afperfe the character of Columbus, Bovadilla collected the materials for a charge against him. All accufations, the most improbable, as well as inconfiftent, were received. No informer, however infamous, was rejected. The refult of this inqueft, no lefs indecent than partial, he tranfmitted to Spain. At the fame time, he ordered Columbus, with his two brothers, to be carried thither in fetters; and, adding cruelty to infult, he confined them in different fhips, and excluded them from the comfort of that friendly intercourfe which might have foothed their common diftrefs. But while the Spaniards in Hifpaniola viewed the arbitrary and infolent proceedings of Bovadilla with a general approbation, which reflects difhonour upon their name and country, one man ftill retained the memory of the great actions which Columbus had performed, and was touched with the fentiments. of veneration and pity due to his rank, his age, and his merit. Alonfo de Vallejo, the captain of the veffel on board which the Admiral was confined, as foon as he was clear of the ifland, approached his prifoner with great refpect, and offered to releafe him from the fetters with which he was unjuftly loaded.,, No," replied Columbus, with a generous indignation,,,I wear thefe irons in confequence of an order from my fovereigns. They fhall find me as obedient to this as to their other injunctions. By their

command I have been confined, and their command alone fhall fet me at liberty i).

66

Set at liberty, but deprived of all authority.

Fortunately, the voyage to Spain was extremely fhort. As foon as Ferdinand and Ifabella were informed that Columbus was brought home a prifoner, and in chains, perceived at once what universal astonishment this event must occafion, and what an impreffion to their difadvantage it must make. All Europe, they forefaw, would be filled with indignation at this ungenerous requital of a man who had performed actions worthy of the highest recompence, and would exclaim against the injustice of the nation, to which he had been fuch an eminent benefactor, as well as against the ingratitude of the princes whofe reign he had rendered illuftrious. Afhamed of their own conduct, and eager not only to make some reparation for this injury, but to efface the ftain which it might fix upon their character, they inftantly issued orders to fet Columbus at liberty, invited him to court, and remitted money to enable him to appear there in a manner fuitable to his rank. When he entered the royal prefence, Columbus threw himself at the feet of his fovereigns. He remained for fome time filent; the various paf

fions

i) Life of Columbus, c. 86. Herrera, dec. i. lib. iv. c. 8-11. Gomara Hift. c, 23. Oviedo, lib. iii. c. 6.

fons which agitated his mind fuppreffing his power of utterance. At length he recovered himself, and vindicated his conduct in a long difcourfe, producing the moft fatisfying proofs of his own integrity as well as good intention, and evidence, no lefs clear, of the malevolence of his enemies, who, not fatisfied with having ruined his fortune, laboured to deprive him of what alone was now left, his honour and his fame. Ferdinand received him with decent civility, and Isabella with tenderness and respect. They both expreffed their forrow for what had happened, difavowed their knowledge of it, and joined in promising him protection and future favour. But though they inftantly degraded Bovadilla, in order to remove from themfelves any fufpicion of having authorised his violent proceedings, they did not reftore to Columbus his jurifdiction and privileges as viceroy of those countries which he had difcovered. Though willing to appear the avengers of Columbus's wrongs; that illiberal jealousy, which prompted them to inveft Bovadilla with fuch authority as put it in his power to treat the Admiral with indignity, ftill fubfifted. They were afraid to truft a man to whom they were fo highly indebted, and retaining him at court under various pretexts, they appointed Nicholas de Ovando, a knight of the military order of Alcantara, governor of Hifpaniola k).

k) Herrera, dec. 1. lib. iv. c. 10-12, Life of Columbus, c. 87. ROBERTSON Vol. I.

Columbus was deeply affected with this new injury, which came from hands that feemed to be employed in making reparation for his paft fufferings. The fenfibility with which great minds feel every thing that implies any fufpicion of their integrity, or that wears the aspect of an affront, is exquifite. Columbus had experienced both from the Spaniards; and their ungenerous conduct exasperated him to fuch a degree, that he could no longer conceal the fentiments which it excited. Wherever he went, he carried about with him, as a memorial of their ingratitude, thofe fetters with which he had been loaded. They were conftantly hung up in his chamber, and he gave orders that when he died, they fhould be buried in his grave 1).

Progrefs of difcovery. January 1501.

Meanwhile, the fpirit of difcovery, notwithstanding the fevere check which it received by the ungenerous treatment of the man who firft excited it in Spain, continued active and vigorous. Roderigo de Baftidas, a perfon of diftinction, fitted out two fhips in co-partnery with John de la Cofa, who having ferved under the Admiral in two of his voyages, was deemed the most skilful pilot in Spain. They feered directly towards the continent, arrived on the coaft of Paria, and proceeding to the weft,

1) Life of Columbus, c. 86. p. 577.

difcovered all the coaft of the province now known by the name of Tierra Firma, from Cape de Vela to the gulf of Darien. Not long after Ojeda, with his former affociate Amerigo Vefpucci fet out upon a fecond voyage, and being unacquainted with the deftination of Baftidas, held the fame courfe, and touched at the fame places. The voyage of Baftidas was profperous and lucrative, that of Ojeda, unfortunate. both tended to increafe the ardour of difcovery; for in proportion as the Spaniards acquired a more extensive knowledge of the American continent, their idea of its opulence and fertility increased m).

Ovando appointed governor of Hifpaniola,

But

Before these adventurers returned from their voyages, a fleet was equipped at the public expence, for carrying over Ovando, the new governor, to Hifpaniola. His prefence there was extremely requifite, in order to ftop the inconfiderate career of Bovadilla, whofe imprudent adminiftration threatened the fettlement with ruin. Confcious of the violence and iniquity of his proceedings against Columbus, he continued to make it his fole object to gain the favour and fupport of his countrymen, by accommodating himself to their paffions and prejudices. With this view, he established regulations, in every point the reverse of those

m) Herrera, dec. 1. lib. iv. e. 11,