138 



HT STORY OF MEXICO. 



ttioft ancient houfes are ftill exifting, though reduced 

 by misfortunes, and obfcured and confufed amongft the 

 vulgar (r). It is not to be doubted that it would have 

 been more wife policy in the Spaniards, if, inftead of 

 conducing women from Europe, and {laves from Africa, 

 to Mexico, they had endeavoured to form by marriages, 

 between the Mexicans and themfelves, one fmgle indivi- 

 dual nation. If the nature of this hiftory would permit, 

 we could here give a demonstration of the advantages 

 which would have been derived to both nations from 

 fuch an union, and the misfortunes which were occa- 

 sioned by the oppofite conduct. 



In Mexico, and through the whole empire almoft, 

 excepting in the royal family as we have already men- 

 tioned, the fons fucceeded to all the rights of their fa- 

 thers ; and on failure of fons the rights fell to brothers > 

 and if thele were wanting, to nephews. 



The lands of the Mexican empire were divided be- 

 tween the crown, the nobility, the communities, and 

 the Temples, and there were paintings in which the 

 property of each was diftinctly reprefented. The lands 

 of the crown were painted of a purple, thofe of the 

 nobility of a fcarlet, and thofe of the communities of a 

 yellow colour. In thefe, at firft fight, the extent and 

 boundaries of the different eftates were diflinguimed. 



After 



(r) It is impoflible to behold without regret, the ftate of degradation to 

 which fome illuftrious families of that kingdom have been reduced. Not very- 

 long ago was executed a lockfmith, who was a defcendant of the ancient kings 

 of Michuacan : we knew a poor taylor in Mexico, who was defcended of a 

 very noble houfe of Coyoacan, but had been deprived of the polfefnons which 

 he inherited from his illuftrious anceftors. Examples of this kind are not infre- 

 quent even among the royal families of Mexico, Acolhuacan, and Tacuba ; the. 

 repeated orders, which the juftke and clemency of the Catholic kings caufed to 

 be made in their favour, have not been fufficient to protect them from the 

 general calamity of their nation. 



