him in irons, and to complete the conquest. Cortez now saw himself in a more difficult situation than ever, being under the necessity of taking the field, not against unskilful Indians, but against an army, in courage and discipline equal to his own, in numbers far superior, and commanded by an officer of distinguished bravery. Cortez, aware of the dangers which presented themselves on all sides, endeavoured to accommodate matters with Narvaez; who treated his overtures with contempt, holding it impossible that Cortez should be able to resist his power.-Presumption always leads to mischievous consequences; in the present instance, it gave Cortez a complete victory over his enemies. Narvaez was wounded, made prisoner, and thrown into fetters; his army capitulated, and quietly submitted to their

conquerors.

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2. Cortez treated the vanquished in the most generous manner, giving them their choice, either of entering into his service, or of returning to Cuba. Most of them chose the former; and Cortez, when he least expected such fortune, saw no less than 1000 Spaniards arranged under his banner. With this reinforcement he marched back to Mexico, where his presence was extremely necessary. After so much indecision, the Mexicans now appeared to have resolved on the exterm ination of their enemies. They took their arms, and atta Spanish quarters in such formidable numbers, an such undaunted courage, that although the artin pointed against their tumultuous crowds, swept do multitudes at every discharge, the impetuosity of th attack did not abate. Fresh bodies of men incessantl rushed forward to occupy the places of the slain, and all the valour of the Spaniards was barely sufficient to prevent them from forcing their way into the fortifications.

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3. Cortez was astonished at the desperate ferocity of a people, who seemed at first to submit so patiently to a foreign yoke. He made from the quarters two desperate sallies; but although numbers of the Mexicans fell, and part of the city was burned, he gained no permanent advantage; and besides being wounded himself,

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lost twelve of his soldiers, a serious affair at that time, when, in his circumstances, the life of a Spaniard was so valuable. No resource was now left but to make use of the influence of the captive emperor, in order to quell the insurrection. Montezuma was brought, in regal pomp, to the battlement, and was compelled to address the people. But their fury rose above all restraint. Volleys of arrows and stones poured in upon the ramparts, and the unfortunate prince being wounded in the head by a stone, fell to the ground. The Mexicans, as soon as they saw their emperor fall, were struck with sudden remorse, and fled in precipitation and horror, as if they supposed themselves pursued by the vengeance of heaven for their crime. Montezuma was carried by the Spaniards to his apartments; but being now become weary of life, he tore the bandages from his wounds; and obstinately refusing to take any nourishment, expired in a few days.

4. The death of Montezuma loosed the Mexicans from the restraints, which their veneration for his person and dignity had imposed on their actions. A war of extermination was the immediate consequence; and after various attacks, in which the Mexicans showed the most daring resolution, and had even at one time seized Cortez, and were near carrying him off, the Spaniards found it necessary to retreat from a situation, in which they must be finally overwhelmed by the immense multitudes and incessant attacks of their enemies. This measure, however, was not effected without extreme difficulty. The Mexicans, astonished at the repeated h efforts of Spanish valour, had now changed their system tl of hostility; and instead of incessant attacks, had adoptnded the measure of breaking the causeways, and barricato ding the streets, in order to cut off all communications i-between the Spaniards and the country.

5. A retreat from Mexico, however, being now a measure of absolute necessity, it was effected in the night, but not without great loss; for the Mexicans, from whom their preparations could not be concealed, had not only broken the bridges, and made breaches in the causeways, but attacked them on all sides from the

lake. All Mexico was in arms, and the lake was covered with canoes. The Spaniards, crowded together on the narrow causeway, were hemmed in on every side, and, wearied with slaughter, were unable to bear up against the weight of the torrent that poured in upon them; the confusion was universal; and the tremendous sounds of the warlike instruments of the Mexicans, with the shouts of their barbarian multitudes, gave additional horror to the scene. Cortez, with part of his soldiers, broke through the enemy; but numbers, overwhelmed by the multitudes of aggressors, were either killed on the causeway, or perished in the lake; while others, whom the Mexicans had taken alive, were dragged away in triumph to be sacrificed to the god of war.

6. In this fatal retreat, not less than half of the Spaniards, with above 2000 Ilascalans, were killed; and all the artillery, ammunition, and baggage, were completely lost. The whole empire was now in arms; and Cortez, having reviewed his shattered battalions, continued his retreat towards Ilascala, the only place where he could hope for a friendly reception. He met with no opposition till he reached the valley of Otumba, where the whole force of the Mexicans was concentrated. When the Spaniards had reached the summit of an eminence, they saw the spacious valley through which they were obliged to pass, covered with an army that extended as far as the eye could reach, and appeared to be innumerable. At the sight of this immense multitude, the Spaniards were astonished, and even the boldest were inclined to despair.

7. But Cortez, without allowing time for their fears to gain strength from reflection, briefly reminded them, that no alternative remained but to conquer or die, and instantly led them to the charge. The Mexicans waited their approach with inflexible firmness; and notwithstanding the superiority of European discipline and arms, the Spaniards, though successful in every attack, were ready to sink under the repeated efforts of innumerable multitudes. But Cortez observing the great standard of the empire, which was carried before the

Mexican general, and recollecting to have heard that on its fate the issue of every battle depended, put himself at the head of a few of his bravest officers, and pushed forward with an impetuosity that bore down all before it, to the place, where he saw it displayed. Cortez having brought the Mexican general to the ground with a stroke of his lance, the select body of his guards was broken, and the imperial standard was taken. The moment that the standard disappeared, the Mexicans were struck with an universal panic, and fled with precipitation.

8. The day after the battle of Otumba, the Spaniards reached the territories of the Ilascalans, their allies, who being implacable enemies to the Mexican name, continued faithful to Cortez in this reverse of his fortune. Here he had an interval of rest and tranquillity, that was extremely necessary for curing the wounded, and for recruiting the strength of his soldiers, exhausted by a long series of hardships and fatigues. During this suspension of military operations, Cortez recruited his battalions with 180 adventurers newly arrived from Spain and the islands, and obtained possession of some artillery, and ammunition, which had been sent by Velasques for the use of the army of Narvaez, and had been seized by the officers, whom Cortez had left in command at Vera Cruz. The Spanish general, having having received these reinforcements, resolved to recommence the war, and attempt the reduction of Mexico. But as he knew this to be impracticable, unless he could secure the command of the lake, he gave orders to prepare, in the mountains of Ilascala, materials for constructing twelve brigantines, which were to be carried thither in pieces, ready to be put together and launched when their service should be found necessary.

9. On the 28th of December, 1520, Cortez began his second march toward Mexico, at the head of 550 Spanish foot, and 40 horse, with 10,000 Ilascalans, and a train of nine field pieces. The Mexicans, however, were not unprepared for his reception. On the death of Montezuma, their nobility, in whom the right of

electing the emperor appears to have been vested, had raised his brother Quetlavaca to the throne. This prince had displayed his courage and abilities in directing those attacks that obliged the Spaniards to retreat from his capital; and he took the most prudent and rigorous measures for preventing their return; but while he was arranging his plans of defence, with an unusual degree of foresight, he died of the small-pox, a disorder unknown in America until it was introduced by the Europeans. In his stead, the Mexicans elected Guatimozin, nephew and son-in-law of Montezuma, a young prince of distinguished reputation for abilities and valour.

10. The brigantines were now put together and launched, and every preparation was made for the siege. Operations were speedily commenced, and the Mexicans displayed valour hardly inferior to that with which the Spaniards attacked them. The siege was long, and attended with heavy loss on both sides. On land, on water, by night and by day, one furious conflict continually succeeded to another. At length it was resolved to make one desperate attack, and Cortez, with a portion of his brave comrades, pushed forward with an impetuosity, that bore pown all opposition, and continuing to gain ground, forced their way into the city. Guatimozin, seeing the Spaniards within his capital, gave the signal, and the priests in the principal temple struck the great drum consecrated to the god of war. No sooner did the Mexicans hear the doleful solemn sound, calculated to inspire them with a contempt of death and an enthusiastic ardour, than they rushed on the enemy with frantic rage.

11. The Spaniards, unable to resist men, urged on, no less by religious fury than hope of success, were obliged to retire with the greatest precipitation; and in the scene of confusion which ensued, six Mexican captains having seized upon Cortez, were carrying him off, when two of his officers rescued him at the expense of their own lives, but not till after he had received several dangerous wounds. Above sixty Spaniards