VII.

mines, and other commodities, being conveyed BOOK down the great river of St. Magdalen to that city. On another quarter, the New Kingdom of Granada has a communication with the Atlantic by the river Orinoco; but the country which ftretches along its banks towards the east, is little known, and imperfectly occupied by the Spaniards.

1

NOTES

AND

ILLUSTRATIONS.

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NOTE I. p. 4.

DE SOLIS. contends, that as Narvaez had no inter preters, he could hold no intercourfe with the people of the provinces, nor converfe with them in any way but by signs, and that it was equally impoffible for him to carry on any communication with Montezuma. Lib. iv. c. 7. But it is upon the authority of Cortes himself, that I relate all the particulars of Narvaez's correfpondence both with Montezuma and with his subjects in the maritime provinces. Relat. Ramuf. iii. 244, A. C. Cortes affirms, that there was a mode of intercourfe between Narvaez and the Mexicans, but does not explain how it was carried on. Bernal Diaz fupplies this defect, and informs us, that the three deferters who joined Narvaez acted as interpreters, having acquired a competent knowledge of the language, c. 110. With his usual minuteness, he mentions their names and characters, and relates, in chapter 122, how they were punished for their perfidy. The Spaniards had now refided above a year among the Mexicans; and it is not furprifing, that feveral

VOL. III.

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among

among them should have made fome proficiency in speaking their language. This feems to have been the cafe. Herrera, dec. ii. lib. x. c. i. Both B. Diaz, who was prefent, and Herrera, the most accurate and beft informed of all the Spanish writers, agree with Cortes in his account of the fecret correfpondence carried on with Montezuma. Dec. ii. lib. x. c. 18, 19. De Solis feems to confider it as a difcredit to Cortes, his hero, that Montezuma fhould have been ready to engage in a correfpondence with Narvaez. He fuppofes that monarch to have contracted fuch a wonderful affection for the Spaniards, that he was not folicitous to be delivered from them. After the indignity with which he had been treated, fuch an affection is incredible; and even De Solis is obliged to acknowledge, that it must be looked upon as one of the miracles which God had wrought to facilitate the conqueft, lib. iv. c. 7. The truth is, Montezuma, however much overawed by his dread of the Spaniards, was extremely impatient to recover his liberty.

NOTE II. p. 23.

THESE words I have borrowed from the anonymous Account of the European Settlements in America, published by Dodsley, in two volumes 8vo.; a work of fo much merit, that I fhould think there is hardly any writer in the age who ought to be ashamed of acknowledging himself to be the author of it.

men.

NOTE III. p. 30.

THE contemporary hiftorians differ confiderably with refpect to the lofs of the Spaniards on this occafion. Cortes, in his fecond difpatch to the emperor, makes the number only 150. Relat. ap. Ramuf. iii. p. 249, A. But it was manifeftly his intereft, at that juncture, to conceal from the court of Spain the full extent of the lofs which he had sustained. De Solis, always ftudious to diminish every misfortune that befel his countrymen, rates their lofs at about two hundred Lib. iv. c. 19. B. Diaz affirms, that they loft 870 men, and that only 440 escaped from Mexico, c. 128. p. 108, B. Palafox, bishop of Los Angeles, who seems to have enquired into the early transactions of his countrymen in New Spain, with great attention, confirms the account of B. Diaz, with refpect to the extent of their lofs. Virtudes del Indio, p. 22. Gomara ftates their lofs at 450 men. Cron. c. 109. Some months afterwards, when Cortes had received feveral reinforcements, he muftered his troops, and found them to be only 590. Relat. ap. Ramuf. iii. p. 255, E. Now, as Narvaez brought 880 men into New Spain, and about 400 of Cortes's foldiers were then alive, it is evident that his lofs, in the retreat from Mexico, muft have been much more confiderable than what he mentions. B. Diaz, folicitous to magnify the dangers and sufferings to which he and his fellowconquerors were expofed, may have exaggerated their lofs; but, in my opinion, it cannot well be estimated at less than 600 men.