Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. III.djvu/270

244 244 RETURN OF COLUMBUS. TAUT provoked a smile from a pontiff like Alexander the II. - -'- — Sixth ; ^^ and may suggest some apology for the tardiness, with which his more rational projects were accredited by the Castilian government. But these visionary fancies never clouded his judgment in matters relating to his great undertaking ; and it is curious to observe the prophetic accuracy, with which he discerned, not only the existence, but the eventual resources of the western world ; as is suf- ficiently evinced by his precautions, to the very last, to secure the full fruits of them, unimpaired, to his posterity. His lofty Whatever were the defects of his mental consti- «:haiacter. tution, the finger of the historian will find it diffi- cult to point to a single blemish in his moral char- acter. His correspondence breathes the sentiment of devoted loyalty to his sovereigns. His conduct habitually displayed the utmost solicitude for the interests of his followers. He expended almost his last maravedi in restoring his unfortunate crew to their native land. His dealings were regulated by the nicest principles of honor and justice. His last communication to the sovereigns from the Indies remonstrates against the use of violent meas- ures in order to extract gold from the natives, as a thing equally scandalous and impolitic.^" The grand object to which he dedicated himself seemed 19 See his epistle to the most parescio bicn ni servicio de vues- selfish and sensual of the succes- tras Altezas de sc le tomar por via sors of St. Peter, in Navarrete, Co- de rolio. La bucna orden evitara leccion de Viages, torn, ii., Doc. cscandolo y liiala fiuim," &c. Car- Dipl. no. 145. tas de Colon, apud Navarrete, Co- 20 >' Y, oro, bien que segun in- leccion de Viages, torn. i. p. 310. formacion el sea iiiucho, no me