HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



81 



Thus, it has been faid, in conducing the Spaniards, 

 a polilhed nation of Europe, to overturn the rude mo- 

 narchy of the Mexicans, in America, did Providence 

 punifli the latter for the injuftice, cruelty, and Tuperfti- 

 tion of their anceftors. But there the vigors, in one 

 year of mercilefs maffacre, facrificed more human vic- 

 tims to avarice and ambition, than the Indians during 

 the exiftence of their empire had devoted in worfhip 

 to their native gods; there the legiilative art of Europe 

 corrected the bloody policy of American tribes, and in- 

 troduced the miniflry of juftice, by defpoiling Indian ca- 

 ziques of their territories and tributes, torturing them 

 for gold, and enllaving their pofterity : and there the 

 mild parental voice of the Chriftian religion was fub- 

 orned to terrify confounded favages with the malice of 

 a ftrange, and by them unprovoked, God ; and her gen- 

 tle arm in violence lifted up, to raze their temples and 

 hofpitable habitations, to ruin every fond relic and rever- 

 ed monument of their anceftry and origin, and divorce 

 them in anguifh from the bofom of their country. 



Vol. III. 



M 



APPENDIX. 



