292 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



Their wars (hew us that their fouls are not infenfible to 

 the excitements of love, as count de Buffon and M. de 

 Paw think ; fince they fometimes took up arms in his 

 caufe. 



In regard to their courage, we have explained, when 

 we fpoke of their character, what we have obferved in 

 the prefent, and what we judge of the ancient Americans 

 on this head. But as Mr. de Paw alleges the conquer! of 

 Mexico as a convincing proof of their cowardice, it may 

 be proper to enlighten his ignorance, or rather to 

 flrengthen his little faith. 



" Cortes, " he fays, " conquered the empire of Mex- 

 " ico with four hundred and fifty vagabonds and fifteen 

 xc horfes, badly armed ; his miferable artillery confided 

 V of fix falconets, which would not at the prefent day 

 " be capable of exciting the fears of a fortrefs defended 

 " by invalids. During his abfence the capital was 

 " held in awe by the half of his troops. What men ! 

 " what events !" 



" It is confirmed," he adds, " by the depofitions of 

 " all hiftorians that the Spaniards entered the firft time 

 " into Mexico without making one fingle difcharge of 

 " their artillery. If the title of hero is applicable to 

 " him who has the difgrace to occafion the death of a 

 " great number of rational animals, Ferdinand Cortes 

 " might pretend to it ; otherwife I do not fee what true 

 c< glory he has acquired by the overthrow of a tottering 

 " monarchy, which might have' been deftroyed in the 

 " fame manner by any other affaflin of our continent." 

 Thofe paflages of the Philofophic Refearches detect that 

 M. de Paw was ignorant of the hiftory of the conqueft 

 of Mexico, or that he fupprefifes what would openly con- 

 tradict his fyftem ; fince all who have read that hiftory 



know 



