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After considering the commerce of New Spain in all its branches, contraband included, Mr Humboldt gives the following estimate of its total

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Though Mexico possesses mines, the richest, and most constant in their produce of any in the known world, it does not possess much specie; the whole mass in circulation, according to Humboldt, not exceeding 55,000,000 or 60,000,000 dollars, or from L.12,750,000 sterling to L.13,000,000 sterling.

CHAP. VII.-GOVERNMENT-REVENUE-MILITARY AND

MARINE FORCE.

Government] The whole of Spanish North America was formerly subjected to the power of one governor, denominated the viceroy of Mexico. This power was afterwards divided among four personages: namely, the viceroy of Mexico, the captain-general of Guatimala, and two commandants-general of the Internal Provinces. The three latter, indeed, did not enjoy the title of viceroys, or hold the appointments belonging to that rank, but their jurisdictions were completely independent of that of the viceroy.1

The republic of Mexico has adopted the constitution of the North American Union as its general model. The government is federal—and the republic is entitled the United Mexican States. Like the North American union, the United Mexican States possess a general legislative, a general executive, and a general judicial power, together with a legislative, executive, and judicial power for each state. The provincial authorities and legislatures are still proceeding with the formation of their separate codes. The general or federal legislature consists, as in North America, of a House of Deputies, and a Senate. The election of the former, as in North America, takes place every two years. The basis of the nomination of deputies, is the extent of population. A deputy is to be elected for every 80,000 souls, or for any fraction of that number which shall exceed 40,000. For proportioning the number of deputies

The Spanish-American viceroys, formerly, not only represented the royal person' of their sovereigns, but exercised his royal prerogatives, within the precinct of their respective governments, to the utmost extent. Latterly, however, their privileges were greatly curtailed. The salary attached to the office of viceroy of Mexico was 60,000 dollars, or L. 13,000 sterling, annually; besides 50,000 dollars for his table, or L.21,750 sterling in all. The viceroy, however, had various means of increasing his income. Instances have occurred, of viceroys, who, in the course of their administration-usually not exceeding five years-contrived to amass upwards of L.330,000 sterling. The marquis de Sirralvo, who was viceroy in the reign of Philip IV., made his office worth 1,000,000 dollars annually. Instead of 60,000 dollars, the chevalier de Croix, Buccarelli, and the marquis de Branciforte, brother-in-law to the infamous Godoy, had while they held the office of viceroy, an annual income of 84,000 dollars.

over the union, a census of the population is to be made every ten years. The Senate is to be composed of two senators for every state, chosen by the separate state-legislatures. The meeting of the two bodies of deputies and senators is called the General Congress. They are to be paid for their attendance. The ordinary session of congress is to begin on the 1st of January, and to end on the 15th of April. When extraordinary sessions are held, the specific subject of deliberation must be determined in the decree by which the legislative bodies are convoked. The executive power of the Mexican federation is to reside in a single person, called the President of the United Mexican States. This supreme magistrate is to be elected by the separate state-legislatures, each of which is to nominate two candidates for the presidency-one of whom at least, shall not belong to the state which makes the return. The names of these candidates are to be transmitted to the general congress, which shall declare president, the candidate who unites in his person the greatest number of votes. The duration of the president's functions is limited to four years. A Vicepresident is likewise elected in the same manner, and for the same term, to supply the president's place, if by physical inability, or any other cause, he should be prevented from discharging the duties of his office. The powers and prerogatives of the president are similar to those of the same magistrate in the North American union. He appoints or removes the secretaries of state, he appoints to posts in the army and navy,,-he disposes of the armed force by sea and land, in peace or war, by the advice of the congress,-he convokes the legislative bodies to an extraordinary session, he provides that justice be duly administered, he promulgates the acts of congress, and does other acts of supreme power. During the recess of congress, the supreme magistrate is provided with a council, consisting of half the members of the senate, or of a councillor for every state of the union. The judicial power of the federation is to reside in a supreme tribunal of justice, and in circuit courts. The first is to consist of 11 members, distributed into three halls or chambers. The members of this supreme tribunal are to be elected, like the president, by a majority of votes of the different state-legislatures. The duties of this supreme tribunal are: to take cognizance of the differences which may arise between the separate states of the federation, or between the authorities of one state and the subjects of another, to settle disputes which may spring up respecting the construction of the acts of the supreme government,—to decide on the jurisdiction of the separate tribunals of the union,--and to judge, without appeal, in the trial of criminal cases affecting senators, deputies, ambassadors, consuls, or any of the higher officers of the supreme government. Each of the state-governments moves uncontrolled within its own sphere, but all partake of the movement and obey the influence of the general federative system.

Revenue.] The net, or clear revenue of New Spain, exclusive of Guatimala, was estimated at 20,000,000 dollars, or £4,500,000 sterling; of which 6,000,000 dollars, or £1,350,000 sterling, were annually sent to Spain; and 14,000,000 dollars, or £3,150,000 sterling absorbed in government-expenses.2

The following tables will give the reader a view of the progressive increase of the public revenue since the commencement of the 18th century:

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By a report presented to the congress of Mexico in 1825, from a commission consisting of four members of the senate, whose signature it bears, the following estimate of the revenue and expenditure for that year is given, viz.

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On this statement the report contains the following remarks:-" From the preceding comparison it appears, that the ordinary expenses of the year 1825, are not only covered by the ordinary produce of the revenue, and the remains of the first loan, but that there is a very considerable surplus; and that the proceeds of the new loan remain untouched, to

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The causes of this great increase of revenue were owing to the diminution of the price of mercury, and consequent increase of mineral produce,-greater freedom of trade, the monopoly of tobacco,-and several other financial measures of government.

Dollars. 18,770,000

£
8. d.
4,223,280 0 0

19,044,000

4,284,900 00

19,521,698

4,392,282 1 0

20,200,000

meet any extraordinary expenses that may occur." loans which Mexico has contracted are:

A five per cent loan in 1824, for

The only foreign

Of which there has been redeemed, and is now in course of redemption,

And a six per cent loan in 1825, for
Of which there has been redeemed,

£3,200,000 800,000

2,400,000

3,200,000

21,500

£3,178,500

Military Force.] Of the military force of Mexico, under the ancient regime, we have different enumerations by Estalla, Humboldt, and Pike. According to Estalla, the whole of the military force belonging to New Spain, including garrisons, were 43,191. According to Humboldt, the whole of the peace-establishment in 1804, consisted of 32,196 men, divided into regulars and militia,-exclusive of the military in the peninsula of Yucatan, and the captaincy of Guatimala. In the Mexican army the cavalry were extremely numerous, composing almost the one-half. Pike stated the effectual disciplined force of Mexico at 23,288 men, of whom 6,000 were Europeans, the rest Creoles. In addition to this regular army, and trained militia, he estimated the undisciplined militia at 30,500 men, besides 109,000 armed citizens, furnished with bows, ar rows, and lances; making a total of 162,788 men. The army of the republic in 1828, amounted to 58,955 men.

Marine Force.] The marine force of the republic consisted in 1828, of one vessel of the line, one frigate, and 11 smaller war-vessels.

CHAP. VIII. TOPOGRAPHY.

City of Mexico.] Mexico, the capital of Spanish America, is situated in 19° 25′ 45′′ N. lat., and 99o to long., according to Humboldt and Oltmanns; or 43′ E. and 32′ N. of the position assigned by Arrowsmith. It is built on the site of Old Mexico, and forms a great square, of which each side is nearly 9,021 feet. The streets are very straight, long, broad, remarkably well-paved, clean, and well-lighted. Sewers and watercourses are opened in the greater part of the streets, and the footpaths are raised to carry off the water. The architecture is noble, and the exterior of the houses is not loaded with ornaments; nor have they any of those wooden balconies and galleries, which disfigure so many European cities in both the Indies. The balustrades and gates are all of Biscay iron, ornamented with bronze; and the houses, instead of roofs have terraces, like those in Italy and other southern countries. On these accounts, combined with the uniform level of its site, the surrounding scenery, and the beautiful architecture of its numerous buildings, Mexico is the finest, most august, and majestic city built by Europeans in the western hemisphere. The environs of the city are beautiful and majestic, and give to it a peculiar air of grandeur. Nothing can present a more elegant and varied appearance than the surrounding valley, when, in a fine summer morning, from the top of one of the towers of the cathedral, or from the summit of Chapoltepec, the sky is seen without a cloud, and of that deep azure which is peculiar to the dry and rarified air of high mountains.

eye sweeps over a vast plain of carefully cultivated fields, extending

to the very feet of colossal mountains covered with eternal snows; the city seems as if washed by the waters of the lake; whose basin, surrounded with villages and hamlets, resembles the most beautiful lakes of Switzerland,-large avenues of elms and poplar lead in every direction to the city, and two aqueducts, constructed over arches of very great elevation, cross the plain, and exhibit appearances equally agreeable and interesting. The magnificent convent of Guadaloupe appears joined to the mountains of Tepeyacac, among ravines sheltering a few date and young yucca trees. Towards the south, the whole tract between San Angel, Tacabaya, and San Augustin de las Cuivas, appears as one immense garden of orange, peach, apple, cherry, and other European fruit trees. This beautiful cultivation is singularly contrasted with the savage appearance of the naked mountains surrounding the valley, among which, the two famous volcanoes of Popocatepetl and Istaccihuatl, are the most distinguished. The former of these forms an enormous cone, the crater of which, continually inflamed and throwing up smoke and ashes, opens in the midst of eternal snows.

The buildings that most attract the admiration of strangers are, the cathedral, the treasury, the convents, the hospital, the acordado, or royal prison, generally containing 1,200 unfortunate individuals, the school of mines, an edifice which cost £125,000 sterling, the botanical garden, the university and public library, the academy of fine arts, with a collection of ancient casts, and finally, the equestrian statue of Charles IV. in the Plaza Major, and the sepulchral monument of the great Cortez, both executed by Tolsa, an eminent Mexican artist. The latter is a simple family monument, adorned with a bust in bronze, representing the hero in the prime of life.

Though the parishes do not exceed 14, yet the churches are more than 100 in number. The cathedral was 94 years in building, namely, from 1573 to 1667; and contains two images of the Virgin; one of solid gold, weighing upwards of 70 lbs. troy; and the other of solid silver, weighing 55 lbs. troy. The cathedral is of great size, divided into five naves or avenues, three open for processions, and two containing chapels and altars; the length being 400 geometrical feet, the breadth, 195, with 164 windows. This edifice cost 1,752,000 dollars, or £394,200 sterling; and was adorned with a beautiful altar by Balbas, in 1743. The clergy of the city of Mexico are extremely numerous; the whole, including monks and nuns, amounting to 2,392. There are 23 monasteries, and 15 nunneries, containing 867 monks, aud 923 nuns. Secular clergy, 517; curates, 43; parish priests, 16; and prebendaries, 26. The number of charitable institutions is enormous. There are 13 hospitals, a house of refuge for married women, a magdalene, a foundling hospital, a general hospital for sick, poor, and beggars, several houses for orphan girls, a charitable institution denominated the Mount of piety, a general hospital for the Indians, the expenses of which are defrayed by themselves, another hospital for the same purpose erected and supported by the descendants of Cortez, and an hospital for lepers. The civil and military officers have also a chest for the relief of their widows, who derive a revenue equal to one-fourth of their husband's salary. Nightly rounds are performed by the various municipal troops. The patroness of the city is St Mary of Guadaloupe, who was solemnly chosen to this office in 1737.

The desague, or drain, designed to carry off the superfluous waters of the

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