ftruggling with every diftrefs in which the envy and malevolence of the people under his command, or the ingratitude of the court which he ferved, could involve him. Though the pacification with Roldan broke the union and weekened the force of the mutineers, it did not extirpate the feeds of difcord out of the ifland. Several of the malcontents continued in arms, refufing to fubmit to the Admiral. He and his

The

brothers were obliged to take the field alternately, in order to check their incurfions, or to punish their crimes. The perpetual occupation and difquiet which this created, prevented him from giving due attention to the dangerous machinations of his enemies in the court of Spain. A good number of fuch as were most dissatisfied with his adminiftration, had embraced the opportunity of returning to Europe with the fhips which he dispatched from St. Domingo. final difappointment of all their hope's inflamed the rage of thefe infortunate adventurers against Columbus to the utmoft pitch. Their poverty and diftrefs, by exciting compaffion, rendered their accufations credible, and their complaints interefting. They teazed Ferdinand and Ifabella inceffantly with memorials, containing the detail of their own grievances, and the articles of their charge against Columbus. Whenever either the king or queen appeared in public, they furrounded them in a tumultuary manner, infifting with importunate clamours for payment

of the arrears due to them, and demanding vengeance upon the author of their fufferings. They infulted the Admiral's fons wherever they met them, reproaching them as the offfpring of the projector, whofe fatal curiofity had dicovered those pernicious regions which drained Spain of its wealth, and would prove the grave of its people. These avowed endeavours of the malcontents from America to ruin Columbus, were feconded by the fecret, but more dangerous infinuations of that party among the courtiers, which had always thwarted his fchemes, and envied his fuccefs and credit h).

Their influence on Ferdinand and Ifabella,

Ferdinand was difpofed to liften, not only with a willing, but wit a partial ear, to thefe accufations. Notwithstanding the flattering accounts which Columbus had given of the riches of America, the remittances from it had hitherto been fo fcanty, that they fell far fhort of defraying the expence of the armaments fitted out. The glory of the difcovery, together with the prospect of remote commercial advantages, was all that Spain had yet received in return for the efforts which she had made. But time had already diminished the firft fenfations of joy which the discovery of a New World occafioned, and fame alone was not an object to fatisfy the cold interefted mind of Ferdinand. The nature of

h) Life of Columbus, c. 85.

.

commerce was then fo little understood, that, where immediate gain was not acquired, the hope of diftant benefit, or of flow and moderate returns, was totally difregarded. Ferdinand confidered Spain, on this account, as having loft by the enterprise of Columbus, and imputed it to his misconduct and incapacity for government, that a country abounding in gold had yielded nothing of value to its conquerors. Even Isabella, who, from the favourable opinion which fhe entertained of Columbus, had uniformly protected him, was fhaken at length by the number and boldness of his accusers, and began to fufpe&t that a difaffection fo general must have been occafioned by real grievances, which called for redrefs. The bishop of Badajos, with his usual animofity against Columbus, encouraged thefe fufpicions, and confirmed them.

Fatal effects of this.

As foon as the queen began to give way to the torrent of calumny, a refolution fatal to Columbus was taken. Francis de Bovadilla, a knight of Calatrava, was appointed to repair to Hifpaniola, with full powers to inquire into the conduct of Columbus, and, if he fhould find the charge of mal - administration proved, to fuperfede him, and affume the government of the ifland. It was impoffible to efcape condemnation, when this prepofterous commiffion made it the intereft of the judge to pronounce the per

fon whom he was fent to try, guilty. Though Columbus had now compofed all the diffenfions in the island; though he had brought both Spaniards and Indians to fubmit peaceably to his government; though he had made fuch effectual provifion for working the mines, and cultivating the country, as would have fecured a confiderable revenue to the king, as well as large profits to individuals, Bovadilla, without deigning to attend to the nature or merit of those fervices, difcovered, from the moment that he landed in Hifpaniola, a determined purpofe of treating him as a criminal. He took poffeffion of the Admiral's houfe in St. Domingo, from which its mafter happened at that time to be abfent, and feized his effects, as if his guilt had been already fully proved; he rendered himself master of the fort and of the king's ftores by violence; he required all perfons to acknowledge him as fupreme governor; he fet at liberty the prisoners confined by the Admiral, and fummoned him to appear before his tribu- 、 nal, in order to answer for his conduct, tranfmitting to him together with the fummons, a copy of the royal mandate, by which Columbus was enjoined to yield implicit obedience to his commands.

Columbus fent in chains to Spain,

Columbus, though deeply affected with the ingratitude and injuftice of Ferdinand and Ifa

bella, did not hesitate a moment about his own conduct. He fubmitted to the will of his fovereigns with a respectful filence, and repaired directly to the court of that violent and partial judge whom they had authorifed to try him. Bovadilla, without admitting him into his prefence, ordered him inftantly to be arrested, to be loaded with chains, and hurried on board a fhip. Even under this humiliating reverfe of fortune, the firmnefs of mind which diftinguishes the character of Columbus, did not forfake him. Confcious of his own integrity, and folacing himself with reflecting upon the great things which he had atchieved, he endured this infult offered to his character, not only with compofure, but with dignity. Nor had he the confolation of fympathy to mitigate his fufferings. Bovadilla had already rendered himself fo extremely popular, by granding various immunities to the colony, by liberal donations of Indians. to all who applied for them, and by relaxing the reins of difcipline and government, that the Spaniards, who were moftly adventurers, whom their indigence or crimes had impelled to abandon their native country, expreffed the moft indecent fatisfaction with the difgrace and inprifonment of Columbus. They flattered themfelves, that now they fhould enjoy an uncontrouled liberty, more fuitable to their difpofition and former habits of life. Among perfons thus prepared to cenfure the proceedings, and to