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Christopher Columbus Letter
NOTE:
Christopher Columbus explored the New World from 1492 to
1503. What follows is the text of one of his
correspondences to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of
Spain. (Glossary: alcalde = mayor.)
Most
High and Mighty Sovereigns,
In obedience to your Highnesses' commands, and with
submission to superior judgment, I will say whatever occurs
to me in reference to the colonization and commerce of the
Island of Espanola, and of the other islands, both those
already discovered and those that may be discovered
hereafter.
In the first place, as regards the Island of Espanola:
Inasmuch as the number of colonists who desire to go thither
amounts to two thousand, owing to the land being safer and
better for farming and trading, and because it will serve as
a place to which they can return and from which they can
carry on trade with the neighboring islands:
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That in the
said island there shall be founded three or four towns,
situated in the most convenient places, and that the
settlers who are there be assigned to the aforesaid
places and towns.
-
That for
the better and more speedy colonization of the said
island, no one shall have liberty to collect gold in it
except those who have taken out colonists' papers, and
have built houses for their abode, in the town in which
they are, that they may live united and in greater
safety.
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That each
town shall have its alcalde and its notary public, as is
the use and custom in Castile.
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That there
shall he a church, and parish priests or friars to
administer the sacraments, to perform divine worship,
and for the conversion of the Indians.
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That none
of the colonists shall go to seek gold without a license
from the governor or alcalde of the town where he lives;
and that he must first take oath to return to the place
whence he sets out, for the purpose of registering
faithfully all the gold he may have found, and to return
once a month, or once a week, as the time may have been
set for him, to render account and show the quantity of
said gold; and that this shall be written down by the
notary before the aIcalde, or, if it seems better, that
a friar or priest, deputed for the purpose, shall be
also present
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That all
the gold thus brought in shall be smelted immediately,
and stamped with some mark that shall distinguish each
town; and that the portion which belongs to your
Highnesses shall be weighed, and given and consigned to
each alcalde in his own town, and registered by the
above-mentioned priest or friar, so that it shall not
pass through the hands of only one person, and there
shall he no opportunity to conceal the truth.
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That all
gold that may be found without the mark of one of the
said towns in the possession of any one who has once
registered in accordance with the above order shall be
taken as forfeited, and that the accuser shall have one
portion of it and your Highnesses the other.
-
That one
per centum of all the gold that may be found shall be
set aside for building churches and adorning the same,
and for the support of the priests or friars belonging
to them; and, if it should be thought proper to pay any
thing to the alcaldes or notaries for their services, or
for ensuring the faithful perforce of their duties, that
this amount shall be sent to the governor or treasurer
who may be appointed there by your Highnesses.
-
As regards
the division of the gold, and the share that ought to be
reserved for your Highnesses, this, in my opinion, must
be left to the aforesaid governor and treasurer, because
it will have to be greater or less according to the
quantity of gold that may be found. Or, should it seem
preferable, your Highnesses might, for the space of one
year, take one half, and the collector the other, and a
better arrangement for the division be made afterward.
-
That if the
said alcaldes or notaries shall commit or be privy to
any fraud, punishment shall be provided, and the same
for the colonists who shall not have declared all the
gold they have.
-
That in the
said island there shall be a treasurer, with a clerk to
assist him, who shall receive all the gold belonging to
your Highnesses, and the alcaldes and notaries of the
towns shall each keep a record of what they deliver to
the said treasurer.
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As, in the
eagerness to get gold, every one will wish, naturally,
to engage in its search in preference to any other
employment, it seems to me that the privilege of going
to look for gold ought to be withheld during some
portion of each year, that there may be opportunity to
have the other business necessary for the island
performed.
-
In regard
to the discovery of new countries, I think permission
should be granted to all that wish to go, and more
liberality used in the matter of the fifth, making the
tax easier, in some fair way, in order that many may be
disposed to go on voyages.
I will now give my opinion about ships going to the said
Island of Espanola, and the order that should be maintained;
and that is, that the said ships should only be allowed to
discharge in one or two ports designated for the purpose,
and should register there whatever cargo they bring or
unload; and when the time for their departure comes, that
they should sail from these same ports, and register all the
cargo they take in, that nothing may be concealed.
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In
reference to the transportation of gold from the island
to Castile, that all of it should be taken on board the
ship, both that belonging to your Highnesses and the
property of every one else; that it should all be placed
in one chest with two locks, with their keys, and that
the master of the vessel keep one key and some person
selected by the governor and treasurer the other; that
there should come with the gold, for a testimony, a list
of all that has been put into the said chest, properly
marked, so that each owner may receive his own; and
that, for the faithful performance of this duty, if any
gold whatsoever is found outside of the said chest in
any way, be it little or much, it shall be forfeited to
your Highnesses.
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That all
the ships that come from the said island shall be
obliged to make their proper discharge in the port of
Cadiz, and that no person shall disembark or other
person be permitted to go on board until the ship has
been visited by the person or persons deputed for that
purpose, in the said city, by your Highnesses, to whom
the master shall show all that he carries, and exhibit
the manifest of all the cargo, it may be seen and
examined if the said ship brings any thing hidden and
not known at the time of lading.
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That the
chest in which the said gold has been carried shall be
opened in the presence of the magistrates of the said
city of Cadiz, and of the person deputed for that
purpose by your Highnesses, and his own property be
given to each owner. -
I beg your Highnesses to hold me in your protection; and I
remain, praying our Lord God for your Highnesses' lives and
the increase of much greater States.
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