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VOYAGES
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[BOOK X V I I I .
he, “ and it is now nearly three years since they left their homes. They have endured infinite toils and perils, and they bring inval uable tidings, for which their majesties ought to give thanks to God and rejoice." Notwithstanding his generous solicitude for these men, he knew several of them to have been his enemies ; nay, that some of them were at this very time disposed to do him harm rather than good ; such was the magnanimity of his spirit and his forgiving disposition. The same zeal, also, for the interests of his sovereigns, which had ever actuated his loyal mind, mingled with his other causes of solicitude. He represented in his letter to the king, the mis management of the royal rents in Hispaniola, under the adminis tration of Ovando. Immense quantities of ore lay unprotected in slightly-built houses, and liable to depredations. It required a person of vigor, and one who had an individual interest in the property of the island, to restore its affairs to order, and draw from it the immense revenues which it was capable of yielding ; and Columbus plainly intimated that he was the proper person. In fact, as to himself, it was not so much pecuniary indemni fication that he sought, as the restoration of his offices and digni ties. He regarded them as the trophies of his illustrious achieve ments ; he had received the royal promise that he should be reinstated in them ; and he felt that as long as they were with held, a tacit censure rested upon his name. Had he not been proudly impatient on this subject he would have belied the loftiest part of his character ; for he who can be indifferent to the wreath of triumph, is deficient in the noble ambition which incites to glo rious deeds. The unsatisfactory replies received to his letters disquieted his mind. He knew that he had active enemies at court ready to