Note 616 — Chapter II · (continued 2)

His theory was advanced in a paper on “The Origin of the Name America” in the Atlantic Monthly (March, 1875), xxxv. 291, and in “Sur l’origine du nom d’Amérique,” in the Bulletin de la Société de Géographie de Paris, June, 1875. He again advanced his theory in the New York Nation, April 10, 1884, to which the editors replied that it was “fatally ingenious,”—a courteous rejoinder, quite in contrast with that of H. H. Bancroft in his Central America (i. 291), who charges the Professor with “seeking fame through foolishness” and his theory. Marcou’s argument in part depends upon the fact, as he claims, that Vespucius’ name was properly Albericus or Alberico, and he disputes the genuineness of autographs which make it Amerigo; but nothing was more common in those days than variety, for one cause or another, in the fashioning of names. We find the Florentine’s name variously written,—Amerigo, Merigo, Almerico, Alberico, Alberigo; and Vespucci, Vespucy, Vespuchi, Vespuchy, Vesputio, Vespulsius, Despuchi, Espuchi; or in Latin Vespucius, Vespuccius, and Vesputius.