a Florentine gentleman, from whom America derived its name.—The merchants of Seville having obtained permission to attempt discoveries as private adventurers, sent out four ships in 1499, under the command of Alonzo de Ojeda (who had Amersfort had accompanied Columbus in his second voyage), assisted by Americus Vespuccius, who was known to be deeply skilled in the science of navigation. This fleet touched on that part of the western continent already discovered by Columbus, whose track Ojeda followed; and Americus, who was a man of much address, as well as possessed of considerable literary talents, by publishing the first voyages on the subject, and other artful means, gave his name to the New World, in prejudice to the illustrious Genoese. The imposture, though long detected, has been sanctified by time; and the fourth division of the globe, so long unknown to the inhabitants of Europe, Asia, and Africa, still continues to be distinguished by the name of America.