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II. RE VILLA -GIGE DO VICEROY 



CHARLES IV. 



in New Spain with the pompous title of practical professors of 

 mineralogy, but they were altogether unskilled in the actual work- 

 ing of mines, and unable to render those of Mexico more produc- 

 tive. The only benefit derived from this mineralogical mission 

 was the establishment of a course of chemical lectures in the 

 seminary of mines, under the direction of Lewis Leinder, who set 

 up the first laboratory in Mexico. 



On the 23d of December, 1788, the minister of the Indies 

 apprised the viceroy of the death of Charles III, which had 

 occurred in the middle of that month. Funeral ceremonies were 

 celebrated, with great pomp, in Mexico, in honor of the defunct 

 monarch ; and, on the 22d of February, 1789, the resignation of 

 the viceroyalty by Flores, — who desired heartily to retire from 

 public life — was graciously accepted by the Spanish court, and 

 his successor named, in the person of the second Count Revilla- 

 Gigedo. 



The Count de Revilla-Gigedo — the second, 

 LII. Viceroy of New Spain. 

 1789 — 1794. 



This distinguished nobleman, whose name figures so favorably 

 in the annals of Mexico, reached Guadalupe on the 16th of October 

 1789, and on the following day entered the capital with all the 

 pompous ceremonies usual in New Spain upon the advent of a 

 new ruler. In the following month — the new sovereign Charles 

 IV. was proclaimed ; and the viceroy, at once set about the regula- 

 tion of the municipal police of his capital which seems to have 

 been somewhat relaxed since the days of his dreaded and avaricious 

 father. Assassinations of the most scandalous and daring charac- 

 ter, had recently warned the viceroy of the insecurity of life and 

 property even in the midst of his guards. But Revilla-Gigedo 

 possessed some of the sterner qualities that distinguished his parent, 

 and never rested until the guilty parties were discovered and 

 brought to prompt and signal justice. The capital soon exhibited 

 a different aspect under his just and rigorous government. He did 

 not trust alone to the reports of his agents in order to satisfy his 

 mind in regard to the wants of Mexico ; for he visited every quarter 

 of the city personally, and often descended unexpectedly upon his 

 officers when they least expected a visit from such a personage. 



