Likewise, that in the presence of the Justice of the said city of Cadiz and of whosoever may be deputed for the purpose by your Highnesses, the said chest shall be opened in which the gold is to be brought and that to each one be given what belongs to him.[277-1]
May your Highnesses keep me in their minds, while I, on my part, shall ever pray to God our Lord to preserve the lives of your Highnesses and enlarge their dominions.
[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. José 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 Española._ So translated, for so it would sound to the Sovereigns. There had not been time for Española to sound like a proper name.