the winds and currents, their efforts were all unfuccefsful. Enraged at this difappointment, they marched towards that part of the island where Columbus remained, threatening him with new infults and danger. While they were advancing, an event happened, more cruel and afflicting than any calamity which he dreaded from them. The governor of Hifpaniola, whofe mind was ftill filled with fome dark fufpicions of Columbus, fent a fmall bark to Jamaica, not to deliver his diftreffed countrymen, but to spy out their condition. Left the fympathy of those whom he employed fhould afford them relief, contrary to his intention, he gave the command of this veffel to Efcobar, an inveterate enemy of Columbus, who adhering to his inftructions with malignant accuracy, caft anchor at fome diftance from the island, approached the fhore in a small boat, obferved the wretched plight of the Spaniards, delivered a letter of empty compliment to the admiral, received his anfwer, and departed. When the Spaniards first defcried the veffel ftanding towards the island, every heart exulted, as if the long-expected hour of their deliverance had at length arrived; but when it disappeared fo fuddenly, they funk into the deepest dejection, and all their hopes died away. Columbus alone, though he felt moft fenfibly this wanton infult which Ovando added. to his paft neglect, retained fuch compofure of

mind, as to be able to cheer his followers. He affured them, that Mendez and Fiefchi reached Hifpaniola in fafety; that they would speedily procure fhips to carry them off; but as Efcobar's veffel could not take them all on board, that he had refufed to go with her, because he was determined never to abandon the faithful companions of his distress. Soothed with his apparent generofity in attending more to their preservation than to his own fafety, their fpirits revived, and he regained their confidence.u)

Without this confidence, he could not have refifted the mutineers, who were now at hand. All his endeavours to reclaim thofe defperate men had no effect but to increase their frenzy. Their demands became every day more extravagant, and their intentions more violent and bloody. The common fafety rendered it neceffary to oppose them with open force. Columbus, who had been long afflicted with the gout, could not take the field. His brother, the Adelantado, marched against them. They quickly met. (May 20. 1504.) The mutineers rejected with fcorn terms of accommodation, which were once more offered them, and rufhed on boldly to the attack. They fell not upon an enemy unprepared to receive them. In the firft fhock, feveral of their most daring leaders were flain. The Adelantado, whofe ftrength was equal to his courage, clofed with their captain,

u) Life of Columbus, c. 104. Herrera, dec. 1. lib. vi. c. 17.

wounded, difarmed, and took him prisoner. x) At fight of this, the reft fled with a dastardly fear, fuitable to their former infolence. Soon after, they fubmitted in a body to Columbus, and bound themfelves by the moft folemn oaths to obey all his commands. Hardly was tranquillity re-established, when the fhips appeared, whofe arrival Columbus had promised with great addrefs, though he could foresee it with little certainty. With transports of joy, the Spaniards quitted an ifland in which the unfeeling jealoufly of Ovando had fuffered them to languish above a year, expofed to mifery in all its various forms.

His deliverance, and arrival at Hifpaniola.

When they arrived at St. Domingo, (Aug. 13. 1504.) the governor, with the mean artifice of a vulgar mind, that labours to atone for infolence by fervility, fawned on the man whom he envied, and had attempted to ruin. He received Columbus with the moft ftudied respect, lodged him in his own houfe, and diftingu fhed him with every mark of honour. But, amidft thofe over-acted demonftrations of regard, he could not conceal the hatred and malignity latent in his heart. He fet at liberty the captain of the mutineers, whom Columbus bad brought over in chains to be tried for his crimes, and threatened such as had adhered to the ad

x) Life of Columbus, c. 107. Herrera, dec. 1. lib, vi. c.11.

miral with proceeding to a judicial inquiry into their conduct. Columbus fubmitted in filence to what he could not redrefs, but difcovered an extreme impatience to quit a country which was under the jurifdiction of a man who had treated him, on every occafion, with inhumanity and injuftice. His preparations were foon finifhed, and he fet fail (Septem. 12. 1504.) for Spain with two fhips. Difafters fimilar to thofe which had accompanied him through life continued to pursue him to the end of his career. One of his veffels being difabled, was foon forced back to St. Domingo; the other, fhattered by violent ftorms, (December.) failed feven hundred leagues with jurymafts, and reached with difficulty the port of St. Lucar. y)

Death of Ifabella.

There he received the account of an event the most fatal that could have befallen him, and which completed his misfortunes. This was the death of his patronefs queen Ifabella, (Nov. 9. 1504.) in whofe juftice, humanity, and favour, he confided as his laft refource. None now remained to redrefs his wrongs, or to reward him for his fervices and fufferings, but Ferdinand, who had fo long oppofed and fo often injured him. To folicit a prince thus prejudiced against him, was an occupation no lefs irksome than hopeless. In this, however,

Life of Columbus, c. 108. Herrera, dec. I. lib. vi. c. 12.

was Columbus doomed to employ the clofe of his days. As foon as his health was in fome degree re-establifhed, he repaired to court; and though he was received there with civility barely decent, he plied Ferdinand with petition after petition, demanding the punishment of his oppreffors, and the reftitution of all the privileges bestowed upon him by the capitulation of one thousand four hundred and ninetytwo. Ferdinand amufed him with fair words and unmeaning promifes. Instead of granting his claims, he propofed expedients in order to elude them, and fpun out the affair with fuch apparent art, as plainly difcovered his intention that it fhould never be terminated.

*

Death of Columbus.

The declining health of Columbus flattered Ferdinand with the hopes of being foon delivered from an importunate fuitor, and encouraged him to perfevere in this illiberal plan. Nor was he deceived in his expectations. Difgufted with the ingratitude of a monarch whom he had ferved with fuch fidelity and fuccefs, exhaufted with the fatigues and hardfhips which he had endured, and broken with the infirmities which these brought upon him, Columbus ended his life at Valladolid on the twentieth of May one thousand five hundred and fix, in the fifty-ninth year of his age. He died with a compofure of mind fuitable to the magnani