HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



S15 



ferve, without being feen, the people that affembled 

 there ; and whenever he faw any ill-clothed woman he 

 made her be called, and after informing himfelf of her 

 life and condition, he fupplied her with what was necef- 

 fary for herfelf and family if flie had any. Every day 

 at- his palace alms were given to the fick and to orphans. 

 There v/as an hofpitai at Tezcuco for all thofe who had 

 loft their eyefight in war, or had become from any other 

 caufe unfit for fervice, where they were fupported at the 

 royal expenfe, according to their ftations, and frequently 

 vifited by the king himfelf. In fuch beneficent adis a 

 great part of his revenues was expanded. 



The genius and talents of this king have been highly 

 extolled by the hiftorians of that kingdom. He endea- 

 voured to imitate, both in his ftudies and in the condufl 

 of his life, the example of his father, and his refemblance 

 to him was remarkable. The glory of the Checheme- 

 can kings may be faid to have ended with him, as the 

 difcord which took place among his children, diminiflied 

 the fplendour of the court, weakened the force of the 

 ftate, and tended to bring on its final ruin. Nezahual- 

 pilli did not declare who was to be his fucceflbr in the 

 crown, which all his anceftors had done. We are ig- 

 Rorant, however, of the motive that caufed this omiiTion, 

 and which proved fo prejudicial to the kingdom of Acol- 

 huacan. 



As foon as the fiipreme council of the deceafed king 

 were certain of his death, they confidered it necelTary 

 to ele^l a fucceffor to him in imitation of the Mexicans. 

 They aflembled therefore in order to deliberate on a 

 point of fuch importance, and the oldeft and moft re- 

 fpe6i:able perfon among them taking the lead in the af- 

 fembly, reprefented the great difafters which might ac- 

 crue 



