a dangerous war.'-' In regard to burning the feet of Guatimotzin, it was done, contrary to the inclination of Cortes, by his Majesty's officers, to force him to discover where Montezuma's treasure was concealed.' The other charges were either refuted or explained away, and the court gave sentence entirely in favour of Cortes.

The execution of Guatimotzin, the last native monarch of the Mexicans, together with that of the prince of Tacuba, (though many other actions equally inhuman were committed by the conquerors of Mexico,) seems to be the crime which has fixed the greatest stigma on the memory of Cortes. This sentence (which, says B. Diaz, 'appeared to us all as most unjust and cruel,') was passed by him during a march through part of the country, and the unfortunate prince was hanged like a common malefactor.

'We continued our march,' says the author, afterwards with great caution, from apprehensions of a mutiny among the Mexicans on ac count of the execution of their chiefs; but the wretches were so exhausted by famine, sickness, and fatigue, that they did not appear even to think about the matter. At night we arrived at a village which was abandoned by the inhabitants, but on searching we found eight priests who readily attended us to Cortes. He desired them to call back their neighbours, and that they should receive no injury. This the priests readily promised, requesting at the same time, that their idols which were in a temple adjoining the building wherein were the quarters of Cortes, should not be touched; which the General agreed to, but took the opportunity of expostulating with them upon the absurdity of venerating what was in reality no more than clay and timber.'

Cortes caused a cross to be fixed in a large ceiba tree close to their temple, which as I have before mentioned joined to the building wherein he had taken his quarters. He was at this time very ill tempered, and sad. He was vexed by the difficulties and misfortunes which had attended his march, and his conscience upbraided him with the death of the unfortunate Guatimotzin. He was so distracted by these thoughts that he could not rest in his bed at night, and getting up in the dark to walk about, as a relief from his anxie ties, he went into a large apartment where some of the idols were worshipped. Here, he missed his way, and fell from the height of twelve feet, to the ground, receiving a desperate wound and contu sions in his head. This circumstance he tried to conceal, keeping his sufferings to himself, and getting his hurts cured as well as he could.'

Cortes is considered to have been at the summit of his prosperity when he had completed the subjugation of the Mexicans. From that time, Fortune withdrew her smiles; and in his subsequent projects and prospects, he continually met with disappointment. He was not trusted with the govern

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ment of the country which he had subdued, instead of which the title of Marquis bestowed on him was a very inadequate com pensation; and he found himself reduced to a private station where he had been accustomed to command, and involved in perpetual disputes and litigations. Bernal Diaz observes that he never prospered from the time of his first conquest of New Spain, and his ill fortune is ascribed to the curses with which he was loaded.' He was twice obliged to go from Mexico to Old Spain: the first time, in order to defend himself against accusations: the second, to seek redress for injuries received. His complaints and applications proved ineffectual, and he was pursued by misfortunes of a private nature; which, added to his other vexations, appear to have hastened his death. This event happened in 1547; when he had just completed' his 62d year.

We extract a few particulars from the character given of him by this author:

He was of a good stature and strong built, of a rather pale complexion, and serious countenance. His features were, if faulty, rather too small; his eyes mild and grave. His beard was black, thin, and scanty; his hair in the same manner. His breast and shoulders were broad, and his body very thin. He was very well limbed, and his legs rather bowed; an excellent horseman, and dexterous in the use of arms. He also possessed the heart and mind, which is the principal part of the business. I have heard that when he was a lad in Hispaniola, he was very wild about women, and that he had several duels with able swordsmen, in which he always came off with victory. He had the scar of a sword-wound near his under lip, which appeared through his beard if closely examined, and which he received in some of those affairs. In his appearance, manners, transactions, conversation, table, and dress, every thing bore the appearance of a great lord. His cloaths were according to the fashion of the time he was not fond of silks, damasks, or velvets, but every thing plain, and very handsome; nor did he wear large chains of gold, but a small one of prime workmanship, bearing the image of our Lady the Blessed Virgin with her precious Son in her arms, and a Latin motto; and on the reverse, St. John the Baptist with another motto. He wore on his finger a ring with a very fine diamond, and in his cap, which according to the fashion of that day was of velvet, he bore a medal, the head and motto of which I do not recollect; but latterly he wore a plain cloth сар, without any orna

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His table was always magnificently attended and served, with four major domos or principal officers, a number of pages, and a great quantity of plate both gold and silver. He dined heartily at midday, and drank a glass of wine mixed with water, of about half a pint. He was not nice in his food, nor expensive, except on particular occasions where he saw the propriety of it. He was very affable with all his captains and soldiers, especially those who accom

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panied him in his first expedition from Cuba. He was a Latinist, and as I have been told, a bachelor in laws. He was also something of a poet, and a very good rhetorician; very devout to our Holy Virgin, and his advocates St. Peter, St. Jago, and St. John the Bap tist in particular; and charitable to the poor. When he swore he used to say, "by my conscience!" and when he was angry with any of us, his friends, he would say, "oh! may you repent it." When he was very angry, the veins in his throat and forehead used to swell, and when in great wrath, he would not utter a syllable to any one. He was very patient under insults or injuries; for some of the soldiers were at times very rude and abusive with him; but he never resented their conduct, although he had often great reason to do so. In such cases he used only to say, "be silent," or, "go away in God's name and take care not to repeat this conduct, or I will have you punished." He was very determined and headstrong in all business of war, not attending to any remonstrances on account of danger. Where we had to erect a fortress, Cortes was the hardest labourer in the trenches; when we were going into battle, he was as forward as any.

Cortes was very fond of play, both at cards and dice, and while playing he was very affable and good-humoured. He used frequently, at such times, those cant expressions which persons who game are ac customed to do. In military service he practised the most strict at tention to discipline, constantly going the rounds in person during the night, visiting the quarters of the soldiers, and severely reprehending those whom he found without their armour and appointments, and not ready to turn out; repeating to them the proverb, that “it is a bad sheep which cannot carry its own wool." When we were engaged in the wars during the conquest of New Spain, he was very thin and slender, but after his return from Higueras he grew fat, and acquired a belly. He at this time trimmed his beard which had not begun to grow white, in the short fashion. In his early life he was very liberal, but grew close, latterly; some of his servants complaining that he did not pay them as he ought, and I have also to observe that in his latter undertakings he never succeeded. Perhaps such was the will of heaven, his reward being reserved for another place; for he was a good cavalier, and very devout to the Holy Virgin, and also to St. Paul and other Holy Saints. God pardon him his sins; and me mine; and give me a good end, which is better than all conquests and victories over Indians.'

In the last chapter, Bernal Diaz has given a large list of those who originally accompanied Cortes, with a short character of them and their exploits. He adds; When I had fairly written out this my history, two licentiates requested me to lend it to them for their perusal. As to what they said, that I praise myself so much, and that I ought to leave it to be done by others, I say, in common life it is the custom of neighbours to speak of each other as each deserves; but he who never was in the wars with us, nor saw them, nor heard of

them,

them, how can he speak of us? Were the birds which flew over our heads while in battle to give accounts of us? or the clouds? Who then was to speak our praises but we ourselves?'

Much of the interest excited by reading this True History of the Conquest of Mexico is of a nature very far from gratifying. It is, however, a work which, if not inconsiderately perused, will afford many useful and instructive lessons. The translator appears to have understood the spirit of the original, and has judged well in rendering it in natural and unstudied language.

ART. VI. A Secular Essay: Containing a retrospective View of Events, connected with the Ecclesiastical History of England, during the Eighteenth Century; with Reflections on the State of Practical Religion in that Period. By John Brewster, A. M. Vicar of Stockton upon Tees, &c. 8vo. pp. 414. 75. Boards. Rivingtons. 1802.

THE ecclesiastical history of the past century does not yield,

perhaps, in interest, to that of any other period of equal duration. Though it has to note the diminished influence of Religion in regulating the affairs of states and empires, and to record fewer political measures effected by her power; yet it has to state revolutions materially affecting her condition,-revolutions in opinion, and in the state of the human mind. The golden age of letters, it has been observed, was succeeded by a spirit of bold speculation, and by the introduction of systems of infidelity and scepticism. The theologian then saw himself required not merely to support this or that usage, to defend this or that tenet, to vindicate this or that part of the polity of his sect, but he beheld the very citadel of his faith attacked, and the very foundation of his pious hopes attempted to be undermined: he saw revived by learned men, and very generally countenanced, doctrines which the decisions of the antient church and the consent of modern days had decreed to be blasphemous and heretical; and more recently, in an extensive empire, he beheld the religion of Jesus abrogated, the Christian temples shut, and the ministers of the altar massacred with impunity, or banished by the decrees of the state.

To develope the principles which led to these extraordinary measures, and to mark their course from their first promulgation, till they are seen to effect the great and marvellous changes already mentioned, form one of the most difficult undertakings to which first-rate talents and consummate learning, aided by every advantage, can possibly be directed; an undertaking perhaps which, for various reasons, it is not for the

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present age to hope to see successfully executed. It was not within the plan of the respectable author of the work before us to attempt this task: for it fulfils his purpose simply to state, and with brevity, the grand facts which the professed ecclesiastical historian must elucidate, trace to their causes, and follow to their effects. Having done little more than point them out, he considers them as they bear on the principles and interests of our church, and as they affect its external consideration and its internal character; suggesting to its friends and supporters such counsels as prudence and zeal for religion appear to dictate. These topics undoubtedly form proper grounds for the advice given in this volume: but we question their aptitude as foundations for pious reflections. Too much passion mingles itself in the contests of divines; the points agitated, by awakening doubts, and by unhinging the mind, reduce it to a state unfavourable to the feelings of devotion; and many readers will rather feel their curiosity excited to learn more fully the matters here partially stated, than share in the sublime sentiments which they call forth in the author himself. With the exception of this infelicity of design, there is little occasion for criticism in this performance. Modest in its pretensions, it possesses considerable merit. It is the production of a man of talents, and of no mean attainments. The facts interspersed through it render it amusing, while the reflections which ac company them strongly inculcate a benevolent temper, and a love of virtue. If we do not subscribe to all that it contains, we cordially applaud the regard which it displays for the great interests of man, for his temporal and eternal welfare; and we highly commend the distinguished spirit of moderation which it breathes in almost every page.

The volume is divided into parts, corresponding with the several reigns which have occurred during the century. The first embraces that of Queen Anne; and the topics on which Mr. Brewster principally dwells in treating of this period are, the contest between the high and low church parties, which agitated the councils of the nation as much as the sanctuary of religion, the respective champions which took a part in it, the reformation which the state underwent, and the improved style of sermons. With regard to the change in the conduct of the stage, he thus writes:

From theatrical representations we may fairly judge of the mos rals and taste of an age. More need not be added in judging of that of which I write, than that the chaste and pure sentiments of Shakespeare were in a great measure rejected for the licentious verses of Dryden, and other wits of no common celebrity: Dryden indeed frequently apologizes for the language he is obliged to use.-What

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