Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-05-03
TIE CONQUEST OF PERU.


Peru had long been governed by a
race of emperors under the name OF
meas, who were supposed TO be the de-
sCendants Of the sun. The name of the
spanish invader was Pizarro, and that
of the Inca ia possession OF the crown,
Atahaulpa. Alarmed at the ravages OF
the SpaniaIds, this prince agreed to an
interview with their general in order to
settle the conditions ola peace. Though
pizarro solicited the conference, ne had
no thoughts but Of war. The Inca il is
said, was net more sincere III bis pro-
LESSONS. He came to toe place of meet
ing, carried upon throne of gold, and
attended by upwards OF ten thousand
men; twenty thousand more are report
cd to have waited his signal, but for
mis- report, or the insincerity of the In
ca, there seems to nave been no foun-
dation in fact. All the Peravians were
richly dressed, and their arms glittered
with gold and precious stones. The
avarice of the Sp+nlarAs was inhamed.
Pizarro disposed his followers, who did
not exceed two hundred, IN the most
advantageous order, while Vincent Val
verde, Dominican friar, advanced
towards Atahaulpa with cruhx 10 one
hand and brevary in the other. He
addressed to the Inca, by the help OF an
interpreter, long discourse, unfolding
the principles of the Christian faith, add
pressing him to embrace that religion,
and to submit himself to the king Of
Spain, to whom the Pope had given Pc
tn. Atahaulpa, who had listened with
great deal Of patience, replied thus to
his pious adnonisber:-"How oxtrava
giant It is in i've Pope, to give away so
Ii beralS that which doth not belong 10
him! lie isinferior, you own, to God
the Father, to God the Son, and TO God
the Holy Spirit:--these are all your gods,
and the gods only can dispose of king
doms. | should like TO be friend to
the king of Spain, who has sufficiently
displayed power by sending armies to
such distant countries; but will not be
his vassal. | owe tribute to no mortal
prince. know no superior upon earth.
The religion ofmy ancestors venerate;
and to renounce it would be equally alb
surd and impious, until you have con-
vinced me il is false, and that which you
would have me embrace, is true. You
adore god who died upon a gibbet:
| worship the sun, who never dies.r
Management cried valverde. turn
ing towards the Spauiards; "vengeancel
my friends; kill these dogs who despise
the religion of the cross"
The WORD of command was given
the artillery played, the musketry fired,
the cavalry spread confusion and terror;
while Pizarro advanced, at the head of a
chosen band, and seized the person of
the Inca. The slaughter was dreadful,
and the pilage immense. The blow
was final; Peru ceased to be All empire.
The descendants of the sun, who united
in their person both the regal and pom
tifcal dignity, sunk under set Of ban
ditti, that knew not their birth. After
draining Atahaulpa of his treasures, un-
der pretence of a ransom for his liberty.
Pizarro condemned him to be burnt a.
live, as an obstinate idolater But thro'
the mediation OF father yalyerde, hIes-
sed intercessor! the inca's sentence was
changed into strangling, on condition
;Lat he should die in the Christian faith
The conquest of Mexico and Peru
put the Spsniards at once in possession OF
more specie than all the other nations OF
Europe. Yet Spain from that era ha,
continued to decline. 1t has declined in
Ipopulstion, industry, and vigor. The
vices attendant upon riches have cor
rupted all ranks OF men, and energated