HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



277 



other Europeans whofe authority has a great deal more 

 weight, both becaufe they were men of great judgment, 

 learning, and knowledge of thefe countries, and becaufe 

 they gave their teftimony in favour of ftrangers againft 

 their own countrymen. The atteftations and arguments 

 which we could adduce in favour of the mental qualities 

 of the Americans are fo numerous, that they would fill 

 a great volume ; we {hall, however, to avoid prolixi- 

 ty or confufion, confine ourfelves to a few, which are 

 worth a thoufand others. 



Zummarraga, firft bifhop of Mexico, a prelate of hap- 

 py memory and highly efteemed by the catholic kings, 

 for his learning and irreproachable life, his paftoral zeal 

 and apoftolic labours, in his letter written in the year 

 1 53 1, to the general chapter of the P. P. Francifcans, 

 affembled in Tolofa, fpeaks thus of the Indians : " They 

 " are temperate and ingenious, particularly in the art 

 " of painting. They are not ungifted with mental talents. 

 " The Lord be praifed for all." If M. de Paw does not 

 value the teftimony of this moft venerable prelate, whom 

 he calls a bigot and barbarian, in right of that authority 

 which he has arrogated to himfelf to injure thofe whofe 

 fentiments are not conformable to his extravagant fyftem 

 of degeneracy, let him read what Las Cafas, the firft 

 bifhop of Chiapa, has written, who knew them well, from 

 having refided many years in different parts of America. 

 He in a memorial prefented to Philip II. fpeaks of them 

 thus : " The Americans alfo are people of a bright and 

 " lively genius, eafy to be taught and to apprehend 

 " every good doctrine, extremely ready to embrace our 

 " faith and virtuous cuftoms, and the people of all others 

 " in the world who feel lead embarrafiment in it." He 

 makes life almoft of the fame expreflions in his refutation 



of 



