THE SPANISH CONQUEST IN AMERICA, AND ITS RELATION TO THE HISTORY OF SLAVERY AND TO THE GOVERNMENT OF COLONIES. BY ARTHUR HELPS. VOL. III. NEW YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS, FRANKLIN SQUARE. ADVERTISEMENT TO THE THIRD VOLUME. IN issuing this third volume, I take the opportunity of making a statement which, perhaps, it would have been well to have made before. The reader will observe that there is scarcely any allusion in this work to the kindred works of modern writers on the same subject. This is not from any want of respect for the able historians who have written upon the discovery or the conquest of America. I felt, however, from the first, that my object in investigating this portion of history was different from theirs, and I wished to keep my mind clear from the influence which these eminent persons might have exercised upon it. Moreover, while admitting fully the advantage to be derived from the study of these modern writers, I thought that it was better, upon the whole, to have a work composed from independent sources, which would convey the impression that the original documents had made upon another mind. Here and there I have accidentally become acquainted with what some modern writer has said upon a particular point, and I have endeavored to confirm or refute his views. But, with the exception of the histor ical fragment of Muñoz and the biographies of Quintana, I have not read thirty pages of all that has been written by modern writers on the Spanish Conquest. It is seldom worth while, I think, to explain how any book has been written, except in such a case as the present, when the explanation may altogether remove any appearance even of discourtesy to persons who should receive nothing but gratitude and honor from a fellow-laborer. LONDON, February, 1857. CONTENTS OF VOL. III. State of Mexico after the Conquest.—Thanksgiving for the Victory. -Mexico rebuilt and repeopled.-Cristoval de Tapia sent to super- sede Cortez.-Revolt of Panuco.-Cortez inhabits Mexico.-Me- morial of Conquistadores to the Emperor.-Arrival of Francis- Cristoval de Olid sent by Cortez to Honduras.His Rebellion.-Cor- tez goes to Honduras to chastise Cristoval de Olid.-Dissensions in Mexico during his Absence.-Execution of the Kings of Mexico and |