divided into eleven 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 the use of firearms among the nations of Europe was hitherto confined to a few battalions of regularly disciplined troops, only thirteen soldiers were armed with muskets, thirty-two were cross-bow men, and the rest had swords and spears. Instead of the usually defensive armour, which must have been cumbersome in a hot climate, they wore jackets of quilted cotton, which experience had taught the Spaniards to be a sufficient protection against the weapons of the Americans. They had only sixteen horses, ten small field pieces, and four falconets.

With this slender and ill provided train did Cortes set sail, 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 enterprises, a large cross was displayed in their standards, with this inscription, Let us follow the cross, for under this sign we shall conquer.

When he arrived in Mexico, he, in respectful terms, informed the natives, 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 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 the camp. The natives, instead of opposing the entrance of

these 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, Pilpatoe and Teutille 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, 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. The Mexican officers could not conceal their uneasiness at a request which they knew to be disagreeable, and which they foresaw might prove extremely embarrassing to their sovereign, whose mind had been filled with many disquieting apprehensions ever since the former appearance of the Spaniards on his coasts. But, before they attempted to dissuade. Cortes from insisting on this demand, they endeavoured to conciliate his good will, by entreating him to accept of certain presents, which, as humble slaves of Montezuma, they laid at his feet. These were introduced with great parade, and consisted of fine cotton cloth, of plumes of various colours, and of ornaments of gold and silver to a considerable value; the workmanship of which appeared to be as curious as the materials were rich. During the interview, some painters in the train of the Mexican chiefs had been diligently employed in delineating, upon white cotton cloths, figures of the ships, the horses, the artillery,

the soldiers, and whatever else attracted their eyes as singular.

Messengers were immediately despatched to Montezuma with those pictures, and a full account of every thing that passed since the arrival of the Spaniards, and by them Cortes sent a present of some European curiosities to Montezuma, which, though of no great value, he believed would be acceptable on account of their novelty.

After several messages had passed between Cortes and Montezuma, a messenger delivered the ultimate order of that monarch, to depart instantly out of his dominions; and when Cortes, instead of complying, renewed his request of an audience, the Mexican turned from him abruptly, and quitted the camp with looks and gestures which strongly expressed his surprise and resentment. Next morning, none of the natives, who used to frequent the camp in great numbers, in order to barter with the soldiers, and bring in provisions, appeared. All friendly correspondence seemed to be at an end, and it was expected every moment that hostilities would commence.

Without allowing his men time to cool or to reflect, Cortes set about carrying his design into execution. To prepare for conquest, he assembled the principal persons in his army, and by their suffrage elected a council and magistrates, in whom the government was to be vested. This was framed upon the model of a Spanish corporation. All the persons chosen were most firmly devoted to Cortes ; the instrument of their election was framed in the king's name, without any mention of their dependence upon Velasquez. At the first meeting of the new council, he resigned all his authority to them, that they, having both right to choose, and power to confer full jurisdiction, might appoint one, in the

king's name, to command the army in its future operations; and as for his own part, such was his zeal for the service in which they were engaged, that he would most cheerfully take up a pike with the same hand that laid down the general's truncheon, and convince his fellow-soldiers, that though accustomed to command, he had not forgotten how to obey. Having finished his discourse, he laid the commission from Velasquez upon the table, and after kissing his truncheon, delivered it to the chief magistrate, and withdrew.

The deliberations of the council were not long, as Cortes had concerted this important measure with his confidents, and had prepared the other members, with great address, for the part which he had wished them to take. His resignation was accepted; and as the uninterrupted tenor of their prosperity under his conduct afforded the most satisfying evidence of his abilities for command, they, by their unanimous suffrage, elected him chief justice of the colony, and captain general of its army, and appointed his commission to be made out in the king's name, with most ample powers, which were to continue in force until the royal pleasure should be farther known. That this deed. might not be deemed the machination of a junto, the council called together the troops, and acquainted them with what had been resolved. The soldiers, with eager applause, ratified the choice which the council had made; the air resounded with the name of Cortes, and all vowed to shed their blood in support of his authority.

Cortes having thus rendered the union between himself and his army indissoluble, he formed an alliance with several tribes. A spot was next chosen on which to build a town. The houses were only huts, but these were surrounded with fortifications of sufficient strength to resist the assaults of an In

dian army. As the finishing of these fortifications was of importance, both to secure a retreat, and to preserve their communication with the sea, every man in the army, officers as well as soldiers, put his hand to the work, Cortes himself setting them an example of activity and perseverance in labour. Their Indian allies also lent their aid. Not long after this a conspiracy was formed to thwart the schemes of Cortes, which he fortunately quelled the moment it was ready for execution. This conspiracy had for its object to seize one of the vessels, to escape to Cuba, and to inform the governor concerning a ship which was destined for Spain with treasure and intelligence. To prevent any similar event in future, he formed and executed the bold scheme of destroying his fleet, that all hope of a retreat being impossible, his men might be rendered bold, determinate and persevering.

Cortes next proceeded towards the country of Tlascala, which was on the way to Mexico. The Tlascalans seized the ambassadors which had been sent to them, without any regard to their public character, prepared to sacrifice them to the gods, and assembled their troops to oppose the invaders. This fierce people venturing to attack him, he defeated them, and constrained them to sue for peace, and entering their capital, he and his army were received with the reverence paid to a being of a superior order. This banished from their minds all memory of past sufferings, dispelled every anxious thought with respect to their future operations, and fully satisfied them that there was not now any power in America able to withstand their

arms.

Cortes remained twenty days in Tlascala to refresh his troops, and to acquire all the information he could respecting the state of the Mexican empire, and the qualities of its sovereign. He next