AND MANUFACTURES THREATENED REVOLT. 271 



existence. The politics and intrigues of the old world thus ac- 

 quainted the colony with her resources and taught her the value of 

 independence. 



Azanza's administration was, for a while, disturbed by a threat- 

 ened outbreak among the lower classes, whose chief conspirators 

 assembled in an obscure house in the capital, and designed, at a 

 suitable moment, rising in great numbers and murdering, without 

 discrimination, all the wealthiest or most distinguished Spaniards. 

 This treasonable project was discovered to the viceroy, who went 

 in person, with a guard, to the quarters of the leaguers, and ar- 

 rested them on the spot. They were speedily brought to trial ; but 

 the cause hung in the courts until after the departure of Azanza, 

 when powerful and touching intercessions were made with his suc- 

 cessor to save the lives of the culprits. The project of a pardon 

 was maturely considered by the proper authorities, and it was re- 

 solved not to execute the guilty chiefs, inasmuch as it was believed 

 that their appearance upon a scaffold would be the signal for a 

 general revolt of the people against the dominion of the parent 

 country. The sounds of the approaching storm were already heard 

 in the distance, and justice yielded to policy. 



Azanza, with all his excellent qualities as a Governor in Ame- 

 rica, did not give satisfaction to the court at home. There is no 

 doubt of the value of his administration in Mexico, and it is, there- 

 fore, difficult to account for his loss of favor, except upon the 

 ground of intrigue and corruption which were rife in Madrid. 

 The reign of Charles IV. and the administration of the Prince of 

 Peace, are celebrated in history as the least respectable in modern 

 Spanish annals. Whilst the royal favorite controled the king's 

 councils, favoritism and intrigue ruled the day. Among other le- 

 gends of the time, it is asserted by Bustamante, in his continuation 

 of Cavo's " Tres Sighs de Mejico, " that the Mexican viceroyalty 

 was almost put up at auction in Madrid, and offered for eighty 

 thousand dollars to the secretary Bonilla. In consequence of this 

 personage's inability to procure the requisite sum, it was conferred, 

 through another bargain and sale, upon Don Felix Berenguer de 

 Marquina, an obscure officer, who was unknown to the king either 

 personally or as a meritorious servant of the crown and people. 



The Mexican author to whom we have just referred, charac- 

 terizes Azanza as the wisest, most politic and amiable viceroy, 

 ever sent by Spain to rule over his beautiful country. 1 



1 Cavo y Bustamante: Tres Siglos de Mejico, tomo 3°, 190. 



