e continues, "of Tenochtitlan was a place of
great celebrity and distinction, and ever memorable, it
appeared to me that it would be well to build another town
upon its ruins. I therefore distributed the ground among the
proposed inhabitants, and appointed alcaldes and regidores
in the name of your majesty, according to the custom of your
realms; and while the houses were going up, we determined to
abide in the city of Cuyoacan, where we at present are. It
is now four or five months since the rebuilding of the city
was commenced, and it is already very handsome. Your majesty
may be assured that it will go on increasing to such a
degree that, as it was formerly the capital and mistress of
all these provinces, it will still be so hereafter. It is
built so far and will be completed in such a manner as to
render the Spaniards strong and secure, greatly superior to
the natives, and wholly unassailable by them."

The power of Cortez was now unlimited. The whole native population
were virtually his slaves. He had the address to secure the friendly
co-operation of the principal chiefs, and the Indians, in any numbers
which he required, were driven by them to their reluctant toil. The
Spaniards assumed the office of overseers, while the natives performed
all the menial and painful labor. Timber was cut and dragged by the
_men of burden_ from the adjacent forests, and from the ruins of
Tenochtitlan the new and beautiful city of Mexico rose as by magic.

Charles V., King of Spain and Emperor of Germany, was overwhelmed by
the cares of his enormous empire. The scenes transpiring far away in
the wilderness of the New World, important as they were, could claim
but a small share of his attention. Velasquez succeeded in gaining
very influential friends at court, and plied all his energies, with
untiring diligence, to secure the disgrace of Cortez. Pride, ambition,
and revenge alike inspired him to work, if possible, the ruin of the
bold adventurer who had set his power at defiance. The sovereign was
at this time in Germany, and the reins of government in Spain were
temporarily placed in the hands of Adrian, who had been private tutor
of the emperor.

Influenced by the coadjutors of Velasquez, Adrian issued a warrant,
signed at Burgos on the 11th of April, 1521, which, after
recapitulating the offenses of which Cortez had been guilty against
the majesty of th