releasing from custody.  Moreover he even announced his intention of instituting a general enquiry as to the events which had taken place in Jamaica, in order to decide whether Porras and his associates had been justified in their rebellion.  Columbus disputed the right of Ovando to take upon himself the office of judge in such a matter; and remarked that his own authority as viceroy must have sunk very low indeed, if it did not empower him to punish his officers for mutinying against himself.  This dispute was unfortunate as regards the private interests of the admiral, for the revenues arising from his property in the island had been collected under the authority of the governor, who, upon the occurrence of this quarrel, was easily able to raise difficulties in the way of his obtaining a fair account of the proceeds.  But he was all the more anxious to return to Spain; and, within a month from his arrival at St. Domingo, he started homeward in the caravel which had brought him from Jamaica.

  Falling fortunes.

But even in this last voyage he was forced to “make head against a sea of troubles.”  His evil star was in the ascendant.  Twice his vessel nearly foundered.  Twice her masts were sprung in successive tempests.  His own health was succumbing to the acute attacks of gout which had become more and more frequent for the last few years.  And so, prostrated by sickness, nearly ruined in means, and now hopeless of encouragement from the Sovereigns, the discoverer of the New World arrived at Seville, on the 7th of November, 1504, in as miserable a plight as his worst enemy could have wished.

He could scarcely expect to be received with much favour at court.  He had failed in the search for that strait leading to the kingdom of the Grand Khan, the discovery of which had been the special object of his expedition; he had lost his ships; he had brought home wonderful stories of golden lands, but no gold.  Porras[26] was at large, and had influence at court, which enabled him to stimulate the existing prejudice against Columbus.

[Footnote 26:  It seems just possible that, as the original narrative of the mutiny of Porras was written by Fernando Columbus, who would naturally take his father’s side, something is to be said for Porras which has not been said for him by historians.]

  Death of the queen.

Poor, old, infirm, he had now to receive intelligence which was to deepen all his evils.  He remained at Seville, too unwell to make a journey himself, but sent his son Diego to court, to manage his affairs for him.  The complaints of the admiral, that he had no news from court, are quite touching.  He says, he desires to hear news each hour.  Couriers are arriving every day, but none for him:  his very hair stands on end to hear things so contrary to what his soul desires.  He alludes, I imagine, to the state of the Queen’s health; for, in