HISTORY OF MEXICO. 293 



know well, that the conqueft of Mexico was not made 

 with four hundred and fifty men, but with more than 

 two hundred thoufand. Cortes himfelf, to whom it was of 

 more importance than to M. de Paw to make his brave- 

 ry confpicuous, and his conqueft appear glorious, confelT- 

 es the exceffive number of the allies who were under his 

 command at the fiege of the capital, and combated with 

 more fury againft the Mexicans than the Spaniards them- 

 felves. According to the account which Cortes gave to 

 the emperor Charles V. the fiege of Mexico began with 

 eighty-feven horfes, eight hundred and forty-eight Spa- 

 ni(h infantry, armed with guns, crofs-bows, fwords, and 

 lances, and upwards of feventy-five thoufand allies of 

 Tlafcala, Huexotzinco, Cholula, and Chalco, equipped 

 with various forts of arms ; with three large pieces of 

 cannon of iron, fifteen fmall of copper, and thirteen brig- 

 antines. In the courfe of the fiege were alTembled the 

 numerous nations of the Otomies, the Cohuixcas, and 

 Matlatzincas, and the troops of the populous cities of the 

 lakes ; fo that the army of the befiegers not only exceed- 

 ed two hundred thoufand but amounted to four millions 

 according to the letter from Cortes ; and befides thefe, 

 three thoufand boats and canoes, came to their afliftance. 

 We therefore alk M. de Paw if it appears to him to have 

 been cowardice to have fuftained, for full feventy-five 

 days, the fiege of an open city, engaging daily with an 

 army fo large, and in part provided with arms fo fuperi- 

 or, and at the fame time having to withftand the ravages 

 of famine? Can they merit the charge of cowardice, who, 

 after having loft feven of the eight parts of their city, 

 and about fifty thoufand citizens, part cut off by the 

 fword, part by famine and ficknefs, continued to defend 



themfelves 



