and promised to conduct them without further delay, to that rich country, which had been so long the object of their thoughts and wishes.

Had this expedition happened in very remote ages, so romantic are the circumstances attending it, that it would have ranked, in point of authenticity with the Argonautic, or the labours of Hercules. Never was more achieved by less improbable means. The empire of Mexico had subsisted for many centuries: its inhabitants were far advanced in refinement, and remote from barbarism; they were intelligent, and in some degree learned. Like the ancient Egyptians, whose wisdom is so much admired in this particular, they knew the annual revolution of the sun, with a precision which could scarcely have been expected from a people unacquainted with letters. They fixed the period of the year at 365 days nearly. Their superiority in military affairs, was the object of admiration and terror over the remote parts of the continent; and their constitution, founded on the sure basis of religion and law, seemed as permanent as time itself. The cities displayed magnificence in architecture, and opulence in their decorations. But all these advantages combined could not secure Mexico from the unequal prowess of Spain.

Though this expedition was fitted out by the united efforts of the Spanish power in Cuba; though every settlement had contributed its quota of men and provisions; though the governor had laid out considerable sums, and each adventurer had exhausted his stock, or strained his credit, the poverty of the preparations was such as must astonish the present age, and bore, indeed, no resemblance to an armament destined for the conquest of a great empire. The fleet consisted of 11 vessels; the largest of a 100 tons, which was dignified by the name of Admiral; three of 70 or 80 tons, and the rest small open barks. On board of these vessels were 617 men; of which 508 belonged to the land service, and 109 were seamen or artificers. The soldiers were divided into 11 companies, according to the number of the ships; to each of which Cortes appointed a captain, and committed to him the command of the vessel while at sea, and of the men when on shore. As VOL. I.

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the use of fire-arms among the nations of Europe was hitherto confined to a few battalions of regularly disciplined infantry, only 13 soldiers were armed with muskets, 32 were cross-bow men, and the rest had swords and spears. Instead of the usual defensive armour, which must have been cumbersome in a hot climate, the soldiers wore jackets quilted with cotton, which experience had taught the Spaniards to be a sufficient protection against the weapons of the Americans. They had only 16 horses, 10 small field pieces, and 4 falconets.

With this slender and ill-provided train did Cortes set sail on the 10th of February, 1519, to make war upon a monarch whose dominions were more extensive than all the kingdoms subject to the Spanish crown. As religious enthusiasm always mingled with the spirit of adventure in the New World, and, by a combination still more strange, united with avarice, in prompting the Spaniards to all their enterprizes, a large cross was displayed in their standards, with this inscription, Let us follow the cross, for under this sign we shall conquer.

Cortes steering directly towards the island of Cozumel had the good fortune to redeem Jerome de Aguilar, a Spaniard, who had been eight years a prisoner among the Indians. This man was perfectly acquainted with a dialect of their language, understood through a large extent of country, and possessing besides a considerable share of prudence and sagacity, proved extremely useful as an interpreter. From Cozumel, Cortes proceeded to the river of Tobasco [March 4], in hopes of meeting a friendly reception from the natives; but, after repeated endeavours to conciliate their good-will, he was constrained to have recourse to violence. Though the forces of the enemy were numerous, and advanced with extraordinary courage, they were routed with great slaughter, in several successive actions. The loss which they sustained, and still more the astonishment and terror excited by the destructive effect of the fire-arms, and the dreadful appearance of the horses, humbled their fierce spirits, and induced them to sue for peace. They acknowledged the king of Castile as their sovereign, and granted Cortes a supply of provisions, with a present of cotton garments, some gold, and 20 female slaves.

Cortes continued his course to the westward, keeping as near the shore as possible, in order to observe the country; but could discover no proper place for landing, until he arrived at St. Juan de Ulua. As he entered this harbour [April 2], a large canoe, full of people, among whom were two who seemed to be persons of distinction, approached his ship with signs of peace and amity. They came on board without fear or distrust, and addressed him in a most respectful manner, but in a language, altogether unknown to Aguilar. Cortes was in the utmost perplexity and distress, at an event of which he instantly foresaw all the consequences. But he did not remain long in his embarrassing situation: a fortunate accident extricated him, when his own sagacity could have contributed little towards his relief. One of the female slaves, whom he had received from the cazique of Tobasco, happened to be present at the first interview between Cortes and his new guests. She perceived his distress, as well as the confusion of Aguilar; and as she perfectly understood the Mexican language, she explained what they said in the Yucatan tongue, with which Aguilar was acquainted.

He now learned, that the two persons whom he had received on board of his ship were deputies from Teutile and Pilpatoe, two officers entrusted with the government of that province, by a great monarch, whom they called Montezuma; and that they were sent to inquire what his intentions were in visiting their coast, and to offer him what assistance he might need, in order to continue his voyage. Cortes, struck with the ap pearance of those people, as well as the tenor of the message, assured them, in respectful terms, that he approached their country with most friendly sentiments, and came to propose matters of great importance to the welfare of their prince and his kingdom, which he would unfold more fully, in person, to the governor and the general. Next morning, without waiting for any answer, he landed his troops, his horses, and artillery; and having chosen proper ground, began to erect huts for his men, and to fortify his camp. The natives, instead of opposing the entrance of those fatal guests into their

country, assisted them in all their operations, with an alacrity of which they had ere long good reason to repent.

Next day Teutile and Pilpatoe entered the Spanish camp with a numerous retinue, and Cortes considering them as the ministers of a great monarch, entitled to a degree of attention very different from that which the Spaniards were accustomed to pay to the petty caziques, with whom they had intercourse in the isles, received them with much formal ceremony. He informed them, that he came as ambassador from Don Carlos of Austria, king of Castile, the greatest monarch of the East, and was intrusted with propositions of such moment, that he could impart them to none but the emperor Montezuma himself, and therefore required them to conduct him, without loss of time, into the presence of their master. Whilst they hesitated in complying with his request, they endeavoured to conciliate his good will by costly presents, the display of which served to increase the avidity of the Spaniards, and their eagerness to take possession of a country which abounded with such precious productions. The deputies dissuaded Cortes from visiting the capital; but he with a haughty determined tone insisted on his demand of being admitted to a personal audience of their sovereign.

During the interview some Mexican painters were employed in delineating upon white cotton cloths figures of the ships, the horses, the artillery, the soldiers, and whatever else attracted their notice, as singular. These pictures, as Cortes was informed, were to be sent to Montezuma, in order to give him a better idea of the objects now presented to their view than any words could do: and therefore he resolved to make the representation more animated and interesting by exhibiting a spectacle which might give them and their monarch an awful impression of the extraordinary prowess of his followers, and the irresistible force of their arms. The trumpets were ordered to sound an alarm; the troops instantly formed in order of battle; the infantry performed such martial exercises as were best suited to display the effect of their different weapons; the horse by various evolutions gave a specimen of their agility

and strength; and the artillery, pointed towards the thick wood which surrounded their camp, made dreadful havoc among the trees. The Mexicans were amazed, and at the explosion of the cannon many fled, and some fell to the ground; and Cortes found it difficult to compose their minds and preserve their confidence in their own safety. The painters put their fancy on the stretch in inventing figures and characters for repensenting the extraordinary things which they had seen. These pictures were dispatched to Montezuma, and Cortes sent along with them a present of some European curiosities.

Although the capital, in which Montezuma resided, was above 180 miles from St. Juan de Ulua, Cortes's presents were carried thither, and an answer to his demands was received in a few days. As it was such as would be likely to irritate and not satisfy him, the messengers introduced themselves, followed by a train of 100 Indians, loaded with presents sent by Montezuma. Among these were two large plates of a circular form, one of massive gold representing the sun, and the other of silver representing the moon, which latter was in value about 5,000l. sterling. These were accompanied with various other costly articles, consisting of golden ornaments and boxes of pearls and precious stones. When these presents were delivered, Cortes was informed that Montezuma would not consent that his troops should approach nearer to his capital, or even to allow them to continue longer in his dominions. The Spanish general still insisted on his first demand; and Montezuma, though haughty, violent, and impatient of controul in his own temper, instead of falling on the Spaniards, whilst they were encamped on a barren unhealthy coast, without an ally, renewed his negociation. In order to account for this indiscretion and timidity, it is said an opinion prevailed universally among the Americans, that some dreadful calamity would befal their country by means of formidable invaders who should come from regions towards the rising sun. The superstition and credulity of the Mexicans represented the Spaniards as the instruments of that fatal revolution which they dreaded. Hence it ceases to be incredible, that a few adventurers, like Cortes and his attendants, should