HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



433 



while he was forming thofe grand projects, many of his 

 foldiers were indulging very different thoughts in their 

 minds. They beheld their number diminifhed, them- 

 felves poor, ill-accoutred, and unfurniihed with horfes 

 as well as arms. They could not chafe from their 

 thoughts the terrible conflict and tragic night of the firfl 

 of July, and were unwilling to expofe themfelves any 

 more to new adventures. Their prefcnt ideas, and fu- 

 ture apprehenfions, were both too much for them; and 

 they blamed their general for his obftinacy in fo rafli an 

 undertaking. From murmurs in private, they proceed- 

 ed to make a legal requeft to him, defirous of prevailing 

 on him, by a variety of arguments, to return to Vera 

 Cruz, where they could procure frefli troops, and a fup- 

 ply of arms and provisions, for the purpofe of attempting 

 the conquer! with greater hopes, as at prefent they deem- 

 ed it impofTible. Cortes was much troubled at this al- 

 teration of their fentiments, which threatened to frus- 

 trate all his defigns; but exercifmg his talent to perfuade 

 his foldiers to his own pleafure, he made them a point- 

 ed energetic fpeech, which had effect enough to make 

 them give up their pretenfions. He reproached them 

 for that bud of cowardice he faw fpringing in their minds, 

 awakened their fentiments of honour, by a flattering re- 

 cital of their glorious actions, and the protections full 

 of ardor and courage which they had frequently made 

 him. He made them fully fenfible how much more dif- 

 ficult it would be for them to return to Vera Cruz than 

 to remain at Tlafcala; allured them of the fidelity of that 

 republic, of which they feemed a little doubtful. Laftly, 

 he prayed them to fufpend their refolution, until they 

 firould fee the event of the war, which he defigned to 

 make upon the province of Tepejacac, in which he hop- 

 ed to find new proofs of the Sincerity of the Tlafcalans. 

 Vol. II. 3 1 The 



