CONTENTS.

VOLUME THE FIRST.

BOOK I.

PROGRESS of Navigation among the ancients
-View of their discoveries as preparatory
to those of the moderns - Imperfection of an-
cient navigation and geography - Doctrine
of the zones-Farther discoveries checked by
the irruption of barbarous nations - Geogra
phical knowledge still preserved in the East,
and among the Arabians - Revival of com-
merce and navigation in Europe - favoured
by the Croisades — extended by travellers into
the East-promoted by the invention of the
mariner's compass-First regular plan of
discovery formed by Portugal-State of that
kingdom-Schemes of Prince Henry-Early
attempts feeble-Progress along the western
coast of Africa- Hopes of discovering a new

route to the East-Indies-Attempts to accom
plish this-Prospects of success.

BOOK II.

Birth and education of Columbus - - acquires

naval skill in the service of Portugal-con-

ceives hopes of reaching the East-Indies by

holding a westerly course-his system founded

on the ideas of the ancients, and knowledge of

their navigation-and on the discoveries of

the Portuguese - His negotiations with dif

ferent courts-Obstacles which he had to sur-

mount in Spain-Voyage of discovery-

difficulties success-return to Spain

Astonishment of mankind on this discovery of

a New World - Papal grant of it — Second

Voyage-Colony settled-Farther discove-

ries-War with the Indians-First tax im-

posed on them-Third voyage- He disco-

vers the continent-State of the Spanish

colony Errors in the first system of colo-

nising-Voyage of the Portuguese to the

East-Indies by the Cape of Good Hope

Effects of this-Discoveries made by private

adventurers in the New World-Name of

America given to it-Machinations against

Columbus-disgraced and sent in chains to

Europe-Fourth voyage of Columbus

His discoveries-disasters-death.

BOOK III.

State of the colony in Hispaniola-New war
with the Indians-Cruelty of the Spaniards
-Fatal regulations concerning the condition
of the Indians-Diminution of that people—
Discoveries and settlements-First colony
planted on the continent-Conquest of Cuba-
Discovery of Florida-of the South Sea-
Great expectations raised by this- Causes of
disappointment with respect to these for some
time-Controversy concerning the treatment
of the Indians - Contrary decisions-Zeal
of the ecclesiastics, particularly of Las Casas-
Singular proceedings of Ximenes - Negroes
imported into America - Las Casas's idea of
a new colony-permitted to attempt it-
unsuccessful-Discoveries towards the West
Campeachy New Spain-

Yucatan

preparations for invading it.

VOLUME THE SECOND.

BOOK IV.

View of America when first discovered, and of
the manners and policy of its most uncivilised

inhabitants-Vast extent of America— gran-

deur of the objects it presents to view—its

mountains-rivers-lakes-its form fa-

vourable to commerce temperature - pre-

dominance of cold-causes of this- unculti-

vated-unwholesome-its animals- soil-

Enquiry how America was peopled-various

theories-what appears most probable-

Condition and character of the Americans-

All, the Mexicans and Peruvians excepted,

in the state of savages-Enquiry confined to

the uncivilised tribes-Difficulty of obtaining

information-various causes of this-Method

observed in the Enquiry — I. The bodily con-

stitution of the Americans considered — II.

The qualities of their minds-III. Their
domestic state-IV. Their political state and
institutions-V. Their system of war and public
security-VI. The arts with which they were
acquainted-VII. Their religious ideas and
institutions VIII. Such singular and de-
tached customs as are not reduceable to any of
the former heads-IX. General review and
estimate of their virtues and defects.

BOOK V.

History of the conquest of New Spain by Cortes.

VOLUME THE THIRD.

BOOK V. continued.

History of the conquest of New Spain by Cortes,

concluded.

BOOK VI.

History of the conquest of Peru by Pizarro-

and of the dissensions and civil wars of the

Spaniards in that country-Origin-progress

-and effects of these.

BOOK VII.

-

View of the institutions and manners of the
Mexicans and Peruvians-Civilised states in
comparison of other Americans-Recent
origin of the Mexicans-Facts which prove
their progress in civilisation View of their
policy in its various branches of their arts-
Facts which indicate a small progress in civi-
lisation-What opinion should be formed on
comparing those contradictory facts-Genius
of their religion-Peruvian monarchy more
ancient-Its policy founded on religion-
Singular effects of this-Peculiar state of