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THE FALL OF MEXICO.

Of the remarkable men who raised Spain to such a pinnacle of greatness in the sixteenth century, COLUMBUS must always occupy the highest place, both for the fame of his deeds, and the nobleness of his character. CORTES comes next, not as one of the world's really great men; morally, he has no pretensions to praise like that, but as having achieved marvellous successes in the face of almost insuperable difficulties. Looking at his personal daring, his inflexible resolution, his perfect self-command, his wisdom in counsel, his promptitude in action, his winning address, and, above all, his capacity for infusing his own spirit into those who marched by his side,we must say that a more accomplished leader in war, a more perfect specimen of a man armed at all points, and provided for all emergencies, no age or country ever produced.*

He landed on the American continent with six hundred

and fifty men. In little more than six months, having in the meantime conciliated or conquered tribes a hundred times more numerous than his little handful of followers, he entered the capital in peaceful triumph, found it more populous, and in many respects more magnificent, than Madrid; took up his quarters there, as if the country were his own; and in a

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week had its monarch in his power, content to do his bidding, like a slave. The prize, however, was not to be so easily won. War broke out; the strangers were expelled; hundreds of their scanty force fell in the retreat; yet the remnant that survived, instead of flying to the coast, rallied, undertook fresh conquests, won over new allies, and in the following year, with the assistance of a large army of native auxiliaries, bound to them by hope or fear, took Mexico by storm, and became masters of its dependent provinces. In the course of this strange succession of events, we read not of one day like that of Thermopyla, but of twenty,-the odds as great, the valour as enthusiastic, the self-devotion as complete; success, however, in the case of the Spaniard, being a poor substitute for the holy cause which has given the Greek so glorious a

name.

We must carry this thought along with us as we follow Cortes in his career of conquest. We wonder at the exhibition of mental power which the narrative presents; his escapes are too wonderful, his feats too dazzling, to leave us free to reflect, at every step, upon his crimes; and so we are cheated, often in spite of ourselves, into some sympathy with his successes, and find ourselves, at the critical points of the story, almost siding with the few against the many, with the spoiler against his victims. In the name of humanity, however, we must ever protest against the wholesale robber and murderer. Whether we speak of our own day, or of former days, of English heroes, or of heroes of another race, we must uphold the Christian rule as the only right one, commanding us to show mercy to the weak, and to deal justly by every brother.

We will commence our narrative with the earliest meeting between Cortes and the servants of the great monarch of Mexico, Montezuma. Cortes had been coasting the Mexican shore for some time with his squadron of eleven small vessels; and at one point a few days' sail from his last landing-place,

after fighting a hard battle with some of the native tribes, had received the formal submission of their chiefs as vassals of the crown of Spain. His fame, therefore, preceded him, and shortly after he had disembarked his little army, messengers arrived to survey the wonders which he brought with him, and to search out the purpose of his coming. Presents were exchanged on the usual terms,-gold for the Christian, glass beads for the barbarian. Cortes spoke of the power of his The fame of his brother-monarch

master, Charles the Fifth.

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had reached him across the sea; a commission had been given to his servants to seek out Montezuma in the royal city, and there make revelations to him of mighty consequence to his interest and happiness. To these fine-sounding words there was added a military show, well calculated to dazzle the imagination of the strangers, and to strike terror into their hearts. Cortes ordered out his little troop of cavalry, and having hung bells round the necks of the horses to add to the effect, made them gallop at their full speed close to the Mexican envoys. His cannon were next displayed, and the smoke, and noise, and crash proved yet more startling and confounding. The Spanish ships, or water houses," as they soon came to be called, rode at anchor close by. To those who had never seen a horsewhose missiles were but arrows, and those none of the sharpest -whose navy consisted entirely of slight canoes-these things would be like visions of fairy-land, and the men who possessed such resources, and wielded such fearful weapons, would be regarded almost as visitants from some other world. While the conference proceeded, and these strange things were exhibiting, some Mexicans who attended the embassy were busily employed in making a rude representation of all they Cortes himself they drew in full costume, his officers and soldiers, and horses too, and dogs, with the floating ships, and terrible artillery. All was put down with considerable skill and faithfulness, and the Spaniards were pleased to hear

saw.

that the pictures, when completed, were intended for the eye of Montezuma himself.

Seventy leagues divided the coast from the capital, but a week brought an answer from the Emperor, in the form of courteous compliments and a splendid present. There were golden chains and lockets-images without number of the same metal, and of the most beautiful workmanship-a helmet full of pure yellow grains fresh from the mine ;-better than all, two circular plates, as large as carriage wheels, representing the sun in gold and the moon in silver, the most precious of the pair being estimated at £50,000. These, and other curious products of the country, were tokens of the great potentate's good-will to the strangers. "He delighted in their visit," said his messengers, "having heard of their courage and victories; to their emperor he sent a brother's greeting, and would rejoice to see so famous and powerful a sovereign; but as for the proposed expedition to Mexico, that must not be persisted in; there were difficulties in the way which could not be overcome.' The unfortunate monarch did not know the men he was dealing with, or he would have taken care not to make them deaf to his advice by giving such a sample of his treasures. The bait was too dazzling and tempting. If there were any hesitation about their course before, now they felt drawn onwards by their nobler and baser feelings-by their love of enterprise and their lust for gold. The great city must be visited; the monarch must have a meeting in his capital; when they had penetrated to the heart of the empire it would be time for them to pause, and turn their conquests to the best advantage.

While a retreat was open to them, this was, perhaps, the most daring adventure, all things considered, that brave or rash men ever took in hand. And, as if to give their history yet more the air of romance, it was resolved to block up their way, and make return impossible. At a time when every

thing depended on the cordial support and perfect discipline of his little band, Cortes found that there was disaffection actively at work in the camp. His authority had been originally a delegated authority from the Governor of Cuba; and as it became more and more plain that in his career of conquest he meant to own no master but the King of Spain, a rival party watched all his motions with suspicion, and, while they followed him as their captain one day, were ready, if an opportunity should be given, to denounce him as a traitor on the next. A plan for seizing one of the vessels, returning to Cuba, and there accusing him to Velasquez, the Governor, was discovered just in time. The ringleaders were seized and punished; all immediate danger was averted; but the question remained behind how unanimity could be secured for the future. How should Cortes make sure of the devotion of his followers without reserve or misgiving of any kind? What should unite them as one man in the purpose of staking all they had on one bold cast for victory and empire? His resolution was soon taken, and boldly carried out. With the concurrence of his principal advisers and most trustworthy adherents, he determined to destroy the fleet. There shall be no more plottings against him at Cuba; no retreat for cowards who will rather fly than meet danger in the field; no refuge left for men who have longing thoughts of home as difficulties and dangers begin to multiply. The ships were drawn on shore and broken up, while the sailors and pilots made a welcome addition to the fighting soldiers.

If dissatisfaction arose among those who loved Cortes least, if the more timid spirits were dismayed at their prospects, shut in as they were between the broad Atlantic behind them, and the colossal power which barred up their way in front,such feelings, it seems, were presently removed by the spirit-stirring eloquence of their great commander. We have the whole scene described by one whom I shall have occasion

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