WHAT WAS DONE BY THE GENERAL CONGRESS.

quent events.

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However, the union of this Congress was prevented by subse Iturbide ascended the Mexican throne shortly after, and strifes occurring between San Salvador and Guatemala, absolute Governments were formed, thus abrogating all ideas of the Union anticipated on Sep. 15, 1821.

A proclamation was issued on the 29th of March, 1823, reconvoking the General Congress, and on the following 24th of June, the Constituent Assembly, as it was termed, met. With the exception of Chiapa, which was firm in its adherence to Mexico and Nicaragua, which was distracted by internal revolutions, each State sent deputies to this Congress, though San Salvador, having dispatched troops to aid Nicaragua, her deputies were not so soon seated. After the nomination of an executive, one of its first acts was, "the declaring of these provinces independent of Spain, Mexico, and every other power, either of the old or new world." This is dated July 1, 1823.

The basis of its future Constitution, now that the Congress was fully organized, was published Dec. 17th, and Guatemala was declared a Federal Republic, comprising five States confederated, under the title of the "United Provinces of Central America, viz., Guatemala, consisting of thirteen Departments, the Capital of which was Guatemala. These Departments comprised one hundred and fourteen towns and villages, with a population of about seven hundred thousand. San Salvador,

embracing four Departments, Capital, San Salvador, and comprising fifty-five towns and villages, and a population of about three hundred and fifty thousand. Honduras, consisting of twelve Departments, Capital, Comayagua, fifty-seven towns and villages, with a population of about two hundred thousand. Nicaragua, consisting of eight Departments, Capital, Leon, comprising fifty-three towns and villages, with a population of about two hundred thousand. Costa Rica, consist

ing of eight Departments, Capital, San José, comprising twentyone towns and villages, with a population computed at fifty thousand.

These States contain about twenty-two thousand square leagues, bounded on the north by the Atlantic, south and southwest by the Pacific, southeast by Veraguas, and west and northeast by Mexico, comprising about one million five hundred thousand inhabitants, and were to be governed on the principles of Federal Republicanism. The Legislative power was ordained to reside-first, in a Federal Congress, and second, in a Senate, composed of two Senators popularly elected by cach State. The Executive power was vestedfirst, in a President popularly chosen, second, in a VicePresident, third, in a Supreme Court of Justice. The internal affairs of each State to be regulated independently upon the following basis: first, by an Assembly of Deputies; second, by a Council; third, by a Chief; all to be popularly

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elected; fourth, by a Vice-Chief; fifth, by a Supreme Court of Judicature.

Wars and revolutions succeeded, and the Constitutions of the different States were decreed as follows: That of Guatemala, October 11th, 1825; San Salvador's, June 12th, 1824; Honduras', December 11th, 1825; Nicaragua's, April 8th, 1826; Costa Rica's, November 22d, 1824. In 1824, the Republic was decreed under the name of "The Republic of Central America," with a national flag, having for its armorial devices five volcanoes, and bearing the motto, "Dios, Union, Libertad," God, Union, Liberty.

We close our brief sketch, and as elsewhere we have given the various changes which occurred, we shall now direct attention to the proposed Ship Canal, and present distinctly in outline the progress from the Conquest, with the search after the Secret of the Strait, the grand desideratum of the Castilian, which he supposed would indeed open to the Crown the gates of a Paradise, little less in value than those to be reached by years of contrition, penitence, and prayer.

CHAPTER XXIX.

THE VALE OF ANAHUAC-ORIGIN OF THE MEXICANS-EMIGRATION TO YUCATAN AND GUATEMALA-THE CASAS GRANDES-THE SIX TRIBES AND DESERTION OF THE FIVE-THEIR FORTUNES AND MISFORTUNES-FOUND THE CITY OF MEXICO-SACRIFICE A CHIEF'S DAUGHTER-ELECT A KING-HOME IMPROVEMENTS COMMENCED-MONTEZUMA THE ELDER SUCCESSFULLY WAGES VARIOUS YOUNGER-COMING OF THE

WARS-MONTEZUMA THE

SPANIARDS-GUATE

MOZIN AND HIS FATE-CORTES RETURNS TO SPAIN-DIES OF A BROKEN HEART-WHAT WAS DONE WITH HIS REMAINS-HIS TITLE AND ESTATESTHE BLOOD OF THE MONTEZUMAS IN THE VEINS OF CASTILIAN NOBILITY— ASSASSINATION OF PIZARRO-HIS TITLE, ESTATES, AND DESCENDANTS—WHAT WAS DONE WITH HIS REMAINS-ONE OF HIS FINGERS IN BALTIMORE-THE HOLY CROSS AND ITS IRRESISTIBLE ARGUMENTS-MONTEZUMA TO RETURN AS A DEITY-EL PARAISO DE MAHOMA AND REFLECTIONS.

FROM the Vale of Anahuac, or of Waters, embracing a beantiful district, the whole country, called subsequently by the Spaniards New Spain, received the name of Anahuac. It has since been given to the dominions of Spain in North America, occupying the entire extent of the northern bounda

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ries to the kingdom of Guatemala, and often embracing that territory also.

The origin of the Mexicans, or the nations of Anahuac, is very obscure; but according to Clavigero, the Toltecas, who inhabited the country north of Mexico, left their homes, or were banished, and journeyed south in search of a proper locality whereon to fix their habitation. For the space of one hundred and four years they wandered, till at length reaching the Vale of Anahuac, they erected a city fifty miles east of the city of Mexico. At Tula they founded the capital of a dynasty which lasted three hundred and eighty-four years. They appear to have been well skilled in arts, industrious, civilized, and living under the government of kings in a peaceable manner.

In the year 1052, a dearth and pestilence nearly desolated the country, and a great number of their people having died of famine, many of those who survived emigrated to Yucatan and Guatemala, leaving but a remnant of this once flourishing empire in Tula and Cholula. For one hundred years the Toltecan country was nearly deserted. After this interval from the North came another race-the Cachemecas-whose manners were less refined. The source whence they emigrated they called Amaquemecan. They settled about six miles from the present city of Mexico, and were governed also by kings, who encouraged them to cultivate the friendship of these poor