ACCESSION OF FELIPE V. 263 cathedral. A funeral sermon terminated the observ ances. 16 But previous to the performance of the latter ceremonies, others of a different character were celebrated on the 4th and 5th of April on account of the accession of Felipe V. to the throne of Spain. Appointed sovereign by the will of Cárlos II., his reign was a turbulent one for many years; since the transfer of the regal power from the house of Austria to that of the Bourbons involved both Spain and France in a war with the combined nations of Europe; nor can Felipe be considered to have been securely seated on the throne until the treaty of Utrecht in January 1712. During the first years of the struggle the power of Spain was weakened by civil factions," and much opposition was shown to the change of dynasty; yet Mexico at once espoused the cause of Felipe's party. Thus it was that on the first named day the church bells were pealed, the royal standard unfurled, and the viceroy, audiencia, and all authorities and officials took the oath of allegiance on a beautifully ornamented platform erected in front of the palace. This being done, numbers of caged rabbits, pigeons, , and other birds were set free, while a royal salute was fired by the musketeers. On the following day thanksgivings were offered in the cathedral, the mass of the most holy trinity chanted, and a procession formed. In the afternoon a parade of infantry was held before the palace, and during the night pyrotechnic displays enlivened the scene. 18 Although the viceroy took the customary oath of allegiance to Felipe an opinion seems to have prevailed that before the death of Cárlos he was opposed 16 Mourning was ordered to be worn for six months. Robles, Diario, ii. 307, 312-13. The viceroy, in order to prevent the exactions of merchants who had bought all the mourning material, fixed the price of it. Caro, Tres Siglos, ii. 97. 17 As late as June 1707 the inquisition issued an edict ordering all subjects secular or ecclesiastic to obey the king, under pain of excommunication. Ordenes de la Corona, MS., vi. 135. 18 Three hundred and seventy men mustered on the occasion. Robles, Diario. to the prospect of a Bourbon successor to the throne of Spain; but more than this, it was whispered that in the event of the monarch's decease, he might be inclined to favor the independence of New Spain, and establish himself as its king.19 Whether Felipe apprehended any such possible defection or not, it is certain that he recalled Montezuma shortly after his accession, for in November 1701 a cédula arrived from Spain appointing the oidor, Juan de Escalante, as the juez de residencia of the outgoing viceroy,20 Montañez, having been reappointed to the viceregal chair six months previously. On the 13th of May following, the conde de Montezuma left for Spain, the countess having preceded him, accompanied by the wives of the oidores. Most writers concur in regarding his administration as a wise and prudent one. He certainly exerted himself in improving the social condition of the capital, and was especially active in the suppression of robbers and criminals. With this object he organized an efficient police force, and enacted severe regulations for the punishment of evil-doers." The riots in 1692 19 Mr Vernon, English secretary of state, in letters addressed at the period to the duke of Shrewsbury, makes the following statement: 'It is said that Montezuma, viceroy of Mexico, would not suffer their plate to come into the hands of the French, and the orders from Spain would not be obeyed while they were looked upon to be under the influence of France.' A more remarkable passage written in June 1699 reads thus: The Indians there are very earnest with the countess of Montezuma, who is descended of their race, that she would take upon her the title of queen, which she seems willing to accept; but the conde, her husband, refuses it as yet, though it is thought if the king of Spain dies he will set up for himself.' Edinburgh Review, Oct. 1841, 131. Completely at variance with the above is Bustamante's statement that he caused the destruction of all Aztec relics in order to obliterate all traces of his ancestors 'por congraciarse con la corte de Madrid.' Leon y Gama, Dos Piedras, 81-2, note. As I cannot discover that Montezuma was connected with the royal family of the Aztec monarch otherwise than by marriage and the assumption of the name, Bustamante's deduction seems groundless, and I prefer to attribute the viceroy's action to religious bigotry. 20 The auto de residencia was proclaimed on the 19th of the same month, both in the Castilian and Mexican languages. Robles, Diario, 339; consult also 331, 333. 21 On the 15th of June there were 200 prisoners confined in the principal jail of the city. On the 28th of August the miscreants attempted to escape. They made a large hole in the outer wall, and severely wounded the jailer and porter before they were overpowered. On the following day seven of the ringleaders were publicly flogged through the streets. Id., 326-8. LOWER CALIFORNIA. 265 indicated to him the necessity of a more generous treatment of the Indians, and the measures which he adopted for their relief during times of scarcity were energetic and effective. He caused, moreover, the fortifications of the city, which were in a wretched condition, to be put in a better state of defence, while measures were also taken for the protection of the coast during war time. During his administration physical phenomena from time to time caused distress and damage. Earthquakes destroyed houses and occasioned loss of life; and an eruption of the volcano Popocatepetl in 1697 caused much destruction in the surrounding country. The same year the capital was again inundated, owing to the unusually heavy rains, whereupon the viceroy, aided by contributions, caused the drainage and sewers to be put in order and improved. Indeed, in all cases of calamity he was ever prompt in devising means of relief. Though for political reasons the king may have deemed it prudent to recall him, it cannot be denied that he did his utmost for the welfare of New Spain. 22 It was during the administration of Montezuma that the pacification of Lower California was begun by the Jesuits. The settlement of this country had been frequently attempted during the last century, but no success had attended previous efforts. Expedition after expedition under different leaders, most notable among whom were Ortega, Casanate, and Otondo, had successively failed, and in 1686 the audiencia 23 22 In 1699 Cárlos II., by cédula of the 27th of February, granted to Montezuma and his heirs a pension of 4,000 ducados, with the title of duke of Atlixco. This grant was ratified by Felipe V. in 1704, and again by Fernando VI. in 1752. Reales Cédulas, MS., 10-11, 30-42. In Certif. de las Mercedes, MS., 181-2, the amount is given as 4,000 pesos, and the date of the cédula as February 17, 1699. The income was payable from Indian tributes in Peru, Guatemala, and Campeche. Later orders made it payable from tributes collected in Yucatan. The duquesa de Atlixco was the last heir to whom it was paid, probably in 1758. For full particulars of these expeditions see Hist. N. Mex. States, i. 153 et seq., this series. abandoned the idea of conquest by force of arms. The oidores, however, considered that the subjugation of the Indians could be accomplished by the Jesuits and proposed that they should make the attempt, the expenses incurred being paid by the crown. The provincial of the order saw fit to decline the offer, alleging that the civil and temporal duties which their missionaries would be obliged to undertake would be inconsistent with the constitution of the society. Urged by renewed instructions from Čárlos II. to omit no means of accomplishing the settlement of Lower California, the viceroy in 1690 consulted with Otondo relative to the annual cost of the maintenance of a presidio on the Peninsula. Otondo was of opinion that thirty thousand pesos a year would be sufficient, and the viceroy gave orders for an appropriation to that amount, but the demand from the court for a large sum of money prevented immediate action, and the meditated expedition was indefinitely postponed. And now notwithstanding their former action the Jesuits came forward, and in 1696 proposed to undertake the reduction of the natives, and commenced collecting alms for that purpose. Viceroy Ortega warmly approved the plan, but deemed it proper to consult the audiencia as to the advisability of extending the necessary license. The oidores displayed an inconsistency almost equal to that of the Jesuits, and long debated whether it would be right to intrust such a matter to a religious order. This hesitation caused much astonishment, but it was finally arranged that the commission should be granted on condition that the society should not make any demand upon the royal treasury, and that they should take possession of the country in the name of Cárlos II. The audiencia, however, conceded to fathers Salvatierra and Kino, the promoters of the enterprise, and to their successors, the right to select the troops and officers which might be required, and to discharge them when they deemed it necessary, after OPERATIONS OF THE JESUITS. 267 first advising the viceroy. The particulars of the operations of the Jesuits belong properly to the history of Lower California, in which an account of their proceedings will be given; suffice it to say that their efforts were successful, and permanent settlements were established in the country.24 24 Consult Cavo, Tres Siglos, ii. 63–4, 69–70, 75-6, 87-8, and Hist. North Mex. States, i. passim, this series. |