prise. All things were soon ready, and upon the 18th of November, he set sail from St. Jago de Cuba, and launched into the regions of the west, in quest of some object of enterprise, worthy of himself, and his brave companions in arms. Cortes touched at Trinadad. where the jealousy of the Governor Velasquez, overtook him, by the means of Verdugo, an officer he had dispatched to supercede him; but the address of Cortes defeated the attempt, he dismissed Verdugo, and proceeded on his course. From Trinadad Cortes touched at Havannah, to augment his force. Here Velasquez gave orders to have him arrested, and sent prisoner to St. Jago; but Cortes eluded this order, recruited his army, and augmented his fleet to the number of eleven vessels, of from 60 to 100 tons burthen, and carrying about 600 soldiers and seamen. Thirteen only of this army had muskets, and the rest were armed with swords, spears and cross-bows.-Cortes had sixteen horse, and ten small field pieces, and four falconets.

With this force he set sail from Havannah, February 10,. 1518, to conquer the great monarch of the west. On his. passage, he touched at the island of Cosumel, where he took on board a Spanish prisoner, who had been taken in a former adventure, and detained a prisoner eight years, who had learnt the language of the natives of Yucatan, and was useful as an interpreter; he next touched at the. river Tobasco, where the natives were hostile; but he subdued them by force, and obtained supplies of provisions and clothes, together with twenty female slaves. Cortes proceeded on his course, and next touched at St. Jean de Ulua; here he was met in the harbour by an embassy in a large canoe, that bid him welcome, in a language not understood by his Yucatan interpreter; but expressed by intelligent signs. Cortes felt the loss of his interpreter, with this change of language; but one of his female, slaves, who understood the language, translated into Yu

catan, and his interpreter conveyed it in Spanish. Thus he learnt that the embassy was composed of the deputies from the governor of the province, which was a part of a great empire, under the government of Montezuma, their emperor, or king; and that the object of their visit was, to offer him such assistance as he might need, to prosecute his voyage. Cortes thanked them for their kindness, and assured them that his visit was truly friendly, and that he came to promote matters of high importance to their king, and his people, and that he would make known his business more fully to the governor in the morning. The next morning, he landed his troops, his horse, cannon, &c. and the natives assisted in all his operations, with friendly zeal, and alacrity. The next morning Dilpatoe, the governor, and Tutile his general, attended with a great retinue, entered the camp of Cortes, where they were received, and treated with all that deference and respect, due to the officers of a great monarch. Cortes informed them, that he was charged with an embassy from Don Carlos of Austria, king of Castile, the greatest monarch of the east, and that he must deliver his message in person, to Montezuma, their emperor, and required that they should conduct him in person, into the presence of their master. These officers waved the demand, and attempted to conciliate the favour of Cortes, by such valuable presents as they had brought, and laid them at his feet. These consisted of cotton stuffs, plumes, gold and silver, &c. These were acceptable, because they displayed that wealth, which the Spaniards desired, and shewed the kingdom as an object, worthy their conquest. In the midst of the interview, Cortes noticed some painters in the governor's train, who were employed in sketching on cotton stuffs, the ships, horses, artillery, soldiers, &c. belonging to Cortes. When Cortes understood that these were to be sent to Montezuma, he determined to fill up the piece; accordingly he

made a display of his men, and horse, artillery and musquetry, in various military evolutions, and firings, which astonished the affrighted Mexicans. When the picture was finished, it was sent off by despatches, placed at regular stages upon the roads, after the Mexican manner, who relieved each other, to give facility to the messages.*

These presents were conveyed to Montezuma, at the distance of one hundred and eighty miles, and an answer returned in a very few days, accompanied with a collection of most valuable presents, consisting of the most delicate cotton stuffs, resembling silk; pictures of animals, trees, and other natural objects, formed with feathers, composed of different colours, wraught and mingled with such skill and elegance, as to rival the pencil in truth and beauty. But what most attracted the attention of the Spaniards, was a large golden sun, and a large silver moon ; accompanied with bracelets, collars, rings, &c. all of gold, together with boxes of pearls, precious stones, and gold dust. All this treasure was borne upon the shoulders of one hundred Mexicans, and spread upon mats, where they might be displayed to the best advantage.-Struck with surprise at such a display of riches, Cortes was about to urge his demand, to be instantly conducted into the presence of Montezuma their king, when the orders of their monarch were communicated to Cortes, that he must not presume to enter his dominions, to approach his capital, or even tarry long in his country.

This message inflamed the impatience, as well as the ardor of Cortes, and he demanded to be immediately conducted to Mexico, to deliver the message from the king his master. Stung with chagrin and mortification at this demand, they requested him not to march his troops, until they could send messengers, and receive the orders of the

The French improved upon this, by erecting Telegraphs, throughout the country, in the Revolution.

emperor. Cortes complied, the messengers bore the unwelcome tidings to Montezuma, and returned with a more positive order to depart the realm without delay; but softened with a present more rich and valuable than the first. Cortes firm to his purpose, received the present, with great affability, but renewed his demand that he might deliver his message. Tutile, the governor, stung with disgust, turned from him in silence, and withdrew; his attendants all withdrew, and left Cortes to reflect on the scenes that were likely to follow. The next morning arose, but no natives appeared, as before, in the camp of Cortes; this alarmed the enemies of Cortes, who had favoured the intrigues of Velasquez, and they attempted to raise a mutiny, and check Cortes before hostilities should commence, and they with their little force, be swallowed up by the millions of such a vast empire. The friends of Cortes, saw with anxiety the commotions in the army, and heard with astonishment the demand of Diego de Ardaz, in the name of the whole army, that they might return to Cuba, and obtain supplies of men and military stores, adequate to so great an enterprise. Cortes met the demand, and gave orders that the whole army embark tomorrow for Cuba. Stung with disappointment at the pros. pect of loosing all those stores of wealth, which in imagination they already enjoyed-the army exclaimed, lead us not back far from the riches and treasures before us, we are ready to follow you to victory or to death. Cortes, like an able captain, cherished the fire he had kindled, assured them that he would ever be faithful to their best interest, and lead them to victory, conquest, and glory. The air resounded with their applause, and Cortes gave orders, to begin a Colony, assembled his principal officers, and ordered them to elect a council, who should administer the government. The Council were chosen from among the friends of Cortes, and the instrument of government

drawn up in the name of the king, not regarding Velasquez; and Cortes called the name of his settlement, Villa Rica, de la Vera Crux, (the rich town of the true Cross.)

The new council were assembled, and Cortes, by permission, approached them with the most profound respect, complimented them, as the representatives of their king and sovereign, tendered the resignation of his commission from Velasquez, and assured them that it now belonged of right to them, to appoint a commander, and that he should most cheerfully submit to their choice, either to command or obey. The council, in the majesty of themselves, accepted the resignation of their general, and again conferred upon him, the chief command, and pressed him to become their leader; the whole army confirmed the choice, and the whole air was rent with acclamations of joy. Ardaz, and other friends to the interest of Velasquez, renewed their mutiny, and Cortes siezed these mutineers, and confined them in irons on board the fleet, until repentance converted them into friends, and restored them to their rank in the service.

The army thus being united, Cortes had laid the foundation for the arduous enterprise, which lay before him. At this eventful moment, he received an embassy from the cazique of Zampoella, (an important town not far remote) requesting his aid to assist him, to throw off the yoke of Montezuma. "Divide and conquer," although so extensively and successfully practised by the moderns, is not of modern origin. Cortes seized the favourable moment, removed his camp, and proceeded to Zampoeila, where the cazique gave him a most cordial reception; charged Montezuma with tyranny, and cruelty, and avarice; and above all, a bloody idolater, who often tore from his people their little ones, and sacrificed them to his Gods, and prostituted their daughters to his own lusts and the lusts, of his favourites.