The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1841-01-23
VOL. Live. 213.

Iues certainly as the world moveth in courts; Isa-
bella smiled, but she said nothing, for her ghostly
counsellor was wont to rebuke with freedom, and
heto listen with humility-Swhere the age is not
exhibiting its purest models Of sobriety of thought
and devotion, but even those that exist without
the spirit shall be fitted to heaven But what
are gravity and decorum, if sustained by an in
iated pride, and inordinate rapaclty? ambition
being term too lofty for such craving Re
feet, Sonora, on the full nature of these de-
mands. This Colon requireth to be establish
ed, forever, In the hig state of substitute fora
king, not only for his own person, but for those
of his descendants throughout all time, with the
title ana authority OF Admiral over all adjacent
seas, should he discover any of the lands he so
much exalts, before he will consent to enter into
the command OF certain of your Hghness' vessels,
a station itself only too honorable for one of SO
little note. Should his most extravagant preten-
sions be reaized-and the probabilities are that
they Will entirely fail: his demands would exceed
his services; whereas, in the case of failurc the
CastIlian and Aragonese names would be cover
cd with ridicule, and sore disrespect would
beial the royal dignity for having been thus
duped by an adventurer. Much of the glory of
this late conquest would be tarnished, BY mis-
take so unfortunate.
EDaughter-M archioness,' observed the Queen,
turning towards the faithful and long tried friend
who was occupied with her needle near her own
side--sthese conditions of Colon do, truly, seem
to exceed the bounds of reason
eThe enterprise also exceedeth all the usual
bounds OF risks and adventures, Sonora was the
! steady reply OF bona Beatriz, as she glanced to-
| wards the countenance of Mercedes. Noble eff
| forts deserve noble rewards
The eye OF Isabella followed the glance of her
| friend, ana 1t Iemalned fixed for soale time on
the pale features OF her Savorite's ward. The
beautiful girl herself was unconseious of the at
tention she excited; but one who knew her Sc.
cret might easily detect the intense feeline, with
| which she awaited the ISSUE The opinions of
her confessor had seemed so reasonable, that Isa-
bella was on the point OF asserting to the report
of the commissioners, and of abandoning alto
| gether the secret hopes and expectations she had
| begun to couple with the success of the navIga-
tors schemes, when a gentle feeling, that
belonged peculiarly to her own feminine heart,
/ inteTposed to give the mariner another chance.
1t is seldom that woman is dead to the synpa-
| thies connected with the affections, and the
| wishes that sprang from the love of Mercedes
de Yalverde were the active of the deci-
sion that the Queen of CASTLE came to at that
critical moment.
eve must be neither harsh nsr hasty with
this Gensese, Lord Archbishop she said, turn
| ing again to the sprelate Gle hath the virtues
| of devoutness and fair-dealing, and these are
| qualities that sovereigns learn to prize His de
mands no doubt have become somewhat cxag-
| gerated by long brooding, in his thoughts, on
/ faverite and great scheme; but kind words and
reason may yet lead him to more moderation
Let him, then, be tried with propositions of our
own, and doubtless his necessities, if not sense
| of justice, will cause him to accept them. The
vice-royalty doth indeed, exceed the usual policy
| of princes, and, as you say, holy prelate, the
tenth. rs the church's share; but the admiral7s
| rank may be fairly claimed. Meet him, then,
with these moderated proposals, and substitute
| aIhfteenth for a tenth; let him be vfeeroy in
| his own person, during the pleasure of Don Fer
nando and myself, but let him relinquIsh the
| claim for his posterity."
| Fernando de Talevera thought even these con-
cessons too considerable, but, while he exercised
his sacred office with a high authority, he too
well knew the character of Isabella to presume
to dispute an order she had once issued, although
it was in her own mild and feminine manner
After receiving few more instructions, there
fore, and obtaining the counsel of the king, who
was at work IN an adjoining cabinet, the prelate
went to execute this new commission.
Two or three days now passed before the sub
ject was finally disposed of, and Isabella was
again seated in the domestic circle, when admis-
sion was once demanded in behalf of her
confessor. The archbishop entered with flushed
face, and his whole appearance so disturbed
that it must have been observed by the most in
different person.
'How now, holy archbishop -demanded Isa-
bella-sdoth thy new flock vex thy spirit and is
| it SO very hard to deal with an infdel I"
otis nought of that, Senora-'ts nought re-
lating to my new people. | find even the fol-
some who exult in Christs name and favor.
| This Colon is a mailman, and better fitted to
! become saint in Mussulman's eyes, than even
pilot in Your Highness's service
At this burst of indignation, the Queen, the
Marchioness of Moya, and Donna Mercedes de
Valverde, simultaneously dropped their needle
work. aad safe looking at the prelate, with COM
mon concern. They had all hoped the difficult
ties which stood in the way of favorable ter
mination to the negocIation would be removed,
l. HI Al L IL L
who, in spite of the boldness and unusual char
acter of his projects, had succeeded in so sgnals
~ commanding their respect, and in interesting
their feelings, was about to depart, and to fur
nish practical solution to problems that had as
much puzzled their reasons as they had excited
their curiosity But here was something like
sudden and unlooked-foi termination to all their
expectations; and while Mercedes felt something
like despair chilling her heart, the Queen and
Donna Beatriz were both displeased. f-1 &.
| sDidst thou duly explain to the Senior Colon,
the nature OF our proposals, Lord Archbishop
| the former asked, with more severity Of manner
than she was accustomed to betray; sand doth he
| still insist the pretensions to vice regal
power, and on the offensive condition in behalf
| of his Posterity?
Even so, Your Highness; were it Isabella of
CASTLE treating with Henry of England or
Louis of France, the starving Genoese could not
held higher terms or more inhexible conditions.
He abatsth nothing. The man deemeth himself
| chosen of God to answer certain ends, and his
| language and conditions are such as one who
| felt holy impulse to his course, could scarcely
| feel warranted in assuming
sThis constancy hath It's merit observed the
| Queen: sbut there is limit to concession. l
shall urge no more in the navigator's favor, but
| leave him to the fortune thatnaturally followeth
self exaltation and all extravaganza of demand
This speech apparently sealed the fate of Co
lumbus in CASTLE. The Archbishop was appeas-
l nd frat hoIdiu0 a short DiiVate conference
with his royal penitent, he left the ROOM Short
| " after Christeval Colon, as he was called by
| the Spaniards Columbus, as he styled himself
in later life--rcceived, for definite answer, the
information that his conditions were rejected land
that the negotiation for the projected voyage TO