John, a German, being appointed by brevet on the part of the Welsers, to succeed to Alfinger in case of death, assumed the reins of government. Yielding either to his dislike of cruelty, to the taste he had for an inactive life, or, finally, to the want of personal courage, he kept close at Coro. His companions continued to act upon the plan of Alfinger, which was dignified with the name of conquest; although, in correct language, it might, with greater propriety, be called a plan of robbery. In 1533, George Spirra, was sent by the Welsers, with the title of governor, taking with him 400 men, one half of them from Spain, the other from the Canary islands. This force had no sooner arrived at Coro, than they concerted means how to avail them. selves of the assistance of those already upon the spot, so as to answer the expectations of the rapacious, and the avaricous. It was determined that they should be divided into detached parties, with a view to scour different parts of the country, and then to concentrate their whole force at a certain stated time and place. George Spirra took with him 400 men. Every one, as he thought proper, directed his march into the heart of forests that had never been penetrated by man. They were like so many tygers, breathing nothing but devastation.Their exploits consisted in exterminating the Indians who fled, making slaves of those who surrendered, and plundering all the effects, which these miserable inhabitants possessed. What fatigues, what privations, what obstacles, and what dangers must they have undergone! This expedition continued for five VOL. I.

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years. George Spirra did not return to Coro, till the year 1539, with only 80 men of the 400 he had set out with. It was from this expedition that we had the first account of the existence, whether real, or fabulous, of the country of El Dorado. George Spirra, the following year, set off for St. Domingo. He died on his return to Coro, on the 12th of June, 1540.

If I had before mentioned, that in the year 1532, there was established at Coro a bishop, who did not repair to his charge till the year 1536, it would excite astonishment, that a prelate, the sanctity of whose ministry enjoined upon him to plead the cause of the unfortunate, should have remained passive and silent, in a country where the duties of humanity were disregarded, where the thirst of gold had made pillage an honourable profession, and where cupidity converted man into an article of merchandise, the product of which became the reward of the crimes of his tyrant. What sensation, then, will the reader experience, when he is informed, that, in the year 1540, the audience of St. Domingo invested this same prelate with the civil government of Venezuela, and Philip De Urre with the military department; and that things, far from taking, under the authority of that prelate, a turn more conformable to the principles of justice, should have assumed a more shocking aspect, had not that been rendered impossible, by their being already carried to the last stage of human depravity.

The first expedition, which was made by the orders of Bishop Bastidas was directed against the In

dians of the lake of Maracaibo. One Peter Limpias. was charged with this incursion, and the fruit of it. was a small quantity of gold, and 500 Indians, who were immediately sold.

That same bishop sent his lieutenant, Philip de Urre, with 130 men, in order to make new robberies, new victims, and new ravages. This expedition, which was accompanied with many misfortunes, without being followed by any advantages, offers with respect to the country El Dorado, some information, which a regard to order renders it necessary to postpone for the present, as upon a future occasion, separate details shall be given upon the subject of that Utopian country, or, if not such, at least, it is yet inaccessible to the enterprising and exploring curiosity of man. The peregrination of Philip de Urre continued for four years. Reduced to the last degree of wretchedness, he turned his face again towards Coro. But, before he arrived there, he was assassinated by Limpias, one of his officers, and Caravajal,the latter of whom, by means of a forged commission, having seized the government of the province, did not think himself secure in his usurpation, without getting rid of Philip de Urre, who had been appointed lieutenant-general, and to whom the government reverted by right, in consequence of the promotion of bishop Alfingerto the see of Porto Rico. It was the usurper Caravajal, that founded the city of Tocuyo, in 1545; its first population was 59 Spaniards, amongst whom were appointed four regidors and two alcaides, for the formation of the cabildo. It is the only establishment made in the province of Venezuela, whilst it had the

misfortune of remaining under the monopoly and tyranny of the agents of the Welsers.

The Welsers are dispossessed of Venezuela.

At length the period arrived, when the disasters resulting from the grant made to the Germans became known to the emperor. Convinced, that, under such an administration, that country would ever present the hideous aspect of devastation, he determined to resume the rights of his sovereignty, of which he ought never to have divested himself. The treaty with the Welsers was rescinded, the Germans were dispossessed, and the emperor appointed as governor the licentiate John Peres de Tolosa, who, according to Oviedo, had likewise the title of captain-general.

Happy effects which result from it.

This new reform produced a great one in the system and mode of conquest. It was a settled point, that instead of committing devastation, they should form settlements, instead of plundering, they should respect property. The laws of the 9th November, 1526, the 5th November 1540, the 20th May 1542, the 20th August 1550, and the 13th January 1552, were put into execution, all which laws declare the Indians to be free, not even excepting those who should be taken prisoners in the act of carrying arms.

As soon as an Indian nation was subjected to the Spaniards, a convenient site was chosen for the building of a city, the better to secure the conquest. One hundred Spaniards formed the population of the new city, on which a cabildo was conferred. After that

they divided the lots of the city amongst the new in. habitants, according to their rank and merit; and after having made an enumeration of the Indians, as exact as circumstances admitted, they shared them amongst the Spaniards, who thus acquired over them a right, not of property, but of superintendance. This: is what is called repartimientos de Indios.

Encomiendas.

This measure, which, in order to become useful, required only more fixed regulations, together with a system better adapted to the great object, which it was destined to fulfil, soon received, under the name of encomiendas, an extension, a consistence, a form of administration, which reflect honor upon the legislator. If this opinion does not appear ridiculous, it cannot, at least, but appear extraordinary; for, I am persuaded, it is the first that flows from any pen, except that of a Spaniard, in favor of the encomiendas. It does not, however, follow from this, that I deny their being chargeable with abuses in their execution; but where is there any human institution, which is not liable to the same objection? Our present object is to examine, whether the law is, in itself, rational, just and useful.

Their object.

The effect of the encomiendas was to place under the immediate superintendance, under the authority even of a Spaniard, exemplary for his morals, the Indians who lived within a limited extent of ground, corresponding to that of the communes in France. He