NUNO DE PORTUGAL "VICEROY. 



211 



Don Pedro Nuno Colon de Portugal, 

 Duke of Veraguas and Knight of the Golden Fleece, 

 XXVI. Viceroy of New Spain. 



1673. 



The nomination of this distinguished nobleman and descendant 

 of the discoverer of America, was unquestionably designed merely 

 as a compliment to the memory of a man, whose genius had given 

 a new world to Castile. 1 He was so far advanced in life, that it 

 was scarcely presumed he would be able to withstand the hardships 

 of the voyage or reach the Mexican metropolis. And such, 

 indeed, was the result of his toilsome journey. His baton of 

 office, — assumed on the 8th of December, 1673, — fell from his 

 decrepit hand on the 13th of the same month. So sure was the 

 Spanish court that the viceroy would not long survive his arrival, 

 that it had already appointed his successor, and sent a sealed 

 despatch with the commission, which was to be opened in the 

 event of Don Pedro's death. It thus happened that the funeral of 

 one viceroy, was presided over by his successor ; and the august 

 ceremonial was doubtless more solemn from the fact that this 

 successor was Rivera, who, at that time, was the archbishop 

 of Mexico. 



The Duke of Veraguas of course neither originated any thing 

 nor completed any public work that had been already commenced ; 

 but the companions of his voyage to America, long remembered 

 and spoke of the good will and wise measures which he constantly 

 manifested in conversation relative to the government of New Spain. 



1 " A Castilla y a Leon, 

 " Mundo nuebo dio Colon, " 

 Is the motto attached to the arms of this house. 



