of her heart; and in which, as has well been observed, the affections of conjugal love were delicately entwined with piety, and with the most tender melancholy*. She was one of the purest spirits that ever ruled over the destinies of a nation. Had she been spared, her benignant vigilance would have prevented many a scene of horror in the colonization of the new world, and have softened the lot of its native inhabitants. As it is, her fair name will ever shine with celestial radiance in the early dawning of its history.

The news of the death of Isabella reached Columbus when he was writing a letter to his son Diego. He notices it in a postscript or memorandum, written in the haste and brevity of the moment, but in beautifully touching and mournful terms. "Memorial," he writes, "for thee, my dear son Diego of what at present is to be done. The principal is to commend affectionately, and with great devotion, the soul of the queen, our sovereign, to God. Her life was always catholic and holy, and prompt to all things in his holy service: for this reason we may rest assured that she is received into his glory, and beyond the cares of this rough aud weary world. The next thing is to watch and labour in all things for the service of our sovereign the king, and to endeavour to alleviate his grief. His majesty is the head of christendom. Remember the proverb which says, when the head suffers, all the members suffer.' Therefore all good christains should pray for his health, and long life; and we who are in his employ, ought more than others to do this with all study and diligencet."

* Elogio de la Reina, Catolica, por D. Diego Clemencin. Illustration 19.

+ Letter to Don Diego, dated Dec. 3d. 1504.

It is impossible to read without emotion this simply eloquent and mournful letter; in which, by such artless touches Columbus expresses his tenderness for the memory of his benefactress, his weariness under the gathering cares and ills of life, and his persevering and enduring loyalty for the sovereign who was so ungratefully neglecting him. It is in these unstudied and confidential letters that we read the heart of Columbus.

1505.

TIONS TO THE KING FOR REDRESS.

The death of Isabella was a fatal blow to the fortunes of Columbus. While she lived, he had every thing to anticipate from her high sense of justice, her regard for her royal word, her gratitude for his services, and her admiration of his character. With her illness, however, his interests had languished, and when she died, he was left to the justice and generosity of Ferdinand.

During the remainder of the winter, and a part of the spring, he continued at Seville, detained by painful illness, and endeavouring to obtain redress from government by ineffectual letters. His brother the adelantado, who supported him with his accustomed fondness and devotion, through all his trials, proceeded to court, to attend to his interests, taking with him the admiral's younger son Fernando, then aged about seventeen. The latter, the affectionate father repeatedly represents to his son Diego, as a man in understanding and conduct, though but a stripling in years; and inculcates the strongest fraternal attachment, alluding, to his own brethren with one of those beautifully artless and affecting touches, which speak the kindness of his heart. "To thy brother conduct thyself as

the elder brother should unto the younger; thou hast no other, and I praise God that this is such a one as thou art in need of. *** Ten brothers would not be too many for thee. Never have I found a better friend, to right or left, than my brothers."

Among the persons whom Columbus employed at this time in his missions to the court, was Americo Vespucio. He describes him as a worthy but unfortunate man, who had not profited as much as he deserved by his undertakings, and who had always been disposed to render him service. His object in employing him appears to have been to prove the value of his last voyage, and that he had been in the most opulent parts of the new world; Vespucio having since touched upon the same coast, in a voyage with Alonzo de Ojeda.

One circumstance occurred at this time which shed a gleam of hope and consolation over the gloomy prospects of the admiral. His ancient and tried friend, Diego de Deza, who had been some time bishop of Palencia, was expected at court. This was the same worthy friar who had aided him to advocate his theory before the board of learned men at Salamanca, and had assisted him with his purse, when making his propositions to the Spanish He had just been promoted, and made archbishop of Seville, but had not yet been installed in his new office. Columbus directs his son Diego to intrust his interests to this worthy prelate. "Two things," says he, "require particular attention. Ascertain whether the queen, who is now with God, has said any thing concerning me in her testament; and stimulate the bishop of Palencia; he who was the cause that their highnesses obtained possession of the Indias, who induced me to remain in Castile, when I was on

court.

the road to leave it." In another letter he says, "if the bishop of Palencia has arrived, or should arrive, tell him how much I have been gratified by his prosperity; and that if I come, I shall lodge with his grace, even though he should not invite me; for we must return to our ancient fraternal affection."

The incessant applications of Columbus, both by letter and by the intervention of friends, appear to have been listened to with cool indifference. No compliance was yielded to his requests, and no deference was paid to his opinions on various points concerning which he interested himself. New instructions were sent out to Ovando, but not a word of their purport was mentioned to the admiral. It was proposed to send out three bishops, and he entreated in vain to be heard previous to their election. In short, he was not in any way consulted in the affairs of the new world. He felt deeply this neglect, and became every day more impatient of his absence from court. ble himself to perform the journey with more ease, he applied for permission to use a mule, a royal ordinance having prohibited the employment of those animals under the saddle, in consequence of their universal use having occasioned a decline in the breed of horses. A royal permission was accordingly granted to Columbus, in consideration that his age and infirmities incapacitated him from riding on horseback; but it was a considerable time before the state of his health would permit him to avail himself of that privilege.

To ena

The foregoing particulars, gleaned from letters of Columbus recently discovered, show the real state of his affairs, and the mental and bodily afflictions he sus

* Letter of December 21, 1504. Navarrete, T. 1, p. 346.