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The

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interwoven as thoroughly in the Spanish character BOOK as in that of any nation, feem to have been equally forgotten. Even regard for decency, and the fenfe of fhame, were totally loft. During their diffentions, there was hardly a Spaniard in Peru who did not abandon the party which he had originally efpoufed, betray the affociates with whom he had united, and violate the engagements under which he had come. viceroy Nugnez Vela was ruined by the treachery of Cepeda and the other judges of the royal audience, who were bound by the duties of their function to have fupported his authority. The chief advisers and companions of Gonzalo Pizarro's revolt, were the first to forfake him, and fubmit to his enemies. His fleet was given up to Gasca, by the man whom he had singled out among his officers to entrust with that important command. On the day that was to decide his fate, an army of veterans, in fight of the enemy, threw down their arms without ftriking a blow, and deferted a leader who had often conducted them to victory. Inftances of fuch general and avowed contempt of the principles and obligations which attach man to man, and bind them together in focial union, rarely occur in hiftory. It is only where men are far removed from the feat of government, where the restraints of law and order are little

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BOOK felt, where the profpect of gain is unbounded, and where immense wealth may cover the crimes by which it is acquired, that we can find any parallel to the levity, the rapaciousness, the perfidy and corruption prevalent among the Spaniards in Peru.

Gafca de

vifes employment for his foldiers.

On the death of Pizarro, the malcontents in every corner of Peru laid down their arms, and tranquillity feemed to be perfectly re-established. But two very interesting objects still remained to occupy the prefident's attention. The one was to find immediately fuch employment for a multitude of turbulent and daring adventurers with which the country was filled, as might prevent them from exciting new commotions, The other, to bestow proper gratifications upon those to whose loyalty and valour he had been indebted for his fuccefs. The former of these was in fome measure accomplished, by appointing Pedro de Valdivia to profecute the conquest of Chili; and by empowering Diego Centeno to undertake the difcovery of the vast regions bordering on the river De la Plata. The reputation of thofe leaders, together with the hopes of acquiring wealth, and of rifing to confequence in fome unexplored country, alluring many of the most indigent and defperate foldiers to follow their ftandards, drained off no inconfiderable por

tion of that mutinous fpirit which Gafca BOOK dreaded.

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fion of the

country

followers.

THE latter was an affair of greater difficulty, His diviand to be adjusted with a more attentive and delicate hand. The repartimientos, or allotments among his of lands and Indians which fell to be diftributed, in confequence of the death or forfeiture of the former poffeffors, exceeded two millions of pefos of yearly rent ". Gafca, when now abfolute master of this immenfe property, retained the fame difinterested fentiments which he had originally profeffed, and refufed to reserve the smallest portion of it for himself. But the number of claimants was great; and whilft the vanity or avarice of every individual fixed the value of his own fervices, and estimated the recompence which he thought due to him, the pretenfions of each were fo extravagant, that it was impoffible to fatisfy all. Gafca liftened to them one by one, with the most patient attention; and that he might have leisure to weigh the comparative merit of their feveral claims with accuracy, he retired, with the archbishop of Lima and a fingle fecretary, to a village twelve leagues from Cuzco. There he fpent feveral days in állotting to each a district

z Vega, p. 11. lib. vi. c. 4.

of

BOOK of lands and number of Indians, in proportion to

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Aug. 24. The aufconfent it occafions.

his idea of their past fervices and future importance. But that he might get beyond the reach of the fierce ftorm of clamour and rage, which he forefaw would burst out on the publication of his decree, notwithstanding the impartial equity with which he had framed it, he fet out for Lima, leaving the inftrument of partition. fealed up, with orders not to open it for fome days after his departure.

THE indignation excited by publifhing the decree of partition was not less than Gasca had expected. Vanity, avarice, emulation, envy, fhame, rage, and all the other paffions which most vehemently agitate the minds of men when both their honour and their intereft are deeply affected, confpired in adding to its violence. It broke out with all the fury of military infolence. Calumny, threats, and curfes, were poured out openly upon the prefident. He was accused of ingratitude, of partiality, and of injuftice. Among foldiers prompt to action, fuch feditious difcourfe would have been soon followed by deeds no lefs violent, and they already began to turn their eyes towards somé difcontented leaders, expecting them to ftand forth in redrefs of their wrongs. By fome vigorous interpofitions of government, a timely check

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check was given to this mutinous fpirit, and the BOOK danger of another civil war was averted for the present 2.

1548.

$549.

Re-efta

and govern

ment,

GASCA, however, perceiving that the flame was fuppreffed rather than extinguished, laboured blithes order with the utmost affiduity to foothe the malcontents, by bestowing large gratuities on fome, by promising repartimientos, when they fell vacant, to others, and by careffing and flattering all. But that the public fecurity might reft on a foundation more ftable than their good affection, he endeavoured to strengthen the hands of his fucceffors in office, by re-establishing the regular administration of justice in every part of the empire. He introduced order and fimplicity into the mode of collecting the royal revenue. He iffued regulations concerning the treatment of the Indians, well calculated to protect them from oppreffion, and to provide for their inftruction in the principles of religion, without depriving the Spaniards of the benefit accruing from their labour. Having now accomplished every object of his miflion, Gasca, longing to return again to a private station,

a Zarate, lib. vii. c. 9. Gomara, c. 187. Vega, p. 11. lib. vii. c. 1, &c. Fernandez, p. 11. lib. i. c. 1, &c. Herrera, dec. 8. lib. iv. c. 17, &c.

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