CHAPTER XV. 

 1785 — 1794. 



bernardo de galvez viceroy. chapultepec galvez dies 



his daughter. haro viceroy corruption of al- 

 caldes. flores viceroy his system of ruling the 



northern frontier mining interests. ii. revilla-gi- 



gedo viceroy charles iv. — re villa-gigedo's colonial 



improvements his advice as to california anecdotes 



of his police regulations. the street of revilla- 



gigedo. arrest of fugitive lovers punishes the 



culprits. 



Don Bernardo de Galvez, Count de Galvez, 

 XLIX. Viceroy of New Spain. 

 1785 — 1786. 



The Count Galvez, son of the last viceroy, Don Matias, took 

 charge of the government on the 17th of June, 1785, but enjoyed 

 as brief a reign as his respected father. Hardly had he attained 

 power when a great scarcity of food was experienced among the 

 people of New Spain in consequence of an extraordinarily unfavora- 

 ble season. The excellent disposition of the new officer was 

 shown in his incessant and Liberal efforts to relieve the public 

 distress in all parts of the country afflicted by misery. Meetings 

 were held and committees appointed under his auspices, composed 

 of the most distinguished Spanish and native subjects to aid in 

 this beneficent labor ; and over four hundred thousand dollars were 

 given by the Archbishop of Mexico, and the bishops of Puebla and 

 Michoacan, to encourage agriculture, as well as to relieve the most 

 pressing wants of the people. In order to afford employment to 

 the indigent, at the same time that he permanently improved and 

 beautified the capital and the country generally, the viceroy either 

 commenced or continued a number of important public works, 

 among which were the national roads and the magnificent palace 

 of Chapultepec, the favorite retreat of his father. This splendid 



