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Show { 197 l I N T R 0 D U C T J 0 N. T HE Di!fertations which we enter upon are both ufeful und no~ ce!fary, to ill uftrate the ancient hi(l:ory of Mexico, and confirm the truth of many points maintaincJ in it. The firil: Dilfertatio:1 is requifite, to fupply the dcfetl:ive knowledge we have refpecring the fi~·{l: population of that new world. The fecond, though tedious anl lefs calculated to intercfi:, ought not to b' e omitted, in order that we r_nay know the foundations of o~r chronology; and will prove ufeful to whoever may h<.:rcafter write the hifiory of Mexico. All the others are equally importar'lt, to guard incautious readers fi·om the mifi:akes ~nd deceptions they would otherwife be led into, by the ~rowd of modern authors, who, without poffeffing fufficient knowledge, have not been afhamed to write on the land, the animals, and inhabitants of America. Any perfon who reads .the work of M. de P. mufi: entertain a thoufand ideas contrary to the fincerity of our hiftory. He is a philofopher of the prefent faibion, and learned; particularly 011 certain fubjetl: s, where it is his misfortune to be wife; and ignorance would have been his blifs. He mingles infult ;md buffoonry in his difcourfes; e~ters without refpetl: into the houfc of God, and fheds malevolence and inveCtive from his pen without reveren ..:c for trnth or feelings for innocence. He decides raibly, and in a magifterial tone; incell~mtly cites the writers of America, and declares his work to be the fruit of ten years toil. This he means ihould recommend him with many readers of this philofophic age,. who efteem nothing but philofophy, and think thofe men philofophers only who fatirizc religion and talk i111 the language of impiety. · The attempt made by M. de P. is to· pcrfuade the world, that in the vall: region of America all nature has degenerated ; in the plants, Jn• the animals, and in the inhabitants. The earth, incumbered with lo fty moUlltains .and rocks, and in the plains deluged with fl:agnant :1.nd cor- 8. rupted , |