HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



311 



ninety-five men, they made one thoufand and three hun- 

 dred prifoners, which were alfo carried to Mexico. By 

 thefe and other conquefts made in the three following 

 years, the Mexican empire was extended to its utmoft 

 limits, five or fix years previous to its fall, to which the 

 very great rapidity of its conquefts contributed. Every 

 province, and place which was conquered, created a new 

 enemy to the conquerors, who became impatient of the 

 yoke to which they were not accuftomed, and irritated 

 by injuries, only waited for an opportunity of being re- 

 venged, and reftoring themfclves to their wonted liberty. 

 It would appear that the happinefs of a kingdom confifts 

 not in the extenfion of its dominions, nor in the number 

 of its vafi[als ; but on the contrary, that it approaches 

 at no time nearer to its final period, than when, on ac- 

 count of itsvaft and unbounded extent, it can no longer 

 .maintain the necefiTary union among its parts, nor that 

 vigour which is requifite to withftand the multitude of 

 its enemies. 



The revolutions which happened at this time, in the 

 kingdom of Acolhuacan, occafioned by the death of king 

 Nezahualpilli, did not lefs contribute to the ruin of the 

 Mexican empire. This celebrated king after having 

 poffeffed the throne for forty-five years, either wearied 

 of governing, or troubled with melancholy, from the fa- 

 tal phenomena he had witnefiTed, left the reins of govern- 

 ment in the hands of two of the royal princes, and re- 

 tired to his palace of pleafure in Tezcotzinco, carrying 

 with him his favourite Xocotzin and a few fervants, leav- 

 ing orders to his fons not to leave the court, but to wait 

 there for his farther commands. During the fix months 

 of his retirement, he amufed himfeif frequently with the 

 cxercife of the chace, and at night ufed to employ him^ 



felf 



