ria had awakened curiosity
and enthusiasm, and, while the crown had passed them by so coldly, Ojeda
and a body of adventurers had obtained a license and had fitted out four
ships for adventure. The special interest of this voyage for us, is that
it is supposed that Vespucci, a Florentine merchant, made at this time
his first expedition to America.

Vespucci was not a professional seaman, but he was interested in
geography, and had made many voyages before this time. So soon as it
was announced that Ojeda was on the coast, the rebels of San Domingo
selected him as a new leader. He announced to Columbus, rather coolly,
that he could probably redress the grievances which these men had.
He undoubtedly knew that he had the protection of Fonseca at home.
Fortunately for Columbus, Roldan did not mean to give up his place
as "leader of the opposition;" and it may be said that the difficulty
between the two was a certain advantage to Columbus in maintaining his
authority.

Meanwhile, all wishes on his part to continue his discoveries were
futile, while he was engaged in the almost hopeless duty of reconciling
various adventurers and conciliating people who had no interests but
their own. In Spain, his enemies were doing everything in their power to
undermine his reputation. His statements were read more and more coldly,
and at last, on the twenty-first and twenty-sixth of May, 1499, letters
were written to him instructing him to deliver into the hands of
Bobadilla, a new commandant, all the fortresses any ships, houses and
other royal property which he held, and to give faith and obedience to
any instructions given by Bobadilla. That is to say, Bobadilla was sent
out as a commander who was to take precedence of every one on the spot.
He was an officer of the royal household, probably a favorite at court,
and was selected for the difficult task of reconciling all difficulties,
and bringing the new colony into loyal allegiance to the crown. He
sailed for San Domingo in the middle of July, 1500, and arrived on the
twenty-third of August.

On his arrival, he found that Columbus and his brother Bartholomew were
both absent from the city, being in fact engaged in efforts to set
what may be called the provinces in order. The young Diego Columbus
was commander in their absence. The morning after he arrived, Bobadilla
attended mass, and then, with the people assembled around the door of
the church, he directed that his commission shou