DUQUE DE LA CONQUISTA.

353

zaba, and the neighboring towns were called out, and a formal campaign opened. A force of six hundred Spaniards attacked the insurgents, who were routed after a stubborn resistance. The ringleaders were executed, and others who were captured were subjected to cruel tortures. Those who escaped fled to the mountains; but hunger caused most of them to return, while a few preferred death from starvation to the fate of their companions."

During the greater part of the following year violent storms prevailed, and in the month of August the epidemic called matlazahuatl made its appearance in Tacuba, and spread with rapidity over the whole country. This terrible disease was similar to that of 1576, which carried off some two millions of natives."

8

After being relieved from office as viceroy, Vizarron remained in charge of the primacy until the day of his death,10 and was succeeded in 1749 by archbishop Dr Manuel Joseph Rubio y Salinas, who presided over the affairs of the church no less ably than had his predecessor." He died, after a successful ad

More particulars about this insurrection may be found in Rodriguez, Cart. Hist., 43-6; Rivera, Gobernantes, i. 107-8. In 1737 a Guaima Indian. was hanged for inciting the natives to revolt, pretending to be a prophet. At. the execution the natives were much astonished that the Spaniards did not turn into stone. Alaman, Disert., iii. app. 56.

The cholora morbus of 1833 also broke out in August, at the time when Herschel's comet was expected, though this was not visible in Mexico till Oct. 11, 1835. Bustamante, in Cavo, Tres Siglos, ii. 137. The epidemic of 1736-7 was also ascribed to the appearance of a comet. In the city of Mexico the deaths amounted to 40,000, according to Alaman, and Cabrera gives 54,000 for Puebla. Alegre claims that in the province of Mexico one third of the population perished, and Villa-Señorstates that many towns remained deserted. A remarkable circumstance was that Teutitlan, Ayahualica, Hueyacocotlan, and Notchixtlan in the bishopric of Oajaca, though surrounded by infected towns remained free from contagion. The Spaniards, as usual, suffered less than the Indians. See also Alegre, Hist. Comp., iii. 261-8; Panes, Vireyes, MS., 113-15; Doc. Ecles. Mex., MS., ii. pt. i. 133; Alzate, Gazeta Lit., ii. 97.

Our Lady of Guadalupe was supposed to have caused the disappearance of the epidemic. She was therefore declared the patron saint of the city of Mexico, and in later years of the whole country. Alaman, Disert., iii. app. 56.

10 He made a report of the condition of the country and the different branches of the administration to the king, and died Feb. 25, 1747. See Vizarron y Equiarreta, 4-7, 85-92, in lireyes de Mex. Instruc., 1st ser. nos. 18, 19; Actos Secretos, in Doc. Ecles. Méx., MS., i. pt. i. v.; Villa-Señor y Sanchez, Theatro, i. 17-19; Alaman, Disert., iii. app. 56; Castro, Diario, in Doc. Hist. Mex., 1st ser., iv. 76–7.

"This prelate, related to the most prominent nobility of Spain, was born. HIST. MEX., VOL. III. 23

ministration of sixteen years, at the age of sixty

two.

The thirty-ninth viceroy, Pedro de Castro y Figueroa Salazar, duque de la Conquista y marqués de Gracia Real, took charge of the government of New Spain August 17, 1740. He had taken passage in a Dutch ship in order to elude the English war vessels which were then cruising in the North Sea, but being pursued near Portobello was obliged to make his escape in a small swift craft which had served as escort. His baggage and papers were left behind, but he was nevertheless acknowledged as viceroy without credentials.12 During his brief reign of a single year, he gave indications of being a good ruler, though he found the country in a less favorable condition than his predecessors. The French had retired from the extreme northern provinces of New Spain, but the English, under Oglethorpe, bombarded San Agustin, in Florida; while Admiral Vernon who had captured Portobello and destroyed the castle of San Lorenzo at the mouth of the Chagre, threatened Ulúa and Vera Cruz.

The duke ordered that the razed batteries of Guadalupe and San Miguel should be reconstructed, and an adequate force raised for the protection of the gulf coast. Soon afterward he repaired to Vera Cruz for the purpose of adopting measures for defence, but a short time after his arrival at that port he was stricken

June 29, 1703. He finished his studies at the famous university of Alcalá de Henares and became celebrated as a licentiate in canon law. It is not known when he took orders, but he rose rapidly in the ecclesiastical career under the patronage of Cardinal Borja, and at the time of his election to the Mexican archsee was abbot of San Isidro de Leon. See Veitia, Linage, in Doc. Ecles. Mex., MS., i. pt. v. 36; Concilios Prov., 1555–65, 225-26; Reales Cédulas, MS., i. 181; N. Esp. Breve Res., i. 139-40; Sosa, Episcop. Mex., 182-91; Morena, Juan Becerra, Rel. Mex., 1766; Vallarte, Sermon, pt. ix., in Arteaga, Josias.

12Instead of saving the credentials and instructions of the crown, the duke took with him his favorite poodle-dog. For this he was severely reprimanded by the king, and the rebuke bore so heavily upon his mind that one year later it caused his death. So say Cavo, Tres Siglos, ii. 148, and Rivera, Gobernantes, i. 353. It is more likely that the viceroy died from yellow fever. The lost baggage was valued at 100,000 pesos.

CONDE DE FUENCLARA.

355

down with a severe illness, causing his immediate return to Mexico, where he died, August 22, 1741.13 His successor, Pedro Cebrian y Agustin, conde de Fuenclara, the fortieth viceroy, and the last who in those days enjoyed the dignity of grandee of New Spain, assumed office November 3, 1742.

At this time the Spanish provinces were kept in a state of constant alarm by the operations of Anson and Vernon, which have already been briefly related.1 After scouring the Pacific coast of South America, Anson arrived off Acapulco in February 1742, with forces greatly reduced by sickness, and failing to receive the coöperation of Vernon, resolved not to make any attempt on the mainland.. Hearing that he had narrowly missed intercepting a treasure-ship named the Covadonga, which had sailed safely into Acapulco a short time before, he cruised off that port for three months in the hope of capturing this prize. In the ordinary course of things the Covadonga should have left Acapulco in March, but on account of Anson's presence the authorities thought it best to detain her until the following year. Thereupon the British admiral set sail in disgust for China; and, having burned one of his two vessels and refitted the other near Macao, put off to await the arrival of the two gallcons which he expected would reach the Philippines in May 1743. On the 20th of this month he arrived in his remaining vessel, the Centurion, a frigate of sixty guns, and with a very slender ship's company, at cape Espí

13 Humboldt, Essai Pol., i. 203, asserts that the duque de la Conquista was the only viceroy born in America. In this statement he is in error; there were several others, among whom was Casafuerte, who, as before related, was born in Lima. For more particulars concerning the administration of this viceroy, see Figueroa, Vindicias, MS., 123; Villa-Señor, Teatro, i. 44–5; Papeles Franciscanos, MS., i. 1st ser. 521, 531; Castillo, Sermon Real, 1 et seq.; Panes, Vireyes, in Mon. Dom. Esp., MS., 117; Reales Cedulas, MS., 149; Vireyes, Instruc., MS., pt. 20; Linares, Instruc., MS., 1-12; Lorenzana, in Cortés, Hist. N. Esp., 32; Cavo, Tres Siglos, ii. 146-8; Alaman, Disert., iii. app. 57; Rivero, Gobernantes, i. 351-4. On the death of the viceroy, there being no carta de mortaja, the audiencia assumed the reins of government, with Pedro Malo de Villavicencio as president. During his brief rule nothing worthy of note occurred.

14 See Hist. Cent. Amer., ii. 589 et seq., this series.

ritu Santo, off the island of Samal. Here were erected signal stations for the purpose of warning Spanish galleons to beware of enemies who might be cruising about in neighboring waters. The Covadonga soon made her appearance, and when Anson's ship was sighted, bore down upon her to give battle.

Though not a war vessel, the Covadonga was well armed and manned, having thirty-six large guns, twenty-eight howitzers, and five hundred and fifty men, a number greatly in excess of the Centurion's crew. But these advantages were counterbalanced by the lightness of the British frigate, and the greater efficiency of her men. For two hours the conflict lasted. Though outmatched in seamanship the Spaniards showed no lack of courage. The galleon's rigging caught fire; her pennant was shot away; her commander was wounded, sixty-seven of her crew were killed, and a greater number wounded, before her colors were struck, while the loss of the British was but one man killed and seventeen wounded. Taking possession of his prize, Anson found on board treasure amounting to nearly a million and a half in coin, and about forty thousand five hundred marks in silver bullion.15

When the news of this disaster reached Mexico, it created much dissatisfaction among the parties interested, who laid the blame on the authorities. Moreover, the war which was then raging in Europe caused great scarcity of merchandise and high prices throughout New Spain.

A remarkable instance of Spanish jealousy toward foreigners, and of the strictness with which the laws in that respect were enforced, occurred at the beginning of Fuenclara's rule. Before the arrival of the viceroy, an Italian gentleman, Lorenzo Boturini, appeared in Mexico provided with a papal bull author

15 Cavo, Tres Siglos, ii. 152, gives only 4,463 marks of silver. Other authors confirm the amount given in the text.

LORENZO BOTURINI.

357

izing him to make collections for the purpose of providing a costly crown for the virgin of Guadalupe. Upon leaving Spain, however, he had forgotten to procure the sanction of the India Council; nevertheless the audiencia, believing Boturini to be sincere in his intention, decided to issue to him a license and passport. Fuenclara, however, took matters more seriously. An investigation was instituted, Boturini was imprisoned, and his papers, forming an exceedingly valuable historical collection, were taken in charge by the authorities.16 Although Boturini had acted in good faith, he was kept in confinement for a long time, until finally, not knowing what to do with him, the audiencia sent him to Spain. There he presented his case at court and was compensated by the position of royal chronicler with the salary of a thousand pesos, and the Mexican government was ordered to return his manuscripts. This, however, was never done, and the greater portion of them disappeared from the office of the viceroy's secretary. Thus the persecution of Boturini and his exile from New Spain were the cause of an irreparable loss to Mexican history, for which Fuenclara is directly answerable. As for the audiencia, the viceroy was ordered to convoke a secret session, and having done so, to administer a stern rebuke for their presumption in encroaching on the prerogatives of the council of the Indies.

Fuenclara was a peaceably inclined ruler and seems to have paid much more attention to the development of the country's resources. Apart from this there is little to record concerning his administration. Indeed. this period of the history of New Spain is necessarily void of interest. The European wars were confined to the Old World, and the people of New Spain were

16 The learned Italian made this collection intending to write the history of 'Our Lady of Guadalupe.' The ancient documents which he gathered from all parts of New Spain grew upon his hands, and induced him to extend the scope of his work. These works will be fully discussed later.