came not to exercise severities, but to heal the divisions by gentle measures. He drew the cities of Lima and Cuzco from the party of Pizarro. This rebel leader hazarded a battle, was defeated and taken prisoner. He was soon after condemned and executed, with those who had been the chief instruments of his rebellion. Such was the fate of all those who had taken a lead in the reduction of Peru. Almagro beheaded; his son sharing the same fate; Pizarro murdered in his own palace; his brother Ferdinand kept a priso ner twenty-three years; and his other brother Gonzalo suffering death as a traitor. The new governor, having by necessary severities quieted his province, took effectual care to heal its disorders by the arts of peace, and to complete what De Castro had been obliged to leave unfinished. He settled the civil government, the army and the mines, upon such a basis, as to insure, under a wise administration, the most important advantages to his country. He issued regulations con. cerning the treatment of the Indians, well calcu. lated to protect them from oppression, and to provide for their instruction in the principles of religion, without depriving the Spaniards of the benefit accruing from their labour.

Having now accomplished the object of his mission, Gasca, wishing to return to a private station, committed the government of Peru into the hands of the court of audience, and set out for Spain. As during the last four years of anarchy and turbulence there had been no remittances, made of the royal revenue, he carried with him three hundred thousand pounds of public money, which the economy and order of his administra tion enabled him to save, after paying all the expenses of the war.

He was received in his native country with universal admiration for his abilities and his virtue. Without army, or fleet, or public funds, he set out to oppose a formidable rebellion. By his address and talents he seemed to create instruments for executing his designs. He acquired such a naval force as gave him the command of the sea. He raised a body of men able to contend with and conquer bands which gave law to Peru. In the place of anarchy and usurpation he established the government of laws and the authority of the rightful sovereign. His abilities were, however, far exceeded by his virtue. After residing in a country where wealth presented allurements which had hitherto seduced every person who possessed power there, he returned with unsuspected integrity. After distributing among his countrymen possessions of greater extent and value than had ever been in the disposal of a subject in any age or nation, he himself remained in his original state of poverty; and, at the very time when he brought such a vast recruit to the royal treasury, he was obliged to apply by petition for a small sum to discharge some petty debts which he had contracted during the course of his service. Charles was not insensible to such merit: he received Gasca with the most distinguishing marks of esteem; and being promoted to the bishopric of Palencia, he passed the remainder of his days in the tranquillity of retirement, respected by his country, honoured by his sovereign, and beloved by all.

Notwithstanding Gasca's wise regulations, the tranquillity of Peru was not of long continuance, Several successive insurrections desolated the country for some years. During these contests many of the first invaders of Peru, and many of those licentious adventurers whom the fame of

their success had allured thither, fell by each others hands. Each of the parties gradually cleared the country of a number of turbulent spirits, by executing, proscribing, or banishing their opponents. Men less enterprising, and less desperate, and more accustomed to move in the sober and peaceable road of industry, settled in Peru; and the royal authority was gradually established as firmly there as in the other Spanish colonies.

We shall conclude this chapter with a brief account of the political institutions and national manners of the Mexicans and Peruvians. When compared with other parts of the New World, Mexico and Peru may be considered as polished states. But if the comparison be made with the people of the ancient continent, the inferiority of America in improvement will be conspicuous. The people of both these great empires were totally unacquainted with the useful metals, and the progress they had made in extending their dominion over the animal creation was inconsiderable. The Mexicans had gone no farther than to tame and rear turkeys, ducks, a species of small dogs, and rabbits. The Peruvians seem to have neglected the inferior animals, but they were more fortunate in taming the llama, an animal peculiar to their country, of a form which bears some resemblance to a deer, and some to a camel, and is of a size somewhat larger than a sheep. Under the protection of man this species greatly multiplied. Its wool furnished the Peruvians with clothing, its flesh with food. It was even employed as a beast of burthen, and carried a moderate load with patience and docility.

According to the accounts given by the Mexicans themselves, the duration of their empire was short. From the first migration of their parent tribe, they can reckon little more than 300 years.

The right of private property was, however, perfectly understood, and established in its full extent. In Mexico, where agriculture and industry had made some progress, the distinction between property in land, and property in goods, had taken place. Both might be transferred by sale or barter; both might descend by inheritance. Every person who could be denominated a freeman had property in land. The title of others to their lands was derived from the office or dignity which they enjoyed, and when deprived of the latter they lost possession of the former. Both these modes of occupying land were deemed noble, and peculiar to citizens of the highest class. The tenure by which the great body of the people held their property was very different. In every district a certain quantity of land was measured out, in propor tion to the number of families. This was culti vated by the joint labour of the whole; its produce was deposited in a common store-house, and divided among them according to their respective exigencies. The members of the Calpullee, or associations, could not alienate their share of the common estate; it was indivisible permanent property, destined for the support of their families. In consequence of this distribution of the territory of the state, every man had an interest in its welfare, and the happiness of the individual was connected with the public security.

Another striking circumstance, which distinguishes the Mexican empire from those nations in America which have been already described, is the number and greatness of its cities. Mexico, the capital, is supposed to have contained 60,000 inhabitants. Among the Mexicans, too, the separation of the arts necessary in life had taken place to a considerable extent. The functions of the

mason, the weaver, the goldsmith, the painter, &c. were carried on by different persons who were regularly instructed in their several callings.

The distinction of ranks was established also in the Mexican empire: and a system very like the feudal system in several Europern states, was acted upon there. The spirit of the people, thus familiarized to subordination, was prepared for submitting to monarchical government.

In tracing the great lines of the Mexican constitution, an image of feudal policy in its most rigid form rises to view, and we may discern in it three distinguishing characteristics: a nobility possessing almost independent authority, a people depressed into the lowest state of subjection, and a king intrusted with the executive power of the state. Its spirit and principles seem to have operated in the New World in the same manner as in the ancient. The jurisdiction of the crown was extremely li mited. All real and effective authority was retained by the Mexican nobles in their own hands, and the shadow of it only left to the king.

The improved state of government among the Mexicans was conspicuous, in the taxes which they levied, and in their mode of assessment. Taxes were laid on land, upon the acquisition of industry, and upon all commodities exposed to public sale in the markets. They were imposed according to established rules, and each knew what share of the common burthen he had to bear. As the use of money was unknown, all the taxes were paid in kind; and from these the emperor supplied his attendants in time of peace, and his armies during war. People who possessed no visible property were bound to the performance of various services. VOL. XXIV.

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