SPANISH AMERICA. 523 



Acapulco is the sea-port by which the communication is kept up 

 between the different parts of the Spanish empire in America and 

 the East indies. About the month of December the great gal- 

 leon, aittp.ded by a large ship as • convoy, annually arrived here. The 

 cargoes of these ships (for the convoy, though in an under-hand man- 

 ner, likewise carried goods) consisted of all the rich commodities and 

 manufactures of the East. At the same time the annual ship irom 

 Lima, the capital o( Peru, came in, and was not computed to bring 

 less than two millions of pieces of eight in silver, besides quicksilver, 

 and other valuable commodities, to be laid out in the purchase of the 

 galieon's cargoes. Several other ships, from different parts of Chili 

 and Peru, met upon the same occasion. A great fair in which the 

 commodities of all parts of the world were bartered for one another, 

 lasted thirty days. The galleon then prepared for her voyage, loaded 

 with silver, and such European goods as had been thought necessary. 

 The Spaniards, though this trade was carried on entirely through 

 their hands, and in the very heart of their dominions, were compara- 

 tively but small gainers by it. For as they allowed the Dutch, Great 

 Britain, and other commercial states, to furnish the greater part of 

 the cargo of the flota, so the Spanish inhabitants of the Philippines, 

 tainted with the same indolence which ruined their European ances- 

 tors, permitted the Chinese merchants to furnish the greater part of 

 the cargo of the galleon. Since 1748, however, the galleons have 

 been laid aside ; and smaller vessels, called register ships employed. 

 In 1764, monthly packets where established between Corunna and the 

 Havanna. The trade to Cuba, as also to Yucatan and Campeachy, 

 has been laid open to all Spain; and in 1774, a free intercourse was 

 permitted between Mexico and Peru. This liberal policy will, no 

 dotrot, considerably increase the trade and wealth of these countries. 



Government.. ..The civil government of Mexico is administered 

 by tribunals called audiences, which bear a resemblance to the old 

 parliaments in France. In these courts the viceroy of the king of 

 Spain presides. His employment is the greatest trust and power 

 which his catholic majesty has in his disposal, and is perhaps the 

 richest government entrusted to any subject in the world. The great- 

 ness of the viceroy's office is diminished by the shortness of its du- 

 ration : for as jealousy is the leading feature of Spanish politics in 

 whatever regards America, no officer is allowed to retain his power 

 for more than three years ; which, no doubt, may have a good effect 

 in securing the authority of the crown of Spain, but is attended with 

 unhappy consequences to the miserable inhabitants, who become a 

 prey to every new governor. 



Religion.. .The established religion of this country, and through- 

 out Spanish America, is the Roman catholic, in all its bigotry and su- 

 perstition. The clergy are extremely numerous in Mexico ; and it 

 has been computed that priests, monks, and nuns of all orders, make 

 upwards of a fifth of all the white inhabitants, both here and in the 

 other parts of Spanish America. The people are superstitious, ig- 

 norant, rich, lazy, and licentious : with such materials to work upon, 

 it is not remarkable that the church should enjoy one-fourth of the 

 revenues of the whole kingdom. 



History ...The history of Mexiso has already been given in our 

 account of the discovery and conquest of America. 



