and draw out gold, that 1500 embarked on boar the fleet.

Pedrarias reached the Gulf of Darien without an remarkable accident, and, to his astonishment found Balboa, of whose exploits they had heard s much, and of whose opulence they had forme such high ideas, clad in a canvas jacket, and wear ing coarse hempen sandals, used only by the meanest peasants, employed, together with son Indians, in thatching his own hut with reeds Even in this simple garb, which corresponded s ill with the expectations and wishes of his nev guests, Balboa received them with dignity. And though his troops murmured loudly at the injus tice of the king, in superseding their commander Balboa submitted with implicit obedience to the will of his sovereign, and received Pedrarias with all the deference due to his character.

Notwithstanding this moderation, to which Pedra rias owed the peaceable possession of his govern ment, he appointed a judicial inquiry to be made into Balboa's former conduct, and imposed a considerable fine upon him. His enmity did not stop here. Jealousy of his superior talents led him to the most unjustifiable conduct; and though, at one time, he gave him his own daughter in marriage, in proof of reconciliation, yet he dreaded the prosperity of a man whom he had injured so deeply, and, in the end, brought him to trial for disloyalty to his king, got him condemned and executed.

During these transactions in Darien, Ferdinand was intent upon opening a communication with the Molucca or Spice islands, by the west. He fitted out two ships to attempt such a voyage, and gave them in command to Juan Diaz de Solis, who discovered the rivers Janeiro

A. D.

1515.

and

and La Plata. In endeavouring to make a descent in this country, De Solis and several of his crew were slain by the natives, who, in sight of the ships, cut their bodies in pieces, roasted and devoured them. Discouraging and horrible as this event was, yet it was not without benefit; it prepared the way for a more fortunate voyage, by which the great design that Ferdinand had in view was accomplished. Though the Spaniards were thus actively employed in extending their discoveries and settlements in America, they still considered Hispaniola as their principal colony. Don Diego Columbus rendered the members of this colony prosperous and happy. But he was circumscribed in his operations by the suspicious policy of Ferdinand, who at length stripped him of all power, and bestowed it upon Rodrigo Albuquerque, his confidential minister. Don Diego repaired to Spain with the vain hope of obtaining redress. Albuquerque entered upon his office with all the rapacity of an indigent adventurer impatient to amass wealth; and by his tyranny the wretched and innocent race of Indians were quickly extirpated.

The violence of these proceedings, together with the fatal consequences which attended them, not only excited complaints amongst such as thought themselves aggrieved, but affected the hearts of all who retained any sentiments of humanity. From the time that ecclesiastics were sent as instructors into America, they perceived that the rigour with which their countrymen treated the natives rendered their ministry altogether fruitless. The missionaries early remonstrated against the maxims of the planters with respect to the Americans, and the repartimientos, or distributions, by which they were given up as slaves

A. D.

1517.

to

to their conquerors. The Dominicans, to whom the instruction of the Americans was originally committed, were most vehement in testifying against the repartimientos. Montesino, one of their most eminent preachers, inveighed against this practice, in the great church at St. Domingo, with all the impetuosity of popular eloquence. Don Diego Columbus and the principal people of the colony complained of the monk to his superiors; but they, instead of condemning, applauded his doctrine, as equally pious and seasonable. The Franciscans espoused the defence of the repartimientos, and endeavoured to palliate what they could not justify, alleging that it was impossible to carry on any improvement in the colony, unless the Spaniards possessed such dominion over the natives that they could compel them to labour. `

The Dominicans, regardless of such political and interested considerations, would not relax the rigour of their sentiments, and even refused to absolve, or admit to the sacraments, such of their countrymen as continued to hold the natives in servitude. Both parties applied to the king for his decision, who determined in favour of the Dominicans, and declared the Indians to be a free people. Notwithstanding this decision the repartimientos were continued upon their antient footing, nor could the repeated remonstrances of the Dominicans obtain any practical relief for the Indians; and in the end Ferdinand himself concurred in admitting the lawfulness of the distributions, and even conferred new grants of Indians upon several of his courtiers.

The violent operations of Albuquerque, the new distributor of Indians, revived the zeal of the Dominicans against the repartimientos, and called

forth

forth an advocate for that oppressed people, who possessed all the courage, talents, and activity requisite in supporting such a desperate cause. This was Bartholomew de las Casas, a native of Seville, and one of the clergymen sent out with Columbus in his second voyage to Hispaniola, in order to settle in that island. He early adopted the opinion prevalent among ecclesiastics with respect to the unlawfulness of reducing the natives to servitude; and that he might demonstrate the sincerity of his conviction, he relinquished all the Indians who had fallen to his own share in the di vision of the inhabitants among their conquerors, declaring that he should ever bewail his own misfortune and guilt, in having exercised for a moment this impious dominion over his fellow-creatures. From that time he became the avowed patron of the Indians, and by his zeal and authority he had often the merit of setting some bounds to the excesses of his countrymen. He remonstrated againt the conduct of Albuquerque; and when he found that vain, he set out for Europe, with the most sanguine hopes of opening the eyes and softening the heart of Ferdinand, by that striking picture of the oppression of his new subjects which he would exhibit to his view.

He easily obtained admittance to the king, whom he found in a declining state of health. With freedom and eloquence he represented to him all the fatal effects of the repartimientos in the New Work, charging him with the guilt of having authorized this impious measure, which had brought misery and destruction upon a numerous and inaccent race of men, whom Providence had placed Lader his protection. Ferdinand listened with deep compunction, and promised to take into seri

ous

ous consideration the means of redressing the e of which le complained. But death prevent him from executing his resolutions. Charles Austria, to whom all his crowns devolved, a pointed cardinal Ximenes his regent. With hi Las Casas pleaded the cause of the Indians, and ot tained a commission from the monks of St. Jerom: to go to America and examine their situation, ar. give them every relief that the case admitted.Las Casas was appointed to accompany them, wil the title of Protector of the Indians. The father of St. Jerome proceeded with caution and pr dence; and having compared different account and maturely considered every thing connecte with the subject, they determined that the Sp. niards must relinquish their conquests entirely, give up the advantages to be derived from ther unless the repartimientos were tolerated. The used, however, their utmost endeavours to preve: the fatal effects of this establishment, and to >> cure to the Indians the consolation of the be treatment compatible with a state of serv tude.

With these decisions, Las Casas, of all the Sp niards, was alone dissatisfied. He contended, th. the Indians were by nature free, and, as their pro tector, he required the superintendants not to b reave them of the common privilege of humanity They received his most virulent remonstrance with emotion, but adhered firmly to their own sy stein. The Spanish planters did not bear with him so patiently, but were ready to tear him in piecefor insisting in a requisition so odious. Las Ca bas found it necessary to take shelter in a con vent; and perceiving that his efforts were fruitless he soon set out for Europe, with a fixed resolution