Indians, passionately fond of war, and then headed by Montezuma,' whose fame in arms had struck terror into the neighbouring nations and extended over one half the continent. No authenticated history was ever so improbable and romantic as that of this war. The empire of Mexico had subsisted for ages: its inhabitants were a polished and intelligent people. Their superiority in military affairs, and their government, founded on the sure basis of laws combined with religion, seemed to bid defiance to time itself. The capital city, of the same name, situated in the middle of a spacious lake, was the noblest specimen of American industry: it communicated with the continent by immense causeways, which were carried through the lake, and was admired for its buildings, all of stone, its squares, markets, shops, and the sumptuous palaces of Montezuma. But all the grandeur of this empire could not defend it against the Spaniards. Cortez and his followers met with but feeble opposition from the natives along the coast, who were terrified at their first appearance the warlike animals on which the officers were mountedthe artificial thunder that issued from their hands-and the wooden castles which had wafted them over the ocean-all struck a panic into the natives, from which they did not recover úntil it was too late. Montezuma heard of their progress, without daring to oppose it. This sovereign commanded thirty vassals, each of whom could take the field at the head of 100,000 combatants, armed with bows and arrows; and yet he was, doubtless from motives of superstition, afraid to oppose a handful of Spaniards, whom he hoped to conciliate by a rich present of gold. This, however, only whetted the Spanish avarice, and hastened their approach. No opposition was made to their entry into the capital, where a palace was set apart for Cortez, who was treated as the master of the empire. Being suspicious, however, that this politeness covered some plot for his destruction, his palace was surrounded with artillery, the most terrible of all machines to the Americans, by which he not only secured himself from surprise, but was placed in a situation to take advantage of any circumstance that might lead to a misunderstanding with the natives.

Cortez, in order to preserve a communication by sea, had erected a fort, and left a small garrison behind him, at Vera Cruz, which he understood that the Americans in the neighbour

hood had attacked, and that a Spaniard had been killed. On hearing this, Cortez affected to be in a violent fury, and insisted that Montezuma himself was privy to this violence, to whom he went in person, attended by a few experienced officers. The emperor pleaded innocence, to which Cortez could not be persuaded, unless he consented to return with them to their residence, which, he said, would remove all jealousy between them. To this, after some hesitation, he consented; and, thoughr a powerful monarch, in the middle of his own palace, and surrounded by his guards, he gave himself up a prisoner, to be disposed of according to the inclination of a few adventurers. Cortez had now got into his hands an engine, by which every thing might be accomplished, for the Mexicans had a kind of superstitious veneration for their emperor. Cortez, therefore, by keeping him in his power, allowing him to enjoy every mark of royalty but his freedom, and at the same time being able to flatter all his tastes and passions, maintained an easy sovereignty over this country, by governing its prince. Did the natives, grown familiar with the Spaniards; begin to abate of their respect-Montezuma was the first to teach them more politeness. Was there a tumult, excited through their cruelty or avariceMontezuma, from the battlements of his palace, harangued his Mexicans into submission. This farce continued some time, till on one occasion, when he was disgracing his character by justifying the enemies of his country, a stone from an unknown hand struck him on the forehead, which in a few days occasioned his death. The Mexicans, now delivered from this emperor, elected a new prince, the famous Guatimozin, who from the beginning had discovered an implacable animosity against the Spaniards. Under his conduct the unhappy Mexicans made no small efforts for independence: but all their valor, and despair itself, gave way before the Spanish artillery; and Guatimozin and the Empress were taken prisoners. By getting this prince into his hands, Cortez made a complete conquest of the country."

The Spaniards had scarcely obtained possession of Mexico, when they received intelligence of the existence of another great empire, situated to the south of the equator, that was said to abound in gold, silver, and precious stones. This was the empire of Peru, which was the only other country in America that deserved the name of a civilized kingdom. This extensive coun

try was reduced by the endeavours. and at the expence, of three private persons; namely, Francis Pizarro, Almagro, and Lucques a priest. The two former were natives of Panama, of mean birth, and low education. Pizarro, the soul of the enterprise, could neither read nor write. They sailed over to Spain, and without difficulty obtained a grant of what they should conquer. Pizarro then set out for the conquest, with 250 foot, 60 horse, and 12 small pieces of cannon. As the Peruvians entertained the same prejudices as the Mexicans in favor of the Spaniards, and were, beside, of a character still more effeminate and unwarlike, it need not surprise us, after the conquest of Mexico, that with this inconsiderable force Pizarro should make a deep impression on the Peruvian empire, which had existed in its present form upwards of 300 years. It was founded by one Mango Capac, who, observing that the people were naturally superstitious, and had a particular veneration for the sun, pretended to be descended from that luminary, whose worship he was sent to establish, and whose authority he was entitled to bear. By this story, romantic as it was, he easily deceived this credulous people, and brought a large extent of territory under his jurisdiction. The deceit, however, he employed for the most laudable purposes: he united and civilized the till then barbarous people, bent them to laws and arts, and softened them by the institution of a benevolent religion. A race of princes succeeded Mango, called Yncas, who were revered by the people as the descendants of their great God the Sun. The twelfth of these was now on the throne, named Atabalipa, whose father had conquered the province of Quito, and, to secure the possession, had married the daughter of the natural prince of that country, by whom he had Atabalipa. His elder brother, Huescar, by a different mother, had claimed the succession to his father's dominions; and a civil war kindled, which, after various turns of fortune, ended in favor of Atabalipa, who detained Huescar as á prisoner, in the tower of Cusco, the capital of the empire.

was

In this feeble and disjointed state was Peru when Pizarro appeared; on whose arrival prophecies were recollected, that foretold the subjection of the empire by unknown persons, whose description exactly corresponded with that of the Spaniards. Under these circumstances, Atabalita, instead of opposing them, set himself to procure their favor. Pizarro, however, whose

temper partook of the meanness of his education, had no conception of dealing gently with those people. While he was engaged in conference with Atabalipa, his men, being previously instructed, furiously attacked the guards of that prince, and butchered some thousands of them, as they pressed forward to defend the sacred person of their monarch. Notwithstanding all their efforts, Atabalipa was seized by Pizarro, and carried to the Spanish quarters. He, however, was not long in their hands before he began to treat of his ransom; but while Pizarro was engaged in this negociation, by which he proposed, without releasing the emperor, to get into his possession an immense quantity of gold, the arrival of Almagro caused some embarrassment in his affairs. As the friendship between these men was solely founded on the principle of avarice, when their interests interfered, it was not to be expected that any measures could be kept between them. Pizarro claimed the most considerable share of the royal ransom, because he had the chief hand in acquiring it; while Almagro insisted on being upon an equal footing. At length, however, lest the cause might suffer from any rupture between them, the latter disposition was agreed to, and the ransom was paid without delay. Although the sum exceeded their conception, yet it was by no means capable of satiating their avarice. It exceeded £1,500,000, sterling, which, considering the value of money at that time, was prodigious. After deducting one fifth for the king of Spain, and the shares of the chief commanders and officers, each private soldier shared upwards of £2000 English money. No sooner did numbers of them find themselves possessed of such fortunes, than they insisted on being disbanded, that they might enjoy the fruits of their labor in quiet, in their own country. To this Pizarro consented, sensible that avarice would still detain a number in his army, and that those who returned would induce new adventurers to pursue the same speculation. This idea was soon abundantly verified: for it was impossible to send out better recruiting officers, than those who had themselves so much profited by the field; new soldiers constantly arrived, and the Spanish armies never wanted reinforcements.

This immense ransom was no sooner deposited at the Spanish head-quarters, than the release of the king was demanded; but with this Pizarro refused to comply, framing several excuses for

his farther detention, though his real motive was to discover, if any farther treasure would be offered. Atabalipa, perceiving his treacherous intentions, boldly remonstrated against them; and Pizarro, finding ultimately that no farther advantage was to be acquired by keeping him longer a prisoner, began to treat him in a rude and haughty manner, but ill suited to a person of his exalted birth and usual mode of life. This caused him to remonstrate, and at length threaten, which so exasperated Pizarro, that (notwithstanding all the favors that this unhappy prince had shown him) he called a council of officers, who unjustly tried him according to the laws of Spain; and he was found guilty of idolatry, of having a plurality of wives, and other circumstances equally in themselves frivolous and impertinent, but for which this monster of barbarity caused him to be burnt alive!!! After his death, a number of competitors appeared for the throne. The principal nobility set up the brother of Huescar; Pizarro favored a son of Atabalipa; while two of the principal generals endeavoured to establish themselves, through the assistance of the army. These oppositions, though in their consequences exceedingly sanguinary, were in the beginning rather favorable to the Spaniards but the inhabitants, becoming accustomed to scenes of blood and slaughter, began to rise from the lethargy into which for ages they had been sunk, and boldly attacked the Spaniards, whom they recognized as the authors of all their calamities, and slew a considerable number of them. Having once established throughout the country an idea that their invaders were not invulnerable, thousands flocked to the standard of Rolla, their famous general, who made head against them, with partial success. Pizarro at length found it adviseable to conclude a truce with the inhabitants, who, being tired of the contest, readily assented, provided the Spanish general indicated the sincerity of his designs by retiring to the coast. This he immediately did, and a peace was concluded. During this interval Pizarro did not remain inactive, but employed himselfTM and his troops in founding the city of Lima, which he strongly fortified, and thus obtained a firm establishment in the country, to which he might always retire in case of any reverse of for

tune.

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As soon as a favorable opportunity offered, he renewed the war, and, after many difficulties, made himself master of Cus