Thus was Columbus, weary with long waiting, left without any
appropriation at all; and Bishop Fonseca laughing at him whenever he
observed his eagerness to be off!

In this quarter the impatient Admiral found much hindrance and no
sympathy. Not only did Fonseca himself exhibit indifference to
Columbus's work, but his secretary did the same. Furthermore, contrary
to the terms of Columbus's contract, by which he was to have a monopoly
of Indian discovery, Fonseca (on royal order, of course) began giving
licenses to other navigators, and the intrepid Columbus saw his coveted
prize slipping through his hands.

In all matters relating to government and administration, Bishop Fonseca
was a far wiser man than the great navigator. Fonseca possessed the best
education a man could receive in that day. His training in the great
church organization had given him skill in reading character. He soon
saw that Columbus had but little ability outside of navigation; and we
wish that, instead of despising him, he had been big enough and kindly
enough to say: "Good friend, give up all connection with that struggling
colony of Hispaniola. Let me send out a more competent man than yourself
to handle it, and do you devote your energies entirely to discovery.
That alone shall be your work. Carry it as far as you can, for you are
not young and the day will come when you can sail no more."

If a sympathetic, convincing, friendly voice had whispered this good
advice to the harassed governor of Espanola, what a load of trouble it
might have lifted from his heart. But Bishop Fonseca, unfortunately, was
not the man to help another in his hour of trouble. He merely treated
Columbus coldly and put every sort of obstacle in his way.