against the capital at the head of a numerous body of his own subjects.

schemes.

While Cortes was thus eircumscribing the Mexican power, a dangerous conspiracy had nearly ruined all his The soldiers of Narvaez, who still remained with him, had never perfectly united with the original com. panions of Cortes, neither did they enter so cordially inte his measures. And now on a near view of what they had to encounter, in attempting to reduce a city so inaccessible as Mexico, and defended by a numerous army, their resolution began to fail. They now began to cabal and censure their general's measures, and propose plans for their own safety, of which they deemed their commander totally negligent.

Antonio Ville fagna, a private soldier, but bold, intriguing, and strongly attached to Velasquez, artfully fomented this growing disaffection. His quarters became the rendezvouz of the malecontents, where, after many consultations they agreed that their only remedy was, to assassinate Cortes and bis most considerable officers, and conferring the command on some person who would relinquish his plans, and adopt measures which, in their opinion, were more consistent with the general security. Despair inspi -red them with courage. The hour for executing their de sign, the destined victims, and the officers to succeed them, were all named. These resolutions were signed by the conspirators, who bound themselves to each other by the most solemn oaths to mutual fidelity.

But on the evening before the appointed day, one of Cortes's ancient followers, who had been seduced, touched with compunction at the imminent danger of a man whom he had been long accustomed to revere, went privately to his general, and revealedto him all he knew. Cortes though deeply alarmed, repaired instantly to the quarters of Vil lefagna, accompanied by some of his most trusty officers The astonishment at this unexpected visit, anticipated the confession of his guilt. While his attendants seized him, Cortes snatched from his bosom a paper containing the association, signed by the conspirators. Impatient to know how far the defection extended, he retired to read it, and found in it names which filled him with surprize and sor row. Policy made him confine his inquiries to Villefagn alone, as the proofs of his guilt were manifest. He wa

condemned, after a short trial, and next morning was seen hanging before the door of the house in which, he had lodged.

Cortes called his troops together, and having explained to them the atrocious designs of the conspirators, as well as the justice of the punishment of Villefagna, he added with an appearance of satisfaction, that he was entirely ignorant of the other conspirators; as the traitor when arrested had suddenly torn and swallowed a paper which probably gave an account of the conspiracy; and could not be made, under the greatest tortures to discover bis accomplices This artful declaration restored trauquillity to many a breast that was throbbing with apprehension.

Cortes did not allow them leisure to ruminate on what had happened, but immediately called forth his troops to action. He had received intelligence that the materials for building the brigantines were ready. He therefore sent aconvoy of two hundred foot-soldiers, fifteen horsemen, and two field pieces, under the command of Sandoval, whose activity and courage was manifested upon every occasion, and who had acquired the confidence, not only of Cortes, but of his fellow soldiers. The service was singular and important: the whole utensils, the beams, plank, masts, cordage, sails, ion-work, and an infinite variety of articles, were to be carried sixty miles over land, through a mountainous country, by people who were unacquainted with the aid of domestic animals, or the use of machines.

The Tlascalans furnished for this purpose eight thou sand Tamemes, an inferior order of men destined for servile uses, to carry the materials on their shoulders, and appointed fifteen thousand warriors to accompany and de fend them. Sandoval placed the Tamemes in the centre, one body of warriors in the front, and another in the rear, with considerable parties to cover the flanks. To each of these he joined some Spaniards to assist them in danger, and accustom them to regularity and subordination.

A body so numerous and so encumbered, advanced but slowly, but in excellent order. In some places, where they were confined by woods or mountains, the line of march extended above six miles. Parties of Mexicans trequently appeared hovering around them on the high grounds, but perceiving that there was no prospect of success in attack

ing an enemy always on his guard, they did not venture

to molest them

Sandoval had the glory of conducting safely to Tezcuco a convoy on which all the future operations of his countrymen depended."

The joy occasioned by the safe arrival of the convoy was encreased by the arrival of four ships from Hispaniola, with two hundred soldiers, eighty horses, two battering cannon, and a fresh supply of arms and ammunition. Elevated with this additional strength, Cortes was impatient to begin the siege in form, and hastened the launching of the brigan tines.

He employed a vast number of Indians for two months in deep-ning a small creek that emptied into the lake, so as to form a canal two miles in length. The Mexicans aware of the danger that threatened them, endeavoured to interrupt the labourers, or to burn the brigantines, but in vain the work was at last compleated. On the twenty. eighth of April, 1521, all the Spanish troops with the auxi• liary Indians, were drawn up on the banks of the canal; and with great military pomp, rendered more solemn by the celebration of religious rites, the brigantines were launched

As they passed down the canal, father Olmedo blessed them, and gave to each a name. Every eye followed them with wonder and hope, until they entered the lake, when they hoisted their sails, and bore away before the wind.

A general shout of joy was raised; all admiring that bold inventive genius, which by means so extraordinary had acquired the command of a fleet, without the aid of which, Mexico would have set power and arms at defi

ance.

Cortes prepared to attack the city from three different quarters, from Tezcuco on the east side of the lake, from Tacuba on the west, and from Cuyocan towards the south. Those towns were situated on the principal causeways which led to the capital and intended for their defence. Sandoval commanded in the first, Pedro de Alvarado in the second, and Christoval de Olid in the third; allotting to each a numerous body of Indian auxiliaries, together with an equal division of Spaniards, who, by the junction of the troops from Hispaniola amounted toeighty-six horsemen, and eight hundred and eighteen foot-soldiers; of

whom one hundred and eighteen were graved whe muskets or cross bows Their train of art.lny west : battering cannon, and fifteen field piores He res

for himself, as the station of the greatest importan danger, the conduct of the brigantines, each arbod e one of his small cannon, and manned with tw. Spaniards.

As Alvarado and Olid proceeded to the port: 48 them they broke down the aqueducts which the Mexicane had erected to convey water into the capital nu beginning of the distresses which the inhabtrans destined to suffer. The towns which they were int take possession of, were deserted by the inhabit vers had fled for safety to the capital, where Guatirona 20 naď collected the chief force of his empire, as the one where he could hope to make a successful stand arounst such formidable enemies, who were approaching to assault him.

520

The first effort of the Mexicans was to destroy the brigantines, the fatal effects of whose operations they fore saw and dreaded. Necessity urged Gnatimozin to hazard an attack: he assembled such a multitude of canoes as covered the face of the lake, hoping to overwhelm them with numbers. They rows on boldly to the charge, while the brigantines retarded by a dead caïm, could scarcely advance to meet them. But as the enemy drew near, a breeze suddenly sprung up, in a moment the sails were spread and the brigantines, heresistible impetuosi broke through their feeble gets; overset many their canoes, and dispersed the whole armament with s slaughter, as convinced the Mos caus, that thei: eng were as formidable on this new element as they had few them on land.

Cortes after this remained absolute master of th. and the brigantines preserved a communication the Spaniards in their different statious, thouga derable distance from each other, and at the covered the causeways, keeping off the canoes attempted to annoy the troops as they advanc the city. The Mexicans, in their own defence such valour as was hardly interior to that wira te Spaniards attacked them. Onland, on waren Ly i. by day, one furious conflict succeeded anot for.

1

Spaniards were killed, more wounded, and all were ready to sink under the toils of unremitting service, which had become more intolerable by the injuries of the season; the periodical rains having set in with their usual violence.

Cortes, astonished at the difficulties and length of the siege, determined to make one great effort to get posses sion of the city, before he relinquished the plan which he had hitherto proposed. With this view he sent instructions to Alvarado and Sandoval, to advance with their divisions to a general assault, and took the command in person of that posted on the causeway of Cuyocan. Animated by his presence, and expecting some decisive event, the Spaniards pressed forward with irresistible impetuosi ty. They broke down one barricade after another, forced their way over the ditches and canals, and having entered the city, they gained ground incessantly, notwithstanding the multitude and ferocity of their enemies.

Cortes, though delighted with the rapidity of his progress, did not forget that he might find it necessary to Inake a retreat; and in order to secure it, appointed Julian de Alderete, a captain of chief note in the troops which he had received from Hispaniola, to fill up the canals and gaps, in the causeway, as the main body advanced That officer thinking it beneath him to be thus employed, while his companions were in the heat of action, and in full career of victory, neglected the important charge, and hurried on to join his companions in

arms.

The Mexicans, whose miliary skill was daily improv ing, no sooner observed this, than they carried an account of it to their monarch. Guatimozin instantly discerned the consequence of the error which the Spaniards had committed, and with admirable presence of mind, prepared to take advantage of it. He commanded the troops posted in the front to slacken their efforts, that the Spa niards might be allured to push forwards, while he dispatched a large body of chosen warriors through different streets, some by land, and others by water, towards the great breach in the causeway which had been left open.

On a signal given, the priests in the principal temple, struck the great drum consecrated to the god of war. No