New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-20

him. and Taught him o little OF inc husSidn 'Nt p
This was his only notable adYenture-eAcepe 'n". ~
consequence of being seen with the sister Oh an eio,
he was arrested for travelling without passport and
only cot off by showing some official dispatches
which he was carrying from Picking to ST. Petersburg
Thevoume containing the record of this remarkable
ionrnev Is fairly printed and illustrated with mum
her of cuts and maps These not OF remarkable
merit and the absence of map of the route through
Asia ia much to be regretted. There are however
some highly interesting fac-similes OF Japanese
colored drawings and to accompany them hr' Johh
IaFarCe has written chapter on japanese art
TILE CONQUEST OF NEW-MEXlCO.
THE SPANISH CONQUEST OF NEW-MEAlGO; by
w w IT. DAVIS, A. NJ. $40. PIP. 49, DOyIeslo"D'
Pa. Publshed by subscription)
The conquest of NewAlexico, Mr.. Davis tells US IN
his preface, lis on unpublished page in SPANISH
American history. The historian has overlooked 'ls
field of early adventure and given his attention 10
what seemed q more inviting banquet, thus deprlY-
ing the world of of the most interesting relations
of incidents to be met with in tho record OF early
explorations in the New World Weknow not what
historian is specially chargeable with this cuipabe
neplipence; but it does not appear that the world
has been loser by it, since the vacant field is now
occupied by Mr. Davis himself, who, according 10
the "unauaifed Endorsement Of Mr.. Bancroft Is
1.-THE only American who has hadthe opportunity and
curiosity to investigate the subject" III might DO
pleaded on behalf Of the unnamed historian aioIe-
said that there were fields OF still earlier adventure
which il was necessary to explore III order 10 ar
rive at this richer and moro fruitful one. The
conquest of Mexico. for example, deserved some
attention, at least as q preliminary to the con-
quest of NeiC-Mexico. The discovery OF America
by Columbus had also prior claim, not only
"a preceding the moro important event which
r A UNA hut 90 q n
ing to and giving occasion for it. On the whole,
therefore IL would seem that the lrvngs the Pres
colts, and other investigators who havo failed to en-
ter upon Mr. Daviss peculiar territory may at least
claim the humble merit of having acted as his
pioneers. They cleared away the distractions IN ms
path and then modestly retired leaving him to take
full and undivided possession.
The grandeur OF bis theme will DO family indi-
Gated by a brief synopsis of its leading events
About the year 1870, the authorities OF New-hpalh
received information of an inland country extend
ing toward tho north, inhabited by highly civilized
people, and Astounding in gold and silver The a'l-
thorty for these statements was an Indian. who had
visited the region he had described, ana had there
seen with his eyes seven cities, each OF them as
large as Mexico and its suburbs, the streets regular
and capacons, and many of them entirely hned win
the shops of jewelry. Putting. apparently, implicit
of his predecessor Cortez, the President Nuo dc Guz
man set out in person. with several hundred Spanish
cavaliers and host Of Indian allies, TO conquer this
new and Weather Mexico. But on reaching o
mountainous country, without any roads, be and his
companions wisely concluded 10 leave tho exploit 70
some harder adventurors. Several years later
friar named Marcos do Mia. accompanied only
by negro and some Indians, succeeded in pene-
trating TO the promised land, Of which no made, on
his return an attractive report. chiefly on tho evil
dence Of hearsay. This led to an armed expedition,
sent out In 1870 under Francisco Vasquez Coronado
whose force consisted Of 400 Spaniards and 500 ln-
dans II was so far successful that the true charac
ter Of the country for the first time ascer-
tanned The cities dwindIed to villages the houses,
though sometimes several stories in hight were rude
and unstable structures. The inhabitants wero par
TALLY clothed slept in beds made use OF yapor baths,
had utensils Of crockery and cultivated the ground
They were therefore in condition much superior TO
that OF the nomad tribes around them but il any
evidences existed of that refinement which had so
astonished the conquerors in Mexico, they existed
only as vestiges of former period and an extinct
race The population was small and scattered, and
possessed no wealth which could naame the cupidity
OF the Spanards Their hostility 10 the latter was dis
played in an unmstakable manner, and Coronado
was finally forced to evacuate the country-a cir
cumstance which, coupled with the fact that curiosi
ty was now fully gratifed, put stop to further
enterprises of the like nature.
Forty years later however some fresh explorations
were undertaken but it was not till the beginning of
the seventeenth century that efforts were made to col
onize the country and bring it under the Spanish rule
Juan dc OTate, having received grants from the
crown carredin company Of settlers and succeeded
In establishing colony and in partially subdung the
tIa latla iit,(
ized many of them were enslaved, all of them were
sufficiently harassed despoed to be kept con-
slant state Of discomfort In 1880 they rose in TO
bellion and expelled tho intruders; the priests
tortured and put to DEATH and tho worship of idols
was restored Owing 10 the inefficient means EN-
poyed for the recOnquest of the country the contest
consisting OF numberesspetty skirmishes varied with
long and frequent pareys protractcd for several
years. and it was not until the close of the seven
teenth century or the beginning of the eighteenth
century that the Spanish rulefwas completely estab
lished or generally recognized.
Our readers, we fear will hardly DO disposed to
agreo with Mr.. Davis In considering this q very
tempting subject for the pen of the historian. We
appreciate the patience with which he has investi-
gated it, bat the result is anything but brilliant.
His method has been to translate, in slightly con-
densed FORM the official reports of the various oper
atoms 1t Yves natural that these should contain a
multitude Of minute details, and that the same de-
scriptions should constantly recur. Mr. Davis seems
to have spared us not single incident or a single
repetition, and has thus impaired to his narrative
sameness and monotony almost excruciating. We
except from this structure the journal of Nuiez Ca
beea de Vaca, which occupies the first hundred pages
OF the book This might DO with truth described as
"one OF the most interesting relations Of incidents"
connected with the early history Of America. But,
besides that 1t had already boen published in En-
glish the interest which attaches to it has nothing