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ence, these settlements, formed for commerce or 

 for agriculture, have taken but a passive part in 

 the great agitations of the World. The history 

 of modern colonies affords but two memorable 

 events : their foundation, and their separation 

 from the mother country. The first of these 

 events is rich in remembrances, which essentially 

 belong to the countries occupied by the colonists ; 

 but, far from recalling to mind the peaceful pro- 

 gress of industry, or the improvement of colonial 

 legislation, acts of violence and injustice only 

 protrude themselves on the scene. What charm 

 can those extraordinary times present, when, 

 under the reign of Charles the Fifth, the Casti- 

 lians displayed more courage than virtue ? and 

 when chivalrous honour, like the glory of arms, 

 was sullied by fanaticism and the thirst of 

 riches ? The colonists, of mild character, are 

 freed by their situation from national prejudices, 

 appreciate at their just value the exploits of the 

 conquest. The men who figured at that period 

 were Europeans ; they were the soldiers of the 

 mother country ; they appear as strangers to the 

 inhabitants of the colonies, for three ages have 

 been sufficient to dissolve the ties of blood. 

 Among the conquistador es, no doubt, some up- 

 right and generous men may be found ; but, 

 mingled in the mass, they have been unable to 

 escape the general proscription. 



I believe, that I have indicated the principal 



