not otherwise have referred to them as authorities, without encumbering the page with an insertion of their full titles. To any person who may choose to follow me in this path of inquiry, the catalogue must be very useful. My readers will observe, that in mentioning sums of money, I have uniformly followed the Spanish method of computing by pesos. In America, the peso fuerte, or duro, is the only one known, and that is always meant when any sum imported from America is mentioned. The peso fuerte, as well as other coins, has varied in its numerary value; but I have been advised, without attending to such minute variations, to consider it as equal to four shillings and sixpence of our money. It is to be remem➡ bered, however, that in the sixteenth century, the effective value of a peso, i. e. the quantity of labour which it represented, or of goods which it would purchase, was five or six times as much as at present.. N. B. Since this edition was put into the press, a History of Mexico, in two volumes, in quarto, translated from the Italian of the Abbé D. Francesco Saverio Clavigero, has been published. From a person who is a native of New Spain, who has resided forty years in that country, and who is acquainted with the Mexican lan-guage, it was natural to expect much new information. Upon perusing his work, however, I find that it contains. hardly any addition to the ancient History of the Merian empire, as related by Acosta and Ilerrera, but what is derived from the improbable narratives and fanciful conjectures of Torquemada and Boturini. Having copied their splendid descriptions of the high state of civilization in the Mexican empire, M. Clavigero, in the abundance of his zeal for the honour of his native country, charges me with having mistaken some points, and with having misrepresented others, in the History of it. When an author is conscious of having exerted industry in research, and impartiality in decision, he may, without presumption, claim what praise is due to these qualities, and he cannot be insensible to any accusation that tends to weaken the force of his claim. A feeling of this kind has induced me to examine such strictures of M. Clavigero on my History of America, as merited any attention, especially as these are made by one, who seemed to possess the means of obtaining accurate information; and to shew that the greater part of them is destitute of any just foundation. This I have done in notes upon the passages of my History, which gave rise to his criticisms. COLLEGE OF EDINBURGH, VOLUME THE FIRST. BOOK 1. PROGRESS of navigation among the ancients-View of their discoveries-Imperfection of ancient navigation-Revival of commerce and navigation in Europe-Invention of the mariner's compass-First regular plan of discovery formed by Portugal-Progress along the western coast of Africa-Hopes of discovering a new route to the East Indies. BOOK II. Birth and education of Columbus-Acquires naval skill in the service of Portugal-Conceives hopes of reaching the East Indies by holding a westerly course-His negociations with different courts Voyage of discovery-Return to Spain-Astonishment of mankind on this discovery of a New World-Papal grant of it-Second voyage Colony settled-War with the Indians First tax imposed on them-Third Voyage He discovers the continent-Voyage of the Portuguese to the East Indies by the Cape of Good Hope Discoveries made by private adventurers in the New World-Name of America given to it-Columbus disgraced and sent in chains to Europe Fourth voyage of Columbus-His discoveries-His death. BOOK III. State of the colony in Hispaniola-Cruelty of the Spaniards-First colony planted on the continent-Conquest of Cuba-Discovery of Florida-of the South Sea-Negroes imported into America-Discoveries towards the West-Yucatan-Campeachy-New Spain. VOLUME THE SECOND. View of America when first discovered-Vast extent of America-Its mountains-Rivers-Lakes-Temperature-Predominance of cold -Causes of this-Its animals-Soil-Condition of the Americans -Bodily constitution of the Americans considered-Qualities of their minds-Domestic state-Political state and institutions System of war and public security-Arts with which they were acquainted-Religsous ideas and institutions-General review of their virtues and defects. BOOK V. History of the conquest of New Spain by Cortes. VOL. I. VOLUME THE THIRD. BOOK V. continued. History of the conquest of New Spain by Cortes, concluded. History of the conquest of Peru by Pizarro-Of the dissentions and BOOK VII. View of the institutions and manners of the Mexicans and Peruvians VOLUME THE FOURTH. BOOK VIII. View of the interior government, commerce, &c. of the Spanish colo- BOOK IX. History of Virginia to the year 1688. BOOK X. History of New England to the year 1652. |