nistration of the Indies.
Whatever we may think of his general policy, we cannot but regret his
removal at the present time, when there appeared some chance of solidity
in his government: though we must honestly admit, that the Catholic
Sovereigns, with such evidence as they had before them, were far from
wrong in recalling him, had it been done in a manner worthy of his and of
their greatness.

CHAPTER XI.

REACTION AT COURT.

The career of Columbus had already been marked by strong contrasts. First,
a "pauper pilot," then the viceroy of a new world; alternately hoping, and
fearing, despondent, and triumphant, he had passed through strange
vicissitudes of good and evil fortune. But no two events in his life stand
out in stronger contrast to each other than his return to Spain after his
first voyage, and his return now. He was then a conqueror; he was now a
prisoner. He was then the idol of popular favour; he was now the unpopular
victim of insidious maligners. In truth, the contrast was so startling as
to strike home to the hearts of the common people, even of those--and
there were many such--who had lost kinsmen or friends in that fatal quest
for gold which the admiral had originated and stimulated. The broad fact
was this: Columbus had given Spain a new world; Spain loaded him with
fetters in return. There was a reaction. The current of public opinion
began to turn in his favour. The nation became conscious of ingratitude to
its benefactor. The nobility were shocked at the insult to one of their
own order. And no sooner had the Sovereigns learned from Columbus of his
arrival, and of his disgrace, than they issued immediate orders for his
liberation, and summoned him to their court at Grenada, forwarding money
to enable him to proceed there in a style befitting his rank. They then
received him with all possible signs of distinction; repudiated
Bobadilla's arbitrary proceedings; and promised the admiral compensation
and satisfaction. As a mark of their disapprobation of the way in which
Bobadilla had acted under their commission, they pointedly refused to
enquire into the charges against Columbus, and dismissed them as not
worthy of investigation.

But though the Sovereigns acted thus promptly on the admiral's behalf,
there is no doubt that one of them, at least, was in no wise displeased at
his being removed from his government. At each fresh discovery, Ferdinand
had repented more and more of the concessio