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Show APPENDIX TO PAilT lii. The ucggurs of the city of lVIexico arc estimated at 60,ooo souls: what must lJe the number through the whole kin~dom? and what reason can it be owing to that, in a countt·y superior to any in the world for riches in gold and silver, producing- all the necessaries of life and most of it~ luxuries, that there should be such a Yast proportion of the inhabitants in \HU1t of bread or clothing. lt can only be accotfntcd for by the tyranny of the government and the luxuries of the rich. The government striving, by all the 1·estrictious possible to be invented, without absolutely drivin~ the people to desperation to keep Spanish America dependent on Europe. Trade, Commcrcr, Jlfanufactures, and Rcttrnuc.--The trade and commerce of New Spain is canied on with Europe and the United States by the port of Vera Cruz solely, and the Eust Indies and South America generally by Acapulco, and, even at these ports, under such restriction, as to productions, manufactures, and time, as to rendr r it of little consequence to the gcnc1·al prosperity of the country. \V ere all the numct·ous bays and harbors of the c ... uli's of :-:. Mexico and California opened to the trade of the "orld, and a gene-ral licence given to the cultivation of all the productions which the country is capable of, with freedom of cxpot'tation and importation, with propel' duties on foreign g·oods, the couJJtry would immediately become rich and powerful, a propel' stimulus would be held out to the pool' to labor, when certain of finding a quick and ready sale fo1· the productions of thei1· plantations 01' manufactories. The country abounds in iron ore, yet all the iron and steel, and at·ticles of manufactures, arc obliged to he brought from Europe, the 1;jlanu fact uring 01' \vorkin ~ of iron being sll·ictly prohibited: this occasions the neces~ary articles of husbandry, arms, ancl tools to be enormously high and is a g reat check to ag ricul ture, improvements in manuf.,.. cturcs, and n 1ilitary skill. The workH of the ~Icxicans, in gold, silver, and painting, shew them natumlly to hare a genius which, with cultivation and improvement, might rival the greatest masters of either ancient or modern times. Their cli:;positions and habits arc peculiady calculated for sedentary employments, and I have no ~~ubt, if proper establishments were made, they would soon rivnl, 1f not smpass, the most extensive woollen, cotton, o1· silk manufac~ urcs of Europe, their eli mute being· proper to raise the finest cotton 1 11 ~he worl~ and their sheep possessing all the fineness of wool for winch they arc so ccleuratecl in Spain. These circumstances, togc· ther with the immense quantities of the r·aw materials which they have on hand, wool selliug fo1• a mere trine, ~\lld in fact, they scarc.c· APPENDIX TO PART III. 39 ly take the hal r from the fleece of the sheep, for the coal'se manufactures of the country and to make beds. I cannot presume to state the revenues of the country frou1 official documents, but the followin~ statements I have had from so respectable a source, aud they arc so confirmed by my own obsel·vations, that I think much reliance may he placed on their COl'l'CCtness. "fhc mint coins, per annum, at least so,ooo,ooo dollars in silver all(l 1 •t.,ooo,ooo dollars in gold, the one-fifth or which (the duty) is equal to 12,800,000. The duties on foreigu goods and the amount paid by the pur.chasers of monopolies, may be estimated at 4,000,000 dollars, which, with the duty on gold and silver, makes the annual revenue 16,800,000. The civil list of the kiugdom is 580,000, the military 7,189,200: these toa_ether amount to 7,760,200, which deducted from the gross revenue of 16,700,ooo, leaves a clear revenue for the king (from his Mexican dominions) of 9,030,SOO. The rnoney paid for the support of the cler~;y is not included in this estimate, as they receive thei1· revenue throu gh its own proper channel. The best paid ofl'lce1·s undc.:r the government cost the king; nothing in a direct line, yet the oppressive matlllCl' in which they pay themselves and impoverish the people, would render it bettc1· policy to abolish their impositions and pay them out or the public trc,a· sury by a direct salary. .. |