those in their shop. If you ask for one they do not know, they send the title to some correspondent, supposing he may have it on commission, or they procure it of a third, who perhaps sells it for a fourth, and so on. What delays, what increase of price must arise from this mode! They sell their books bound, and sometimes the beat English and French works are found in their shops. The smaller booksellers like our stall-keepers have stalls at the church doors and in the calle de Alcalà. There are however many great booksellers in the Puesto de Cerro.'

Lists follow, of books which the Spanish press has sent forth, and which are more extensive than we should have supposed; especially in translations of English, French, and German works.

With regard to the pride and haughtiness usually ascribed to the Spanish character, the author remarks:

Pride is in reality but a certain elevation of mind, of which gravity is a false or an exaggerated expression. This is evident on the first view of the Spanish; although in certain cases a Spaniard is a little jealous of the prerogatives due to his rank, he does not make others feel it, and although it is easy to captivate him by showing him respect and treating him with deference, he is indignant at cringing fawning manners. A superior title seems to flatter him, but he little values the advantages he possesses in this respect. Much has been said of Spanish pride and gravity, but it is certain that we find less ceremony and more real politeness among them, less moroseness and a greater equality among different conditions of men, less pride among the great, and more contempt for the prejudices of birth, than in Germany. A duke of Ossuna for instance or a duke of Medina Sidonia will treat literary men or artists and every other individual with a consideration and a civility, of which more examples might be desired in our own country.'

Having quitted Madrid, the traveller arrived at Santa Olalla, a very beautiful situation in the midst of a grove. As the company were passing the evening at the Posada, they were interested by the following singular arrival:

It was growing late, when another muleteer arrived with a young and beautiful woman, who over her veil wore an immense round hat like that of a man. We learnt, that she had been consigned to the care of this arriero by the alcalde del barrio at Madrid, and that he was ordered to conduct her to Badajoz. She appeared in deep affliction, took only a little bread and wine, and begged as a favour that she might go to bed. She was shown into a small room that looked into the inn-yard, where the muleteer locked her up and put the key in his pocket.

It was about midnight, when the joyous company began to think of retiring, and the muleteer opened the door to see if his prisoner was safe: but she had disappeared. Immediately there was a general alarm, the mules were taken out of the stable, and every one was in motion to pursue her. The unfortunate guardian already ima gined himself a prisoner in the fortress of el presidio.

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Three hours had elapsed, and I trembled almost involuntarily for the fate of the fair fugitive, when the hostile troop returned with her in triumph. She had lost her hat and veil, her clothes were covered with mud, her face and hands bloody, and she burst into tears, exclaiming every moment, "'tis the other that betrayed me."

The little squat alcalde now appeared barefoot in his nightcap, but with his black cloak and white wand as a mark of his authority, and immediately began to draw up a full statement of the affair. The unfortunate prisoner had made her escape out of a small window into the inn-yard, and, having scaled the wall by means of a small plank, had taken the road to Madrid, but perceiving she was pursued she had climbed a tree. One of her pursuers had perceived her among the branches, but a few pieces of money purchased his silence. She afterwards endeavoured to conceal herself among the bushes, but fell into a ditch, where she was found by the dogs sent out after her.

'As soon as the alcalde heard money mentioned, he ordered the muleteer under the severest penalties to deliver it up to him, and, taking three fourths of it for his fees, he restored the remainder to the pri soner, who then began to relate her story. She had left an old husband at Badajoz to go and live at Madrid with her gallant, where after some months she had been arrested.. "No," cried she, "I would rather put an end to my existence, than live with that brute." Her grief rendered her voice so affecting, and she wept so bitterly, that every one almost forgave her.

Meanwhile this adventure proved prejudicial to our interest. Our mules had been so harassed in the pursuit, that it was not prudent to proceed, and one of them required to be bled. We therefore saw the prisoner set off at noon under the conduct of an alguazil, but she was so exhausted with fatigue, that she could scarcely sit on the mule, though she had a woman's saddle with a cushion. All the village accompanied her for half a league, and several women offered her refreshments.'

We must now, after the manner of Shakspeare's chorus, invite our readers to consider the tour of Spain as completed, and the crew again embarked and making the Gulf of Lyons; when a suspicious incident puts every man's courage to the

test:

With a perfectly fair wind we approached Cabo de Creus, when on a sudden we saw a ship bearing Spanish colours, but which every one determined to be a pirate. All was now in motion; we tacked about, cleared the deck, and the crew were ordered to the guns. Every one was obliged to lend a hand, and arms and brandy were distributed to all. Meanwhile the corsair after some manœuvres at length stationed herself under the cape to wait for us. Immediately the two captains determined to drop to leeward, to hoist their colours, firing at the same time two guns, and to go with easy sail to meet the enemy.

We were already within gunshot, and were all waiting the captain's orders, when the enemy struck their colours and called to us with a trumpet "Por dios! por dios! somos Españoles" (For God's

sake!

sake! we are Spaniards). Upon this we ordered her to come out of her retreat, and perceived her to be a small Spanish brig with two small guns and ten seamen. Bursts of laughter and cries of joy now concluded our engagement to the satisfaction of both parties; but the captain, like a true Genoese, boasted of his courage all day, and the great exploits he would have achieved!"

The appendix is drawn up in the form of rules to be observed in travelling through the country; and, as M. Fischer speaks from experience, we must give him credit for the utility of the instructions which he has laid down, and which we doubt not will be found very useful by those who visit that kingdom. We are glad to learn, among other particulars, that the state of the roads and of the inns, in most of the principal directions, is not now so bad as it has been generally represented, but has lately been much improved.

ART. V. The True History of the Conquest of Mexico. By Captain Bernal Diaz del Castillo, one of the Conquerors. Written in the Year 1568. Translated from the original Spanish by Maurice Keatinge, Esq. 4to. pp. 514. 11. 5. Boards. Wright. ACCORDING both to the letter and the intention of our un

dertaking, it may be deemed a transgression of our boundaries to pass strictures on a work published at so early a period as was the History of the Conquest of Mexico, by Bernal Diaz del Castillo; and it may appear the less necessary, because that History is well known, and has been often not only quoted but in many particulars followed by later his. torians. Nevertheless, as we have not before met with it in our own language, we think that our readers will not be displeased, if, in noticing this translation, a few remarks are introduced on the original.

The title of True, assumed by B. Diaz for his narrative, is probably applied with as much justice, respecting the particular facts related, and allowing for some vanity of boasting, as it could be to any other account of the Conquest of Mexico. The author was one of the adventurers who embarked with Cortes from Cuba in 1518-9, in order to invade that devoted country; and he served under that commander in a military capacity during the whole of the Mexican war: but his History was not concluded till above 53 years afterward (i. e. in 1572), when he resided at Guatimala, the capital of the province of the same name in New Spain, of which city he was then one of the municipal officers. In his narrative, we see neither the smallest attempt at ornament, nor contrivance to render any part plausible; but facts are related in a manner REV. JULY, 1803. which

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which is perfectly plain and direct. While he was composing it, the account of Francisco Lopez de Gomara came into his hands, and provoked him to write a short preface, in which he accused Gomara of many errors and misrepresentations; and it is probable that he chose the title of True History in order to mark a contrast between his own and that which was written by Gomara; in my voyage through which to the haven of truth,' he says, I shall expose misrepresentation: but if I were to point out every error, the chaff would outweigh the grain.' The objections of Bernal Diaz against the history of Gomara, however, were mostly of a personal nature, such as enhancing the merit of one officer at the expence of another.' In other particulars, the most material error pointed out in Gomara is that of his saying that Cortes gave orders, secretly, for the destruction of the ships, whereas it was done by the common consent of all, to have the assistance of the mariners.'

The confusion, which Dr. Robertson has remarked as a trait of this work, does not strike us in the translation; and we wish, therefore, that Mr. Keatinge had informed us whether he has rendered literally, or has in any manner varied from his original. It is evident, however, that he has preserved the style and modes of expression of his author; and nothing appears in the language which unpleasantly reminds the reader that he is perusing only a translation.

The first and second chapters give an account of the expedition of Hernandez de Cordova in 1517, and of Juan de 'Girjalva in 1518, in each of which B. Diaz bore a part. The remainder of the book is occupied by the conquest under Cortes.

Bernal Diaz charges Gomara with having greatly exaggerated the numbers of the natives and of those who were killed in the different battles: yet we find the following passage in his own account of one of the first actions fought by the Spaniards against the Mexicans: There were so many enemies to every one of us, that they could have buried us under the dust they could have held in their hands, but that the great mercy of God aided us throughout;' and in the same page, it is said, we bound up our wounds, and those of the horses we dressed with the fat of Indians whom we found dead.'

Among the sufferings inflicted on the Mexicans, was the introduction of the small-pox; a disease which spread with inconceivable rapidity, and the Indians died by thousands; for, not knowing the nature of it, they brought it to a fatal issue by throwing themselves into cold water in the heat of the disorder.' Shortly after the death of Montezuma, it was declared, by proclamation, that all the Mexicans taken in arms against

the Spaniards should be condemned to slavery; and at the founding of a new settlement which was named Segara de la Frontera (Security of the Frontier), municipal officers were immediately appointed, and the iron brand was made here, for the purpose of marking those natives who were taken, for slaves: they were marked with the letter G for Guerra, or War.'

Frequently in the course of this work, Cortes is accused of having defrauded his soldiers of their shares of plunder; and a list is given of the complaints against him which were preferred to the Emperor, Charles V.

They made strong accusations against Cortes; first, that Velasquez fitted out armaments three times to his own great cost, and entrusted the command of the last to Cortes, who broke his engagement. Farther, that when Velasquez sent Narvaez with his Majesty's commission as governor general of New Spain, Cortes made war upon, and defeated him. Also, that when the Bishop of Burgos sent Tapia to take the government of those countries in his Majesty's name, he refused to obey, and by main force compelled him to reembark. They also accused Cortes of having obtained a quantity of gold in the name of his Majesty, and converting it to his own use; of having taken to himself a fifth of all prizage; of having burnt the feet of Guatimotzin; of retaining the soldiers' shares; and building palaces and fortified houses that were as large as whole villages, making the inhabitants round Mexico work at them, and forcing them to draw large cypress trees, and stones, from a great distance; and that he had given poison to Francisco de Garay, to get from him his troops and shipping. There were many other accusations brought forward, so that his Majesty was at last tired of hearing them, believing them to be true.

Narvaez, when admitted into the Emperor's presence, addressed him in his pompous tone of voice, as follows: " Your Majesty must further know, that on the night I was taken prisoner, having your royal commission in my pocket, my eye put out, and in apprehension of being burnt alive, for the apartment was in flames, one of Cortes's captains, Alonzo de Avila, at present prisoner in France, violently tore your commission out of my pocket, and when I claimed it, declaring what it was, he denied the fact, and said that they were bonds for money owing me by Spaniards in Mexico, and which I was coming to enforce." At this the Emperor could not refrain from laughing. In regard to the charges, his Majesty said, he would give orders that strict justice should be done; and he forthwith commanded, that certain persons of his royal privy council should be formed into a court of enquiry to hear and decide upon these allegations.'

In answer to the charges made by Narvaez, it was represented that, on his coming to New Spain, he sent word to the great king Montezuma, that he came to rescue him, and thereby caused such a disturbance in the country as produced

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a danger