276 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



Of them it might be faid with fome mew of reafon, that 

 their blood is wafted, and their phyfical conftitution 

 overthrown. 



SECT. II. 



On the mental Qualities of the Mexicans, 



HITHERTO we have examined what M. de Paw has 

 faid concerning the corporeal qualities of the Americans. 

 Let us now fee what are his fpeculations concerning their 

 minds. He has not been able to difcover any other cha- 

 racters than a memory fo feeble, that to-day they do not 

 remember what they did yefterday ; a capacity fo blunt, 

 that they are incapable of thinking, or putting their ideas 

 in order ; a difpofition fo cold, that they feel no excite- 

 ment of love; a daftardly fpirit, and a genius that is tor- 

 pid and indolent. In fliort, he paints the Americans in 

 fuch colours, and debafes their fouls to fuch a degree, 

 that although he fometimes inveighs againft them, that 

 they put their very rationality in doubt, we do not doubt, 

 that if he had then been confulted, he would have de- 

 clared himfelf contrary to the opinion of rationalists. 

 We know well that many other Europeans, and, what 

 is fliil more wonderful, many of thofe children or defen- 

 dants of Europeans who are born in America, think as 

 M. de Paw does ; fome from ignorance, fome from want 

 of reflection, and others from hereditary prejudice and 

 prepolfelTion. But all this and more would not be fuf- 

 ficient to belie our own experience and the teftimony of 



other 



confeffes, the inhabitants of Little Tartary are deftroyed, are certainly greatly 

 worfe than thofe worms which he fays, are found amongfl fome people of Ame- 

 rica. 



