194 



SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 



CHAPTER XV. 



The Mint. 



This establishment occupies one part of the 

 palace of the Viceroy, and is of considerable 

 extent ; we visited it in company with several 

 German and American gentlemen, and ob- 

 tained admission, without difficulty : a person 

 was sent to attend us, who explained every part 

 of the process of preparing the silver, coining, 

 &c. and on our leaving the place, refused any 

 remuneration whatever for his trouble, — a 

 thing very unusual in any part of the world. 

 In no institution of the kind, that I am ac- 

 quainted with, does a stranger receive so 

 much attention, politeness, and information, 

 gratiSy as in this. 



