[273-1] The original text of this letter will be most accessible in
Thacher, _Christopher Columbus_, III. 100-113. It is there accompanied by
a facsimile of the original manuscript and an English translation. The
translation here given is a revision of that made by Dr. Jose Ignacio
Rodriguez of Washington and printed in the _Report of the American
Historical Association_, 1894, pp. 452-455, as part of a paper by W.E.
Curtis on _Autographs of Christopher Columbus_. The text was first
printed by Justo Zaragoza in his _Cartas de Indias_, etc. (Madrid, 1877).
It was first translated by George Dexter in the _Proceedings of the
Massachusetts Historical Society_, Vol. XVI. This translation, which
contains some errors which seriously affect the meaning, is also to be
found in P.L. Ford, _Writings of Christopher Columbus_, pp. 67-74.
Zaragoza placed the date of this letter in 1497. It is the opinion of the
present editor that it should be placed between the first and the second
voyage. The arguments advanced by Lollis in favor of 1493 are conclusive.
See _Raccolta Colombiana_, parte I., tomo I., pp. lxxv-lxxx.
The letter is of great importance as the first draft of a systematic
colonial policy for the newly discovered islands. Several of its
suggestions were incorporated in the letter of instructions which the
Sovereigns gave Columbus May 29, 1493, for the second voyage. See
Navarrete, _Viages_, II. 66-72. It was supplemented in 1494 by the
memorandum which the Admiral sent back to the sovereigns by Antonio de
Torres and the two together entitle Columbus to be considered the pioneer
lawgiver as well as the discoverer of the New World. _Cf._ Bourne, _Spain
in America_, pp. 204-206.
[273-2] _La ysla Espanola._ So translated, for so it would sound to the
Sovereigns. There had not been time for Espanola to sound like a proper
name.
[274-1] See Bourne, _Spain in America_, pp. 34-35, for the actual
equipment of the second voyage.
[274-2] Alcalde.
[274-3] _Escribano del pueblo._
[275-1] As the King and Queen on May 7, 1493, appointed Gomez Tello to go
with Columbus on the second voyage to act as receiver of the royal dues,
Thacher argues strongly, on the ground that this recommendation
presumably antedates the appointment of a treasurer, that this letter of
Columbus's was written earlier than May 7, 1493.
[276-1] Such an authorization was given by the sovereigns, April 10,
1495, reserving Columbus's rights to one-eighth of the trade. Navarrete,
II. 166-167. The Admiral protested that this authorization led to
infringement of his rights and it was in so far revoked, June 2, 1497.
[277-1] On the development of the fiscal and commercial regulations of
the Spanish colonial administration, see Bourne, _Spain in America_, pp.
282-301 and 337; Moses, _Establishment of Spanish Rule in America_, pp.
27-67.
[277-2] The formal signature of Columbus which he enjoined upon his heir
in his deed of entail, February 28, 1498. See P.L. Ford, _Writings of
Christopher Columbus_, p. 90. If this letter was written, as is supposed,
in 1493, this is the earliest use of this monogram. Its meaning has never
been determined. The various conjectures are presented by Thacher,
_Christopher Columbus_, III. 454-458.