HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



381 



world, while he does not know the number of provinces 

 and nations which it contains ? Leaving afide therefore 

 fuch calculations which cannot be undertaken with the 

 leaft degree of certainty, we fliall content ourfelves with 

 examining what M. de Paw and Dr. Robertfon fay on 

 the population of Mexico. 



" The population of Mexico and Peru," fays M. de 

 Paw, " has undoubtedly been exaggerated by the Spa- 

 " nifti writers, who are ufed to reprefent objects with 

 " immoderate proportions. Three years after the con- 

 " quefl: of Mexico, the Spaniards had occafion to bring 

 " fome people from the Lucayos, and afterwards from 

 " the coaft of Africa, to people the kingdom of Mex- 

 " ico. If this monarchy contained in 151 8, thirty mil- 

 " lions of inhabitants, why in 1521 was it depopulat- 

 " ed ?" We fliall never deny, that among the Spanifli 

 writers there are many addicted to exaggerating, as 

 there are alfo among the PrufTians, the French, the En- 

 glifli, and other people ; becaufe the immoderate defire 

 to magnify things which they defcribe is a paffion com- 

 mon to all nations in the world, from which M. de Paw 

 himfelf is not free, as he demonftrates through the 

 whole of his work : but to cenfure all the Spaniards 

 together is an indifcriminate charge* mod injurious to 

 that nation, which, like every other, has a mixture of 

 good and bad in it. After having read, at lead, the 

 belt hiilorians of the cultivated nations of Europe, we 

 have not found two who appear comparable as to fmce- 

 ritywith the two Spaniards Mariana and Acofta, who 

 are highly efteemed therefore, and extolled by all writ- 

 ers. Among the ancient hiilorians of Mexico, there 

 have been fome, fuch as Acofta, Diaz, and Cortes him- 

 felf, of whole fincerity of relation there is no doubt. 



But 



