A Philosophical and Political History of the Settlements and Trade of the Europeans in the East and West Indies Volume 2 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1804 Excerpt: ... human mind, there is no circumstance that-can induce us to impute this prevailing weakness to him. His political conduct, however was not the wiser on this account. Since this prince had been upon the throne, he bad no longer displayed any of those talents that had placed him upon it. Sunk in a state of essseminacy and indolence, he despised hit subjects, and oppressed his tributaries. His mind was so debased and corrupted, that even the arrival of the Spaniards could not rouse him into action. He wasted in negociations the time he should hav.e employed in-combat, and wished to send aw, ay, laden with presents, enemies he ought tohave destroyed. Cortez, towhom thissupineness was very, Convenient, omitted nothing that might contribute to encourage it, and always treated with him on the most friendly terms. He declared, that he was sent merely with orders to hold a conserence with the powetsur emperor of Mexico, on the part of the greatest monarch of the East. Whenever he was pressed to re-embark, he always represented, that no ambassador had ever been dismissed without being admitted to an audience. At length the deputies, sinding him inflexible, were obliged, according to their instructions, to I;ave recourse to menaces, and spoke in high terms of the opulence and strength of their country. Cortez then, turning to his soldiers, told them: " This is exactly what we wished to meet with, great dangers and great wealth." He had then completed all his preparatives, and gained every insormation that was necessary. Resolved therefore to conquer or to perish, he set sire to all his ships, and directed his march towards the capital of the empire. In his way he met with the republic of Tlafcala, whiph had ever been at enmity with the Mexicans, who wantedto make it su...