CHAP, i.] WEST INDIES. K 



to his father's honours and extensive claims. Of tl 

 daughters, the eldest, Isabella, afterwards intern . 

 ried with the count de Gelvez, a Portuguese n: 

 man of the house of Braganza. Lewis Colun: 

 was an infant of six years of age on the death of 

 father; but was generally considered as heredit: . 

 viceroy, and high admiral of the West Indies. r * 

 emperor, however, though he treated him with r 

 gular distinction, and considerably augmented his r 

 venues, as he grew to manhood, absolutely refused -.<. 

 admit his claim to such extensive authority; i 

 Lewis, as his minority expired, instituted, after 

 fathers example, a legal process for the recover} 

 his birthright. It does not appear that his suit c< 

 came to a legal issue; for, in the year 1545, he fo.i 

 it prudent to accede to a compromise with the env 

 ror, whereby he transferred all his hereditary right 

 the crown, for a grant of the province of Veragua QV 

 the island of Jamaica, with the title of duke de Vera<: 

 and marquis de la Vega. W r hat might have been t 

 precise extent and nature of this grant, we have r 

 information sufficient to enable us to judge. Wh. 

 ever it was, he left no issue to enjoy it ; and his br - 

 thers also dying without male issue, his sister Isabc 

 wife of the count de Gelvez, became sole hem> 

 the Columbus family, and conveyed by her man 

 all her rights to the house of Braganza, \vhere i 

 continued, I believe, till the year 1640, and then 

 verted back by forfeiture to the crown of Spain, i- 

 consequence of the revolution which placed John cii.'. ; 

 of Braganza on the throne of Portugal. 



