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LIFE A N D VOYAGES OF
[BOOK X V I I I .
CHAPTER III. COLUMBUS ARRIVES AT COURT.—FRUITLESS APPLICATION TO THE KING FOR REDRESS. [1505.J
THE death of Isabella was a fatal blow to the fortunes of Colum bus. "While she lived, he had every thing to anticipate from her high sense of justice, her regard for her royal word, her gratitude for his services, and her admiration of his character. "With her illness, however, his interests had languished, and when she died, he was left to the justice and generosity of Ferdinand ! During the remainder of the winter and a part of the spring, he continued at Seville, detained by painful illness, and endeavor ing to obtain redress from the government by ineffectual letters. His brother the Adelantado, who supported him with his accus tomed fondness and devotion through all his trials, proceeded to court to attend to his interests, taking with him the admiral's younger son Fernando, then aged about seventeen. The latter, the affectionate father repeatedly represents to his son Diego as a man in understanding and conduct, though but a stripling in years ; and inculcates the strongest fraternal attachment, alluding to his own brethren with one of those simply eloquent and affect ing expressions which stamp his heart upon his letters. “ To thy