CHAP. I I I . ]
CHRISTOPHER
COLUMBUS.
475
preyed upon his heart. From this couch of anguish he addressed one more appeal to the justice of the king. He no longer peti tioned for himself : it was for his son Diego. Nor did he dwell upon his pecuniary dues ; it was the honorable trophies of his services, which he wished to secure and perpetuate in his family. He entreated that his son Diego might be appointed, in his place, to the government of which he had been so wrongfully deprived. “ This,” he said, “ is a matter which concerns my honor ; as to all the rest, do as your majesty may think proper ; give or withhold, as may be most for your interest, and I shall be content. I be lieve the anxiety caused by the delay of this affair is the princi pal cause of my ill health.” A petition to the same purpose was presented at the same time by his son Diego, offering to take with him such persons for counselors as the king should appoint, and to be guided by their advice. These petitions were treated by Ferdinand with his usual pro fessions and evasions. “ The more applications were made to him,” observes Las Casas, “ the more favorably did he reply ; but still he delayed, hoping, by exhausting their patience, to induce them to wave their privileges, and accept in place thereof titles and estates in Castile." Columbus rejected all propositions of the kind with indignation, as calculated to compromise those titles which were the trophies of his achievements. He saw, however, that all further hope of redress from Ferdinand was vain. From the bed to which he was confined, he addressed a letter to his constant friend Diego de Deza, expressive of his despair. “It appears that his majesty does not think fit to fulfill that which he, with the queen, who is now in glory, promised me by word and seal. For me to contend for the contrary, would be to contend with the wind. I have done all that I could do. I
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