There is playful reference here to Fonseca, with whom Columbus was evidently now reconciled; and he was to be buttonholed and made to read the Admiral’s letter to the Pope.  Diego Mendez is about to start, and is to make a “long statement”; and in the meantime the Admiral will write as many long letters as he has time for.  Was there no friend at hand, I wonder, with wit enough to tell the Admiral that every word he wrote about his grievances was sealing his doom, so far as the King was concerned?  No human being could have endured with patience this continuous heavy firing at long range to which the Admiral subjected his friends at Court; every post that arrived was loaded with a shrapnel of grievances, the dull echo of which must have made the ears of those who heard it echo with weariness.  Things were evidently humming in Espanola; large cargoes of negroes had been sent out to take the place of the dead natives, and under the harsh driving of Ovando the mines were producing heavily.  The vessels that arrived from the Indies brought a great deal of gold; “but none for me.”

Letter written by CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS to his Son, DON DIEGO, February 5, 1505.

“Very dear son,—­Diego Mendez left here Monday, the 3rd of this month.  After his departure I talked with Amerigo Vespucci, the bearer of this letter, who is going yonder, where he is called in regard to matters of navigation.  He was always desirous of pleasing me.  He is a very honourable man.  Fortune has been adverse to him as it has been to many others.  His labours have not profited him as much as reason demands.  He goes for me, and is very desirous of doing something to benefit me if it is in his power.  I do not know of anything in which I can instruct him to my benefit, because I do not know what is wanted of him there.  He is going with the determination to do everything for me in his power.  See what he can do to profit me there, and strive to have him do it; for he will do everything, and will speak and will place it in operation:  and it must all be done secretly so that there may be no suspicion.

“I have told him all that could be told regarding this matter, and have informed him of the payment which has been made to me and is being made.  This letter is for the Lord Adelantado also, that he may see how Amerigo Vespucci can be useful, and advise him about it.  His Highness may believe that his ships went to the best and richest of the Indies, and if anything remains to be learned more than has been told, I will give the information yonder verbally, because it is impossible to give it in writing.  May our Lord have you in his Holy keeping.

     “Done in Seville, February 5.

     “Your father who loves you more than himself.