HISTORY OF AMERICA. 55

the fea-coafl:, and as he now enjoyed an interval oftranquillity , undifturbed by any enemy , eitherSpanifh or Indian , he applied himfelf with thatperfevering ardor , which diftinguifhes his cha-racter, to introduce a form of regular governmentinto the extenfive provinces fubjeCt to his autho-rity. Though ill qualified by his education toenter into any difquifition concerning the principlesof civil policy, and little accuftomed by his formerhabits of life to attend to its arrangements , hisnatural fagacity fupplied the want both of fcienceand experience. He diftributed the country intovarious diftriCts ; he appointed proper magiftratesto prefide in each; and eftablifhed regulations con-cerning the adminiftration ofjuftice, the collectionof the royal revenue , the working of the mines,and the treatment of the Indians , extremely fimple,but well calculated to promote the public profpe-rity. But though, for the prefent, he adapted hisplan to the infant (late of his colony , his afpiringmind looked forward to its future grandeur. Heconfidered himfelf as laying the foundation of agreat empire, and deliberated long, and with muchfolicitude, in what place he fhould iix the feat ofgovernment. Cuzco , the imperial city of theIncas , was fituated in a corner of the empire , abovefour hundred miles from the fea, and much fartherfrom Quito , a province of whofe value he hadformed a high idea. No other fettlement of thePeruvians was fo confiderable as to merit the nameof a town , or to allure the Spaniards to fix theirrefidence in it. But , in marching through the

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VI.

IS34.

Foundationof Lima.