96 SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO, 



the Conquest, I was told there were thirty-two 

 volumes of them ; but on pressing the matter 

 further, they said they were locked up, 

 and could not be seen, and afterwards, " that 

 they were removed to Mexico.'" One part of 

 the library consisted in controversial divinity, 

 but this was not permitted to be read even by 

 the clergy. Nothing could exceed the at- 

 tention and civility of the librarian ; and in 

 the usual Spanish phrase he told me the 

 whole was at my disposal. He opened a 

 large window to show me the bishop^ garden, 

 and I was delighted with a glorious specimen 

 of convolvulus, which grew in the centre ; it 

 was trained so as to cover the whole of a 

 large tree, its shining rich crimson flowers 

 spreading over the dark foliage, from the 

 very ground to a commanding height. It was 

 one of the most elegant vegetable productions 

 I had ever seen; and being promised some 

 of the seed, I hope to see this fine plant in 



