaps speak some Latin, yet he could hardly have spoken so correctly and elegantly as is represented by Tacitus. The Language, doubtless, was Tacitus's, but the Sentiments were those of Caractacus. The stile, indeed, is that of Tacitus. Rapin's History of England. Vol. I. p. 44. 8vo. Edit. Giraldus Descriptio Cambriæ, Chap. XII. and note, and Rowland's Mona antiqua restaurata, passim.]
We have also in Cæsar several passages favourable to British Learning: I see no reason, therefore, why British Writers should be treated with contempt.
The Scotch writers, especially of late years, have strained every nerve to establish the reputation of their ancient Authors. Oman and Fingal are ostentatiously held out, as instances of superiormerit and excellence; but the poor Britons are treated with disdain, as having no merit for imagination, or original Composition.
Taliessyn, a Welsh Bard, who, as already observed, flourished about the middle of the 6th Century, and who by way of eminence was called Pen Beirdd y Gorllewin, "Head of the Western Bards;" some of whose works are come down to us; particularly, an Ode, in Welsh, translated into Latin sapphic Verre, by David Jones, Vicar of Llanfair Duffryn Clwyd, Denbighshire, in 1580.[bbb] Owen Cyfeiliog, and Gwalchmai, in the 12th Century; and many others, at different periods, of distinguished merit, have appeared in Wales. Some of whom have plainly alluded to Madog's Adventures. For the Names, Times, and the Works of these Bards, I refer to Mr. Evans's Specimens of the ancient Welsh Bards, 1764. To SirThomas Herbert'sTravels and to Mr.Warrington'sHistory of Wales, p. 307. Edit. 1788.
[Footnote bbb: Owen's Remains, ubi supra, p. i23, &c.—A Gentleman, well versed in British Antiquities, and Welsh Poetry, to whom these papers were communicated, says, that there are 30 or 40 pieces of Talessyn's now in being, but is doubtful whether the above Ode be Taliessyn's or not.]
I would observe here that though our Northern Country-men affect, in some degree, to despise the Welsh, as having produced no Man of Genius,Science, or Renown, which is by no means the Truth, as appears from what hath been above said; yet it is well known, that the Stuart, their favourite Family, by the Mother side, is descended from the ancient Britons.
Fleance, the Son of Banquo, who was murdered by the order of the Usurper Macbeth, to avoid the like Fate, fled to North Wales, where he was kindly and hospitably entertained by Prince Gryffydd ab Llewelyn ab Sitsyllt.[ccc]
[Footnote ccc: Cecil, the Family name of the Marquis of Salisbury, and of the Earl of Exeter seems to be derived from this ancient British name, anglicized.]
Ungenerously he debauched his Daughter, Nest, by whom he had a Son, called Walter. This Son, being upbraided with his illegitimate Birth, by one of his Companions, slew him, and fled to Scotland, where in time he became Lord Steward of that Kingdom; and all the Families of that name in that Country, are descended from that Bastard.[ddd]
[Footnote ddd: For this ungenerous proceeding, Fleance was put to Death by Prince Gryffydd, and Nest was put to a menial office; some say, that of a Scullion. She was afterwards married to Trahaern ab Caradoc, Prince of North Wales.
Buchanan. Hist. Rer. Scot. p. 193. Dr. Powel's Notes on Giraldus, Lib. I. Chap. 2. p. 88. Edit. 1588. Warrington's History of Wales, p. 204, &c. Humphry Llwyd's and Dr. Powel's additions to Caradoc, p. 91. &c.]
Thus I have, to the best of my Knowledge and judgment, examined the Truth of the Tradition, concerning Prince Madog ab Owen Gwynedd, and his Colony's Emigration, about the Year of Christ 1170; and, I presume, have shewn, contrary to the assertions of Lord Lyttelton and Dr. Robertson, that there always were, and that there still are Monuments, Vestiges, and memorials of that Event in America. Having produced the Evidence, I leave the Reader to draw the conclusion.