A discourse, intended to commemorate the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus; delivered at the request of the Historical Society in Massachusetts, on the 23d day of October, 1792, being the completion of the third century since that memorable event. : To which are added, four dissertations, connected with various parts of the discourse, viz. 1. On the circumnavigation of Africa by the ancients. 2. An examination of the pretentions of Martin Behaim to a discovery of America prior to that of Columbus, with a chronological detail of all the discoveries made in the 15th century. 3. On the question, whether the honey-bee is a native of America? 4. On the colour of the native Americans and the recent population of this continent. / By Jeremy Belknap, D.D. ; [Six lines in Latin from Seneca]

Title: A discourse, intended to commemorate the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus; delivered at the request of the Historical Society in Massachusetts, on the 23d day of October, 1792, being the completion of the third century since that memorable event. : To which are added, four dissertations, connected with various parts of the discourse, viz. 1. On the circumnavigation of Africa by the ancients. 2. An examination of the pretentions of Martin Behaim to a discovery of America prior to that of Columbus, with a chronological detail of all the discoveries made in the 15th century. 3. On the question, whether the honey-bee is a native of America? 4. On the colour of the native Americans and the recent population of this continent. / By Jeremy Belknap, D.D. ; [Six lines in Latin from Seneca]

Author: Belknap, Jeremy, 1744-1798.

Collection: Evans Early American Imprint Collection

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therefore if these had been considered as articles of subsistence or of commerce; the sanguine spirit of the first adventurers would have rath|er led them to think of finding them in Amer|ica, than of transporting bees from Europe to make them.As to the circumstance of the bees "ex|tending themselves a little in advance of the white settlers," it cannot be considered as a conclusive argument in favour of their having been first brought from Europe. It is well known, that where land is cultivated, bees find a greater plenty of food than in the forest. The blossoms of fruit trees, of grasses and grain, particularly clover and buck wheat, af|ford them a rich and plentiful repast; and they are seen in vast numbers in our fields and orchards at the season of those blossoms. They therefore delight in the neighbourhood of "the white settlers," and are able to increase in numbers, as well as to augment their quan|tity of stores, by availing themselves of the labour of man. May it not be from this cir|cumstance that the Indians have given them the name of "the white man's fly;" and that they "consider their approach (or frequent 0