fuch general and avowed contempt of the principles and obligations which attach man to man, and bind them together in focial union, rarely occur in history. It is only where men are far removed from the feat of government, where the restraints of law and order are little felt, where the profpect of gain is unbounded, and where immense wealth may cover the crimes by which it is acquired, that we can find any parallel to the levity, the rapacioufnefs, the perfidy and corruption prevalent among the Spaniards in Peru.

Gafca devifes employment for his foldiers.

On the death of Pizarro, the malcontents in every corner of Peru laid down their arms, and tranquillity feemed to be perfectly reeftablished. But two very interefting objects ftill remained to occupy the prefident's attention. The one was to find immediately fuch employment for a multitude of turbulent and daring adventurers with which the country was filled, as might prevent them from exciting new commotions. The other, to beftow proper gratifications upon thofe to whofe loyalty and valour he was indebted for his fuccefs. The former of these was in fome measure accomplifhed, by appointing Pedro de Valdivia to profecute the conqueft of Chili; and by empowering Diego Centeno to undertake the difcovery of the vaft regions bordering on the

river De la Plata. The reputation of thofe leaders, and the hopes of acquiring wealth, and rifing to confequence in fome unexplored country alluring many of the muft indigent and defperate foldiers to follow their ftandards, drained off no inconfiderable portion of that mutinous fpirit which Gafca dreaded.

His divifion of the country among his followers.

The latter was an affair of greater difficulty, and to be adjusted with a more attentive and delicate hand. The repartimientos, or allottments of lands and Indians which fell to be diftributed, in confequence of the death or forfeiture of the former poffeffors, exceeded two millions of pefos of yearly rent. a) Gafca, when now abfolute mafter of this immenfe property, retained the fame difinterefted fentiments which he had originally profeffed, and refufed to referve the fmalleft portion of it for himself. But the number of claimants was great; and whilft the vanity or avarice of every individual fixed the value of his own fervices, and estimated the recompence which he thought due to him, the pretenfions of each were fo extravagant, that it was impoffible to fatisfy all. Gafca liftened to them one by one, with the most patient attention; and that he might have leifure to weigh the comparative merit of their feveral claims with accuracy, he retired,

a) Vega, p. II. lib. vi, c. 4.

with the archbishop of Lima and a fingle fecretary, to a village twelve leagues from Cuzco. There he spent feveral days in allotting to each a diftrict of lands and number of Indians, in proportion to his idea of their påft services and future importance. But that he might get beyond the reach of the fierce ftorm of clamour and rage, which he forefaw would burft out on the publication of his decree, notwithstanding the impartial equity with which he had framed it, he fet out for Lima, leaving the inftrument of partition fealed up, with orders not to open it for fome days after his departure.

The difcontent it occafions.

The indignation excited by publishing the decree of partition was not lefs than Gafca had expected. Vanity, avarice, emulation, envy, fhame, rage, and all the other paffions which moft vehemently agitate the minds of men when both their honour and their intereft are deeply affected, confpired in adding to its violence. It broke out with all the fury of military infolence. Calomny, threats, and curfes were poured out openly upon the prefident. He was accused of ingratitude, of partiality, and of injuftice. Among foldiers prompt to action, fuch feditious difcourfe would have been foon followed by deeds no lefs violent, and they already began to turn their eyes towards fome difcontented leaders, expecting

them to ftand forth in redrefs of their wrongs. By fome vigorous interpofitions of government, a timely check was given to this mutinous fpirit, and the danger of another civil war was averted for the prefent. b)

Reeftablifhes order and government, and fets out for Spain.

Gafca, however, perceiving that the flame was fuppreffed rather than extinguifhed, laboured with the utmost affiduity to foothe the malcontents, by beftowing large gratuities on fome, by promifing repartimientos, when they fell vacant, to others, and by careffing and flattering all. But that the publick fecurity might reft on a foundation móre ftable than. their good affection, he endeavoured to ftrengthen the hands of his fucceffors in office, by reestablishing the regular adminiftration of justice. in every part of the empire. He introduced order and fimplicity into the mode of collecting the royal revenue. He iffued regulations concerning the treatment of the Indians, well calculated to protect them from oppreffion, and to provide for their inftruction in the principles of religion, without depriving the Spaniards of the benefit accruing from their labour. Having now accomplished every object of his miffion, Gasca, longing to return again to a

b) Zarate, lib. vii. c. 9. Gomara, c. 187. lib. vii. c. I, &c. Fernandez, p. II. lib. Herrera, dec. 8. lib. iv. c. 17, &c.

Vega, p. II.

i. c. I. &c.

private ftation, committed the government of Peru to the court of andience, and fet ont for Spain, (Feb. 1. 1550.) As, during the anarchy and turbulence of the four laft years, there had been no remittance made of the royal revenue, he carried with him thirteen hundred thoufand pefos of publick money, which the oeconomy and order of his adminiftration enabled him to fave, after paying all the expences of the war.

His reception there.

He was received in his native country with univerfal admiration of his abilities, and of his virtue. Both were, indeed highly confpicuous. Without army, or fleet, or publick funds; with a train fo fimple, that only three thousand ducats were expended in equipping him, c) he fet out to oppofe a formidable rebellion. By his addrefs and talents he fupplied all thofe defects, and feemed to create inftruments for executing his defigns. He acquired fuch a naval force, as gave him the command of the fea. He raised a body of men able to cope with the veteran bands which gave law to Peru. He vanquifhed their leader, on whofe arms victory had hitherto attended, and in place of anarchy and ufurpation, he eftablished the government of laws, and the authority of the rightful fovereign. But the 6) Fernandez, lib. ii. c. 18.