to Columbus those privileges before granted him as viceroy; and which he so justly merited. Though willing to appear the avengers of Columbus's wrongs, a mean, illiberal jealousy still subsisted. To a man who had discovered and put them in possession of a country that was a source of envy to all Europe, they were afraid to trust: they retained him at court, under various pretexts; and appointed Nicholas de Ovando, a knight of the military order of Alcantara, governor of Hispaniola. This ungenerous conduct exasperated Columbus to such a degree, that he could no longer .conceal the sentiments which it excited. Wherever he went, he carried about with him the fetters with which he had been loaded. He had them hung up in his chamber, and he gave orders that when he died, they should be buried with him.

190. Notwithstanding this ungenerous treatment of Columbus, the spirit of discovery continued active and vigorous. Roderigo de Bastidas, and John de la Cosa fitted out two ships in company; the latter, having served under Columbus in two voyages, was deemed the most skilful pilot in Spain. They steered directly for the continent, and arrived on the coast of Paria, and continuing to the west, discovered the coast of the province now called Terra Firma, from Cape de Vela to the gulf of Darien.

191. Not long after, Ojeda, with Amerigo Vespucci, set out on a second voyage, and held the same course with the former, and touched at the same places. The voyage of Bastidas was prosperous and lucrative that of Ojeda, unfortunate but both tended to increase the ardor of discovery;; for, as the Spaniards became more acquainted with the extent of the American continent, their ideas of its opulence and fertility increased.

192. Before these adventurers returned, a fleet was equipped at the public expense, for carrying over Ovando, the new governor, to Hispaniola. His presence was very necessary, that a period might be put to the imprudent administration of Bovadilla, which threatened the destruction of the colony; and who, conscious of the injustice and violence of his proceedings against Columbus, made it his sole study to gain the favor of his countrymen, by gratifying their passions, and accomodating himself to their prejudices.

193. With this intent he established regulations in every respect the reverse of those which Columbus had deemed essential to the welfare of the settlement. Instead of that severe discipline, which was necessary to habituate the dissolute and corrupt members of society, and restrain them within proper

bounds, he suffered them to enjoy such uncontrolled liberty as led to the most extravagant excesses. So far from protecting the Indians, he gave a legal sanction to the oppression of that unhappy people. He divided them into distinct classes, and distributed them amongst his adherents; reducing them to a state of complete servitude.

194. The rapacity and impatience of the Spaniards after gold, was such, that in their pursuit of it, they neglected all other means of acquiring wealth. The Indians were driven in crowds to the mountains, and compelled to work in the mines, by masters who imposed their tasks without mercy or discretion. Labor so disproportioned to their strength and former habits of life, wasted that feeble race of men, with such rapid consumption, as must soon have exterminated the ancient inhabitants of the island.

195. The necessity of providing a remedy for these evils, hastened Ovando's departure. He commanded the most respectable armament hitherto fitted out for the New World. It consisted of thirty-two ships, having on board two thousand five hundred persons, with an intention of settling in the country.

196. Upon the arrival of the new governor, Bovadilla resigned his charge, and was commanded to return instantly to Spain, to answer for his conduct. Roldan and the other ringleaders of the mutineers, who had been so active in opposing Columbus, were ordered to leave the island at the same time. The natives were declared free subjects of Spain, by public proclamation, of whom no service was required, without paying them the full price of their labor. Various regulations were made, tending to suppress the licentiousness of the Spaniards, which had been so fatal to the colony.

197. To limit the exorbitant gain which private persons were supposed to make by working the mines, an order was published, directing all the gold to be brought to a public smelting-house; and one half of it was declared to be the property of the crown.

CHAPTER IV.

COLUMBUS SAILS THE FOURTH TIME FROM CADIZ.-HE VISITS ST. DOMINGO. ALSO HONDURAS AND YUCATAN.—SUFFERS SHIPWRECK.HIS DEATH.

198. While these steps were taking for the security and tranquillity of the colony, Columbus was engaged in the fruitless and unpleasant employment of soliciting an ungrateful court to fulfil its agreements; and demanded, according to the original stipulation in the year 1492, to be reinstated in his office of viceroy over the countries which he had discovered; but he solicited in vain. The greatness of his discoveries, and the prospect of their increasing value, made the jealous Ferdinand consider the concessions in the capitulation as extravagant and impolitic; he inspired Isabella with the same sentiments: and under various pretexts, equally frivolous and unjust, they eluded all the requisitions of Columbus to perform that which a solemn treaty bound them to accomplish.

199. After attending the court of Spain nearly two years, as an humble suppliant, at length he was convinced that he labored in vain. But even this ungenerous return did not discourage him from pursuing the great object which first called forth his inventive genius, and excited him to attempt discovery. To open a new passage to the East Indies was his original and favorite scheme. This continued to engross his thoughts; he conceived an opinion that beyond the continent of America, there was a sea which extended to the East Indies, and hoped to find some strait or narrow neck of land, by which a communication might be opened; and from the part of the ocean already known, by a very fortunate conjecture, he supposed this strait or isthmus to be situated near the Gulf of Darien.

200. Filled with this idea, though now far advanced in age, worn out with fatigue, and broken with infirmities, he offered cheerfully to undertake a voyage which would ascertain this important point, and perfect the grand scheme which, from the beginning, he proposed to accomplish.

201. Ferdinand and Isabella willingly came into the proposal: they were glad of some honorable employment that would remove from court, a man, with whose demands they were determined not to comply, and whose services it was indecent to neglect. Though unwilling to reward Columbus, they were sensible of his merits, they were convinced of his skill and conduct, and had reason to confide in his success.

202. To these considerations there was a still more powerful influence. About this time, 1502, the Portuguese fleet under Cabral, arrived from the Indies; and by the richness of its cargo, gave the people of Europe a more perfect idea, than they had hitherto been able to form, of the opulence of the East. The Portuguese had been more successful in their discoveries than the Spaniards. They opened a communication with countries where industry, arts, and elegance, flourished, and where commerce had been long established, and carried to a greater extent than in any region of the earth.

203. Their voyages thither yielded immediate and vast profit, in commodities that were extremely precious and in great request. Lisbon became the seat of commerce and of wealth; while Spain had only the expectation of remote benefit, and future gain, from the western world.

204. Columbus's offer to conduct them to the East by a route which he expected would be much shorter and less dangerous, was very acceptable to the Spaniards. Even Ferdinand was roused by such a prospect, and warmly approved of the undertaking.

205. Notwithstanding the importance of the object of this fourth voyage, to the nation, Columbus could procure only four small barks; the largest of which did not exceed seventy tons burden: accustomed to brave danger, he did not hesitate to accept the command of this pitiful squadron. His brother Bartholomew, and his second son Ferdinand, the historian of his actions, accompanied him.

206. He sailed from Cadiz on the ninth of May, 1502, and touched as usual at the Canary islands; from thence it was his intention to have directed his course to the continent; but his largest vessel was so heavy a sailer, and so unfit for the expedition, that he was obliged to bear away for Hispaniola, that if possible, he might exchange her for some ship of the fleet that had carried over Ovando.

207. When he arrived off St. Domingo, he found eighteen of these ships ready loaded, and on the eve of their departure for Spain. Columbus immediately acquainted the governor with the destination of his voyage, and the accident which had obliged him to alter his route. He requested to enter the harbor, not only that he might have permission to negotiate the exchange of his ship, but that he might take shelter, during a violent hurricane which he discerned was approaching: on that account he also advised the governor to put off the departure of the fleet bound for Spain. But Ovando refused his request

and despised his counsel. Under circumstances in which humanity would have afforded refuge to a stranger, Columbus was denied admittance into a country of which he had discov. ered the existence, and had acquired possession. He was regarded as a visionary prophet, arrogating to himself the power to predict an event beyond the reach of human foresight.

208. The fleet set sail, June 29th, 1502, for Spain: and the ensuing night the hurricane came on, with dreadful impetuosity and violence. Columbus alone, aware of the danger, took precautions against it; and saved his little squadron. The fleet bound to Spain met with the fate which the rashness and obstinacy of its commanders merited. Of eighteen ships, two or three only escaped. In this general wreck perished Bovadilla and Roldan, and the greater part of those who had been the most active in persecuting Columbus and oppressing the Indians; together with all the wealth which they had acquired by injustice and cruelty. It exceeded in value 200,000 dollars; an immense sum at that period, and which would have been sufficient to screen them from punishment, and secure them a gracious reception at the Spanish court.

209. One of the ships that escaped had on board all the effects of Columbus, which had been recovered from the wreck of his fortune. Historians universally attribute this event to an immediate interposition of Divine Providence, in order to avenge the wrongs of an injured man, as well as to punish the oppressors of an innocent people. The ignorant and supersti tious formed an opinion, which they are apt to entertain with respect to persons acting in a sphere far above their com. prehension; they believed Columbus to possess supernatural powers, and that he had conjured up this dreadful storm by magical art and incantations, in order to be revenged on his enemies.

210. The inhospitable reception which Columbus met with at Hispaniola hastened his departure for the continent. He set sail July 14th, 1502, and after a tedious and dangerous voyage, he discovered Guanara, an island not far from Honduras. There he had an interview with some of the inhabitants, who arrived in a large canoe. They appeared more civilized, and had acquired more knowledge in the arts than any he had hitherto conversed with.

211. In answer to the eager inquiries of the Spaniards concerning the places where they obtained the gold, of which their ornaments were made; they directed them to the countries situated to the west, which they described as abounding in that