182 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



Juan Fernandez only. Although we mould grant that 

 thofe fruits grow in no country of America, it would not 

 avail him to prove what he intends to prove, but even 

 this particular is as falfe as his general propofition. Acof- 

 ta, treating of thofe fruits in particular, fays, " Peaches, 

 quinces, and apricots grow well in America, but befl in 

 New Spain (#)." In all New Spain, except the hot 

 countries, thofe fruits, and all others tranfplanted from 

 Europe, have thriven and grow in abundance (7?). 

 " Laftly," fays Acofta, fpeaking of America in general, 

 " almoft every thing good which is produced in Spain 

 " grows there, fometimes better, and fc: retimes not ; 

 " wheat, barley, fallads, kitchen-herbs^^ pu?fej £:c." (/*) 

 If he had fpoken only of New Spain, he would have 

 omitted that almost. 



u There is alfo another advantage" fays Acofta, 

 " which is, that the things of Europe are better in 

 H America than thofe of America are in Europe." But 

 this may appear but a fmall advantage to Mr. de Paw. 

 It alone would' jq fuliicient however to demonftrate that, 

 if there is any preference, it is to be given to America, 

 In New Spain, many European authors atteft, and all 

 who have been there know, that wheat, barley, and 

 every grain of Europe ; peas, beans, and every other 

 pulfe ; lettuces, cabbages, turnips, afparagus, and other 

 fallads and roots, and every fort of kitchen herbs ; 



peaches, 



(g) Acofta, lib. iv. cap. 31. Peaches are fo plentiful in New Spain, that 

 they are fold by twenties ; and for the fmalleft currency there, two, three, or 

 four twenties are given, in the kingdom of Chili, they count twelve different 

 fpecies of peaches, fome of whicfi are fo large as to weigh a pound Spanifh, or 

 fixteen ounces. Molina Stor. del Chili. 



(b) Pears are alfo fold in twenties at Mexico ; and there are upwards of 

 fifty fpecies of them. 



(i) Acofta, lib. iv. cap. 3 1. 



