KISTORY OF MEXICO. 



307 



treated with the diftin&ion due to their chara&er and 

 birth. The ambaffadors having returned, the fenate 

 entered into confideration of the embaffy. 



_ Maxicatzin, who was highly efteemed among them, 

 both for his prudence and benevolence of difpolition, 

 faid, That they ought not to refufe the advice given 

 them by friends fo faithful to them, and fo hoftile to the 

 greateft enemy of the republic ; that thofe Grangers, ac- 

 cording to the marks which the Chempoallefe gave of 

 them, appeared to be thofe heroes, who, agreeably to 

 their tradition, were to arrive in that country j that the 

 earthquakes which had been felt a little before, the co- 

 met which was then feen in the heavens, and feveral 

 other events of thofe lafl years, were indications that the 

 time of the fulfilment of that tradition was at hand ; that 

 if they were immortal, it would be in vain for the re- 

 public to oppofe their entry. <c Our refufal," he add- 

 ed, " may be productive of the mod fatal misfortunes, 

 " and it would be a fubjecl: of malicious pleafure to the 

 " king of Mexico, to fee thofe whom the republic would 

 " not gracioufly receive into their dominions, introduce 



themfelves by force : that he was therefore of opinion 

 " they fliould be friendly received." — Although this 

 opinion was liftened to with great applaufe, it was im- 

 mediately oppofed by Xicotencatl, an old chief of great 

 authority on account of his long experience in civil and 

 military affairs. " Our law," he faid, " enjoins us to 

 " receive ftrangers, but not enemies, who may caufe 

 " difafters to the ftate. Thofe men who demand en- 

 " trance into our city, appear to be rather monfters caft 

 " up from the fea, becaufe it could not endure them in 

 <c its waters, than gods defended from heaven, as fome 

 *' have vainly imagined. Is it poffible they can be gods, 



" who 



