1^2 Field Columlian Museum. 



XXIV. 



Letter from Columbus to his son Diego, February 25TH, 1505, 

 Original in the collection of the Duke ofVeragua, Madrid. 



t 



My Dearest Son : 



Licenciate De Zea is a gentleman to whom I want to do honor. He 

 has in his charge the cases of two men who were subject to criminal 

 prosecution, as it appears from the inclosed papers. See that Diego 

 Mendez takes all the steps necessary to have those petitions pre- 

 sented to His Highness, together with the others, on the day of the 

 coming Holy Week, in which it is customary to grant pardons. If 

 the pardon is then granted, all right; but, if not, you all must look 

 into some other manner of obtaining it. 



May Our Lord keep you in His holy guard. 



Dated at Seville, February 25th, 1505. 



I wrote to you and sent the letter by Amerigo Vespusze. See 

 that he sends to you the letter if you have not received it yet. 



Your father, 



Xpo Fercns. 



