Page:Mexico (1829) Volumes 1 and 2.djvu/168

 132 MEXICO. not been taken off, he assisted at a grand Te Deum, in the Cathedral, from whence he was conducted to the palace, where all the great Corporations came to place themselves at his orders. Soon after his arrival he was joined by Allende, in conjunction with whom, though a great degree of irrita- tion had existed between them since the retreat from Mexico, he proceeded, with his usual activity, to take measures for increasing his forces, and replacing the artillery which he had lost. This he effected, by bringing a number of cannon from San Bias, (the great dock-yard and arsenal of the Spaniards, on the Western coast ;) some of which, though of a very large size, (24-pounders) were conveyed, by the Indians, over a mountainous district, across which no com- munication had ever before been thought practicable. It would have been well for Hidalgo"'s reputation, if these cares alone had occupied him ; but, during his stay in Guadalaxara, he was guilty of an action, which leaves a foul blot upon his name. I have already remarked his inexorable spirit, and his bitter enmity towards every thing Spanish. All the Europeans in the town were thrown into confinement, upon his arrival : their number was so great, that it was necessary to distribute them amongst the different convents ; and it is not improbable that they may not have been as guarded in their conversation there, as circumstances required. But, without any other crime being alleged against them than this, — on some vague rumours of a conspiracy amongst the prisoners, Hidalgo determined to make away with them all. This cruel resolution was carried into effect with a cold- bloodedness which is really horrible. No form of trial, no previous examination even, was thought necessary ; but the prisoners were brought out, by twenty. and thirty at a time, and conducted, under the veil of night, by some of Hidalgo's creatures, to retired parts of the mountains in the vicinity of the city, where they were butchered in secret, the use of fire-arms being prohibited, for fear of creating any alarm.