by Edmund Burke
My principal view in treating of the several settlements, was to draw every thing towards their trade, which is the point that concerns us the most materially; for which reason I have but little considered their civil, and yet less their natural history, further than as they tended to throw some light upon the commerce of these countries; except where the matters were very curious, and served to diversify the work.
It is not to be expected that a performance of this kind can be written equally throughout. In some places the subject refuses all ornament, and the matter, dry in itself, is by no art to be made otherwise: in some a contagion communicated from the dulness of materials, which yet were necessary to the work, may probably appear; in many, and perhaps the most blameable parts, the author alone must be answerable; however there are some errors of the press, especially towards the beginning, which are owing to the author’s absence from it.
Having spoken perhaps a little too hardly of my materials, I must except the assistance I have had from the judicious collection called Harris’s voyages. There are not many finer pieces than the history of Brazil in that collection; the light in which the author sets the events in that history is fine and instructive; an uncommon spirit prevails through it; and his remarks are every where striking and deep. The little sketch I have given in the part of Portuguese America, if it has any merit, it is entirely due to that original, However the accounts given of many things in that part of his work which relates to the English and French settlements may be defective, and suited rather to the ancient than to the present state of affairs in that part of the world: his remarks have rarely this fault; and where I differ from him in any respect, it is with deference to the judgment of a writer to whom this nation is much obliged, for endeavouring every where with so much good sense and eloquence to rouze that spirit of generous enterprize, that can alone make any nation powerful or glorious.
DETAILED CONTENTS
THE CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME.
PART I.
CHAP I. THE state of Europe before the discovery of America. The project of Columbus. His application to several courts. His successful application to that of Spain. His voyage. The discovery of the Bahamas, and Greater Antilles. page 3
CHAP. II. The discovery of the Caribbees. Columbus returns to Europe. His behaviour at Lisbon. His reception at Barcelona by Ferdinand and Isabella. Second voyage of Columbus. The condition of the Spaniards in Hispaniola. The city of Isabella built, and a Spanish colony settled. A voyage for better discovering the coast of Cuba. 13
CHAP. III. The difficulties attending the voyage. Jamaica discovered. Columbus returns to Hispaniola. The Spaniards rebel. A war with the Indians of that country. They are conquered. Their scheme for starving the Spaniards. 25
CHAP. IV. Complaints against Columbus. A person is sent to enquire into his conduct. He returns to Spain. He is acquitted. He sets out on his third voyage. He discovers the continent of South America. He sails to Hispaniola. 33
CHAP. V. Columbus finds the Spaniards of Hispaniola in rebellion. His measures to suppress it. New complaints against him in Spain. He is superseded in the government and sent to Spain in irons. 39
CHAP. VI. The discoveries of Americus Vesputius, and other adventures. What caused the spirit of discovery. 45
CHAP VII. Columbus again acquitted. Undertakes a fourth voyage. Discovers the coast of Terra Firma and the isthmus of Darien. Returns to Hispaniola. His reception there. Pursues his discoveries on the coast of Terra Firma. He is driven to Jamaica, and shipwrecked on that island. His distresses there. The rebellion of his men, which he suppresses. He leaves the island and returns to Spain. His reception there. He dies. 48
CHAP. VIII. The character of Columbus. Some reflections on the conduct of the court of Spain. 59
CHAP. IX. The discoveries and conquests of Balboa. Velasquez sends Cortes on the Mexican expedition. The state of the Mexican empire. Cortes makes an alliance with the Tlascalans. 64.
CHAP. X. Cortes builds La Vera Cruz. He marches to Mexico. His reception by Montezuma. Cortes imprisons Montezuma. That princes’ stratagem to gain his liberty; the consequence of it. 73
CHAP. XI. The attempts of Montezuma to make the Spaniards leave Mexico. The arrival of Narvaez to take the command from Cortes. Cortes leaves Mexico. Defeats and takes Narvaez prisoner. The Spaniards in Mexico besieged. Cortes raises the siege. Montezuma is killed. 81
CHAP. XII Guatimozin chosen emperor by the Mexicans. He besieges the Spaniards in their quarters. Obliges Cortes to retire out of the city. Distresses him in his retreat. The battle of Otumba. Cortes retreats to Tlascala. 93
CHAP. XIII. Spaniards sent against Cortes join him. He marches again to Mexico. A conspiracy against his life baffled. 102
CHAP. XIV. The siege of Mexico. Terms of accommodation refused by the Mexicans. The Spaniards repulsed by a stratagem of Guatimozin. A new stratagem of Guatimozin. He is taken. The city surrenders. Guatimozin tortured. Cortes superseded in his government. Reflections on the Spanish cruelties. 110
CHAP. XV. The scheme of Pizarro and Almagro for the conquest of Peru. Their characters. The state of the empire of Peru at that time. The taking of the Ynca Atabalipa. 125
CHAP. XVI. The murder of the Ynca. A dispute between Pizarro and Almagro. They are reconciled. Almagro’s expedition to Chili. The Peruvians renew the war, and besiege Cusco. Almagro returns and defeats them. Almagro renews the quarrel with Pizarro, but is defeated and put to death. 137
CHAP. [XVI.] The final dispersion of the Peruvian army. The conspiracy against Pizarro. He is murdered. 149
CHAP. XVII. Young Almagro made governor. The new viceroy Vaca di Castro arrives. Puts to death young Almagro. Puts an end to the factions, and settles the province. He is recalled. Gonzalo Pizarro raises a rebellion, and usurps the government. Peter de la Gasca made viceroy. Defeats the troops of Pizarro and puts him to death. 152
PART. II.
CHAP. I. The persons of the Americans. Their dress and way of living. Their manner of conversing. Their hospitality. Their temper. Their religion and superstitions. Their medicine. 161
CHAP. II. The government of the Americans. Their councils. Their orators. Their feasts. Their manner of administering justice. 169
CHAP. III. Their mournings for their dead. The feast of souls. The American women, their occupations. Their marriages and divorces. 176
CHAP. IV. The Indian manner of preparing for war. The songs and dances. Their taking the field. Their method of discovering and attacking the enemy. Their cruel treatment of their prisoners of war. 181
PART III.
CHAP. I. A general description of America. 195
CHAP. II. The climate and soil of New Spain. Animals. It’s vegetable produce. 200
CHAP. III. The gold and silver mines. The manner of purifying those metals. Some thoughts on the generation of metals. Of the quantity of those metals produced in the Spanish West-Indies. 204
CHAP. IV. Of cochineal and cacao. 217
CHAP. V. The trade of Mexico. Some account of that city. The fairs of Acapulco, and La Vera Cruz. The flota and register ships. 222
CHAP. VI. Three sorts of people in New Spain. The whites, Indians, and negroes, the characters of those. The clergy their characters. The civil government, it’s character. 232
CHAP. VII. New Mexico. It’s discovery. Climate. Products. The English claim to California. 237
CHAP. VIII. The climate and soil of Peru. It’s produce. The mines, the coca and herb of Paraguay. 239
CHAP. IX. The wines of Peru. The wool. The lamas and vicunnas, sheep of Peru. Jesuits bark. Guinea pepper. The dung of Iquiqua. Quicksilver mines. 244
CHAP. X. The character of the Peruvians. Their divisions. The Indian festival. Honours paid to a descendant of the Ynca. 250
CHAP. XI. The cities of Peru, Lima, Cusco, and Quito, a description of them. Callao, it’s trade and destruction. The viceroy of Peru. His jurisdiction, and revenues. 253
CHAP. XII. The temperature of the air
in Chili. The soil. It’s fertility. A description of the principal towns. The trade of Chili. 260
CHAP. XIII. The Spaniards in this province but few. The Americans, their character. Some free. 263
CHAP. XIV. The climate of Paraguay. It’s rivers. The province of La Plata. The town of Buenos Ayres. It’s trade. 266
CHAP. XV. The territory of the jesuits in Paraguay. Their manner of settling and governing it. The obedience of the people. Some reflections on the late transactions there. 269
CHAP. XVI. Terra Firma. It’s extent and produce. The cities of Panama, Carthagena, and Portobello. The galleons, The isle of Cuba. The Havanna. Hispaniola. Porto Rico. Reflections on the policy of Spain with regard to the colonies. 279
PART IV.
CHAP. I. An account of the discovery of Brazil. The method of settling it. Conquered by the Dutch. Reconquered by the Portuguese. 289
CHAP. II. The climate of Brazil. Of the Brazil wood. 295
CHAP III. The trade of Brazil. It’s intercourse with Africa, the settlement of the river Amazons and Rio Janeiro. The gold mines. The commonwealth of the Paulists. The diamond mines. 297
CHAP. IV. Regulation of the Portuguese trade. The description of St. Salvador the capital of Brazil. The fleets for that city. Rio Janeiro and Fernumbucca. 304
CHAP. V. The character of the American Portuguese. The state of the negroes. The government. 309
THE CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME.
PART. V.
CHAP. I. THE time in which the French began their West-India settlements. Favoured by cardinal Richlieu. De Poincy governor. The West-India company. 3
CHAP. II. The destruction of the colony of St. Christopher’s. The rise of the buccaneers. The cause of their success. The settlement of Hispaniola. The policy of France. A description of Hispaniola. It’s trade. The towns of Cape Francoise and Leogan. 9
CHAP. III. A description of Martinico. Of Guardaloupe and other French islands. Their produce. Observations on the mistakes that have been made about their value. 18
CHAP. IV. French North America. Description of Canada. It’s climate. The fair of Montreal. Quebeck. The inhabitants of Canada. The river St. Laurence and the great lakes. Cape Breton. 25
CHAP. V. Louisiana. The Missisippi. The Ohio. The fountain of youth. The colony of Louisiana. 34
CHAP. VI. The French policy with regard to their colonies. 38
CHAP. VII. The Dutch settlements. Curassou. The city, it’s trade. The Spanish counterband. Eustatia. The Danish company. The Danish island of Santa Cruz. The characters of the several European nations as they regard America. 48
PART VI.
CHAP. I. The division of the English West-Indies. Description of Jamaica. Conquest of that island. 57
CHAP. II. The settlement of Jamaica. The failure of cacao. The buccaneers. The flourishing state of that island. It’s decline in some respects. 64
CHAP. III. The products of Jamaica. Piemento. Sugar. Rum. Molasses. Cotton. Ginger. The logwood trade. Disputes about it. The counterband. Slave trade. 67
CHAP. IV. Port Royal. The earthquake 1692. Kingston. St. Jago de la Vega, or Spanish-town. Disputes about the removal of the seat of government. 76
CHAP. V. Barbadoes. It’s savage condition at the first planting. The hardships suffered by the planters. The speedy increase of this island. It’s great wealth and number of inhabitants. It’s decline. Present state of the island. 81
CHAP. VI. St. Christopher, Antegua, Nevis, Montserrat; their present condition and force. 88
CHAP. VII. Climate of the West-Indies. The rains and winds. Hurricanes. Their prognostics. Produce of the West-Indies. Sugar. The manner of manufacturing it. Planters in the West-Indies. Their way of life and management of their affairs. The negroes. 90
CHAP. VIII. Observations on the settlement of the West-Indies. Advantages there for tempers prejudicial at home. Bad tempers not always noxious in every sense. 102
CHAP. IX. Observations on taxing the colonies. On an expensive establishment there. Objections answered. 106
CHAP. X. State of the negroes in the West-Indies. Danger from them. Methods proposed for remedying these abuses. The necessity of increasing the whites. Use of this regulation in trade. 112
CHAP. XI. Misery of the negroes. Great waste of them. Methods of preventing it. Instruction of negroes in religion. 120
CHAP. XII. Proposal for a sort of enfranchisement of mulattoes and negroes. Danger from the multitude of house negroes. 126
PART VII.
CHAP. I. A general view of the English dominions in North America. 129
CHAP. II. First attempts to settle North America. The rise and progress of the puritans. They are persecuted by Laud. Several fly into New England. 133
CHAP. III. Difference in religion, divides the colony. Masachuset. Connecticut. Providence. Spirit of persecution. Persecution of the quakers. Disputes about grace. 141
CHAP. IV. The witchcraft delusion. Great cruelties. The madness ends in the accusation of the magistrates. Reflections. 149
CHAP. V. The situation climate, &c. of New England. Indian corn described. Cattle of New England. 156
CHAP. VI. People of New England. Their numbers. History of the charters of the colonies here, and the forfeiture of some. 161
CHAP. VII. Boston, it’s harbour. Trade. Ship-building. Distillery. Foreign traffick. Reflections on the scheme of limiting it. Declension of the trade of New England. 165
CHAP. VIII. New York. New Jersey, and Pensylvania. Description of their situation, &c. Short account of their settlement. 178
CHAP. IX. City of New York. It’s flourishing trade. Albany. The Indian trade there. The Iroquois or Six nations. 184
CHAP. X. New Jersey. It’s trade; and inhabitants. 187
CHAP. XI. Account of William Pen. The principles on which he settled the colony. His death. 189
CHAP. XII. Inhabitants of Pensylvania. Variety of nations and religions there. Pacific principles of the quakers. Reflections on the present state of affairs there. 192
CHAP. XIII. Description of Philadelphia. It’s trade. Number of people in Pensylvania. It’s flourishing condition. Few negroes there. 196
CHAP XIV. Situation, &c. of Virginia. Conveniency of it’s rivers for navigation. Beasts and birds of the country. The opossum. 200
CHAP. XV. Towns in Virginia few and small. Tobacco, it’s cultivation. Trade in that and other commodities. People in Virginia. White and black. 206
CHAP. XVI. Attempts to settle Virginia, three unsuccessful. Settled at last by lord Delawar. 211
CHAP XVII. Virginia holds out against Cromwell, and is reduced. Bacon’s rebellion. It’s causes. Bacon dies. Peace restored. 216
CHAP. XVIII. Maryland. The time of settling it. Grant to lord Baltimore. Attempts of king James to deprive him of his jurisdiction. He is deprived of it on the revolution. He is restored. Capital of Maryland. It’s trade and inhabitants. 219
CHAP. XIX. Attempts of the French to settle Carolina. They are beat off by the Spaniards. 227
CHAP. XX. Carolina is settled by the English. It’s constitution. The lords proprietors resign their charter. Made a royal government, and divided into two provinces. 230
CHAP. XXI. Situation, climate, &c. of Carolina. It’s animal and vegetable productions. 234
CHAP. XXII. The commodities of Carolina for export. Rice, indigo, pitch and tar. Process in raising and manufacturing these commodities. 239
CHAP. XXIII. North Carolina, some account of it’s settlement. Bad state of that province. Is considerably improved. Chief town. 248
CHAP. XXIV. An account of Charles-town. Port Royal. The trade of Carolina. It’s vast increase. Articles not sufficiently attended to there. 250
CHAP. XXV. Settlement of Georgia. Reasons for it. The plan of the settlement defective. Attempts to remedy it. 256
CHAP. XXVI. Colony new modelled. Faults in the new constitution. Trade of this province. 262
CHAP. XXVII. Nova Scotia, the time and reasons of
it’s settlement. French there. Climate and soil. Annapolis, Halifax and Lunenburgh. 266
CHAP. XXVIII. The island of Newfoundland. The fishery there. The Bermudas. Their settlement and trade. The Bahamas. 273
CHAP. XXIX. Hudson’s bay. Attempts for the discovery of a North-West passage. The Hudson’s bay company. Thoughts upon it’s trade, climate and soil of the countries there. Conclusion. 278
CHAP. XXX. The royal, proprietary, and charter governments. Laws of the colonies. Paper currency. Abuses in it. Another sort of money proposed. 288
FINIS.
PART I. The discovery of America, and the reduction of Mexico and Peru.
CHAP. I.
THERE was an extraordinary coincidence of events at the time that the discovery of America made one of the principal; the invention of printing, the making of gun-powder, the improvement of navigation, the revival of ancient learning, and the reformation; all of these conspired to change the face of Europe entirely. At this time the principal monarchies began to knit, and to acquire the strength, and take the form they have at this day. Before this period the manners of Europe were wholly barbarous; even in Italy, where the natural mildness of the climate, and the dawning of literature had a little softened the minds of the people, and introduced something approaching towards politeness, the history preceding this aera, and indeed for some time after it, is nothing but one series of treasons, usurpations, murders, and massacres: nothing of a manly courage, nothing of a solid and rational policy. Scarce any state had then very extensive views, or looked much further than to the present advantage. They did not well comprehend the complicated system of interests that Europe formed even long before this. Lewis the eleventh, who was looked upon as one of the wisest princes in his time, and one who sacrificed every thing to his ambition, sacrificed one of the fairest objects of that ambition to a pique, which since his time could have little influence on the counsels of any prince. His son, Charles the eighth, as he won Italy without either courage or conduct, so he lost it by a chain of false measures, such as we may venture to say has no parallel in later times. A wild romantic courage in the Northern and Western parts of Europe, and a wicked policy in the Italian states, was the character of that age. If we look into the manners of the courts, there appear but very faint marks of cultivation and politeness. The interview between our Edward the fourth and his brother of France, wherein they were both caged up like wild beasts, shews dispositions very remote from a true sense of honour, from the dignity of their station, or any just ideas of politeness and humanity. All the anecdotes which remain of these and other courts, are in the same spirit.
