field for the humanity and zeal of Las Cafas, who flattered himself that he might prevent a pernicious fyftem from being introduced there, though he had failed of fuccefs in his attempts to overturn it, where it was already established. Full of this idea, he applied for a grant of the unoccupied country, ftretching along the feacoaft from the gulf of Paria to the western frontier of that province now known by the name of Santa Martha. He propofed to fettle there with a colony compofed of hufbandmen, labourers, and ecclefiafticks. He engaged, in the space of two years, to civilize ten thoufand of the natives, and to inftruct them fo thoroughly in the arts of focial life, that, from the fruits of their induftry, an annual revenue of fifteen thousand ducats fhould arife to the king. In ten years he expected that his improvements would be fo far advanced, as to yield annually fixty thousand ducats. He ftipulated, that no failor or foldier fhould ever be permitted to fettle in this diftrict; and that no Spaniard fhould enter it without his permiffion. He even projected to clothe the people whom he took along with him in fome peculiar garment, which did not refemble the Spanish drefs, that they might appear to the natives to be a different race of men from those who had brought fo many calamities upon their country. q). From this fcheme, of which I have Herrera, dec. 2, lib. iv. c. 2. traced only the great lines, it is manifeft that Las Cafas had formed ideas concerning the method of treating the Indians, fimilar to those by which the Jefuits afterwards carried on their great operations in another part of the fame continent. He fuppofed that the Europeans, by availing themfelves of that afcendant which they poffeffed in confequence of their fuperior progrefs in fcience and improvement, might gradually form the minds of the Americans to relifh thofe comforts of which they were deftitute, might train them to the arts of civil life, and render them capable of its functions. Favourably received. But to the bishop of Burgos and the council of the Indies this project appeared not only chimerical, but dangerous in a high degree. They deemed the faculties of the Americans to be naturally fo limited, and their indolence fo exceffive, that any attempt to inftruct or improve them would be fruitless. They contended, that it would be extremely imprudent to give the command of a country extending above a thousand miles along the coaft, to a fanciful, prefumptuous enthufiaft, a ftranger to the affairs of the world, and unacquainted with the arts of government. Las Cafas, far from being difcouraged with a repulse, which he had reafon to expect, had recourfe once more to the Flemish favourites, who zealously patronized his fcheme, merely because it had been rejected by the Spanish minifters. They prevailed with their master, who had lately been raifed to the Imperial dignity, to refer the confideration of this meafure to a felect number of his privy-counsellors; and as Las Cafas excepted against the members of the council of the Indies, as partial and interested, they were all excluded. The decifion of men chofen by recommendation of the Flemings, was perfectly conformable to their fentiments. They warmly approved of Las Cafas's plan; and gave orders for carrying it into execution, but reftricted the territory allotted him to three hundred miles along the coaft of Cumana, allowing him, however, to extend it as far as he pleafed towards the interior part of the country. r) A folemn délibération concerning the mode of This determination did not pafs uncenfured. Almost every perfon who had been in the Weft Indies exclaimed against it, and fupported their opinion fo confidently, and with fuch plausible reafons, as made it advisable to paufe and to review the fubject more deliberately. Charles himfelf, though accustomed, at this early period of his life, to adopt the fentiments of his minifters, with fuch fubmiffive deference r) Gomara Hift. Gener. c. 77. Oviedo, lib. xix, c, 5. as Herrera, dec. 2. lib. iv. c. 3. as did not promife that decifive vigour of mind which diftinguished his riper years, could fot help fufpecting that the eagerness with which the Flemings took part in every affair relating to America, flowed from fome improper motive, and began to difcover an inclination to examine in perfon into the ftate of the queftion concerning the character of the Americans, and the proper manner of treating them. An opportu nity of making this inquiry, with great advantage, foon occured. Quevedo, the bishop of Darien, who had accompanied Pedrarias to the continent in the year one thousand five hundred and thirteen, happened to land at Barcelona, where the court then refided. It was quickly known, that his fentiments concerning the talents and difpofition of the Indians differed from thofe of Las Cafas; and Charles naturally concluded, that by confronting two refpectable perfons, who, during their refidence in America, had full leifure to obferve the manners of the people whom they pretended to defcribe, he might be able to discover which of them had formed his opinion with the greatest difcernment and accuracy. A day for this folemn audience was appointed. (June 20. 1517.) The emperor appeared with extraordinary pomp, and took his feat on a throne in the great hall of the palace. His principal courtiers attended. Diego Columbus, admiral of the Indies, was ROBERTSON, Tom. I. U Don fummoned to be present. The bishop of Darien was called upon first to deliver his opinion. He, in a fhort difcourfe, lamented the fatal defolation of America, by the extinction of so many of its inhabitants; he acknowledged that this must be imputed, in fome degree, to the exceffive rigour and inconfiderate proceedings of the Spaniards; but declared, that all the people of the New World, whom he had seen either in the continent or in the iflands, appeared to him to be a race of men marked out, by the inferiority of their talents, for fervitude, and whom it would be impoffible to inftruct or improve, unless they were kept under the continual inspection of a master. Las Cafas, at great length, and with more fervour, defended his own system. He rejected with indignation the idea that any race of men was born to fervitúde, as irreligious and inhuman. He afferted, that the faculties of the Americans were not naturally despicable, but unimproved; that they were capable of receiving inftruction in the principles of religion, as well as of acquiring the industry and arts which would qualify them for the various offices of focial life; that the mildness and timidity of their nature rendered them fo fubmiffive and docile, that they might be led and formed with a gentle hand. He profeffed, that his intentions in propofing the scheme now under confideration were pure |