ZXX ACCOUNT OF THE WRITERS OF THE 



been done by M. de Paw, in his Philofophical Enquiries 

 concerning the Americans, and Marmontel in his Ro- 

 mance of The Incas. 



AmongPc the foreign hiflorians of Mexico, none is more 

 celebrated by them than the Enghfti writer, Thomas 

 Gage, whom I obferve many have quoted as an oracle, 

 and yet there is no writer on America more addicted to 

 falfehood. Some, under the influence of the paflions of 

 hatred, love, or vanity, have been induced to mix fables 

 with their writings ; but Gage appears to have delighted 

 in the invention of falfehoods. What motive or intereft 

 could occafion this author to fay, that the Capuchins had 

 a beautiful convent in Tacubaja, that in Xalapa there 

 was a bilhop's palace erected in his time, with an income 

 of ten thoufand ducats ; that from Xalapa, he went to 

 Rinconada, and from thence in one day to Tepeaca ; that 

 there is in this city a great abundance of anonas and of 

 chicozapoies^ that this fruit has a kernel larger than a pear; 

 that the wildernefs of the Carmelites ftands to the north- 

 weft of the capital ; that the Spaniards burnt the city 

 Tinguez, in Quivira ; that having rebuilt it, they inhabit- 

 ed it at the time he was there ; that the Jefuits had a 

 college in it ; and a thoufand other ridiculous lies, which 

 appear in every page, and excite in readers who are ac- 

 quainted with thefe countries both laughter and con- 

 tempt ? 



Amongft modern writers on American affairs, the moft 

 famous and efteemed are the Abbe Raynal and Dr. 

 Robertfon. The Abbe, befides feveral grofs delufions, 

 into which he has fallen refpe6i:ing the prefent ftate of 

 New Spain, doubts of every thing which is faid concern- 

 ing the founding of Mexico, and the ancient hiftory of 

 the Mexicans. " Nothing," fays he, " are we permitted 



" to 



