FERDINAND’S letter to Columbus

But it is time to return to Columbus, who in the mean time was chafing at the inactivity which had been forced upon him.  His was a restless spirit, perhaps too restless for an organizer, who ought to possess an inexhaustible amount of patience, and to be able to wait as well as to labour.  He had formed a theory that some strait existed through which a passage might be made from the neighbourhood of St. Domingo to those regions in Asia from which the Portuguese were just beginning to reap a large profit, and which must be very near that home of the gold which had always occupied his thoughts.  He pressed the Sovereigns to provide him with ships for an expedition having for its special object the discovery of this strait; and on the occurrence of some delay as to the equipment of vessels for the purpose, he seems to have written to Ferdinand, reproaching him with the treatment which he had received, and with the want of confidence manifested towards him now.  To this Ferdinand answered in a letter which was certainly well calculated to soothe the Admiral’s indignation.  It was to the following effect, “You ought to be convinced of our displeasure at your captivity, for we lost not a moment in setting you free.  Your innocence is well known; you are aware of the consideration and friendship with which we have treated you; the favours which you have received from us shall not be the last that you will receive; we assure to you your privileges, and are desirous that you and your children may enjoy them.  We offer to confirm them to you again, and to put your eldest son in possession of all your offices, whenever you wish....We beg you to set out as soon as possible.”

  New enterprise.

On the 9th of May the preparations were complete, and Columbus set sail from Cadiz with his brother, Don Bartholomew, and his second son, Fernando.  As an instance of the admiral’s chivalrous love of adventure, it may be mentioned that upon hearing that the Portuguese fortress of Arzilla, on the African coast, was besieged by the Moors, he first proceeded thither, quite voluntarily, to its relief.  When he reached it, however, he found that the siege had been raised; and his services were not, therefore, called into requisition.

  Columbus refused shelter; destructive tornado.

After a singularly prosperous voyage, he reached Martinique on the 13th of June.  His instructions from the Sovereigns expressly interdicted him from visiting St. Domingo; but, on finding that his largest ship required some repairs to make her seaworthy, he boldly disregarded the prohibition, and sent a boat to ask Ovando to furnish him with another vessel in place of the damaged one, and to allow his squadron to take refuge in the harbour during a hurricane which he foresaw to be imminent.  Ovando refused both requests.  His commission set forth that Columbus was not to visit