189 
ered the paper with alarming rapidity. We feel 
a sentiment of indignation on seeing the ex- 
treme negligence, with which these valuable 
remains were abandoned, which had cost so 
much care and labor, and which the unfortu- 
nate Boturini, fired with that enthusiasm, which 
is peculiar to enterprising men, calls in his His- 
torical Essay, the only property which he 
possessed in the Indies, and which he would 
not change against all the gold and silver of 
the New World.” I shall not here undertake 
to give a detail of the paintings preserved in the 
palace of the viceroyalty ; but shall only observe, 
that there are some, which are six metres 
long and two broad, and which represent the 
migrations of the Aztecks from the Rio Gila 
to the valley of Tenochtitlan, the foundation of 
several cities, and wars with the neighbouring 
nations. 
The library of the University of Mexico 
is no longer in possession of any original 
hieroglyphic paintings. I found only a few 
copies in outline without colours, and executed 
with little care. The richest and finest col- 
lection of this capital is that of P. Jose Antonio 
Pichardo, member of the congregation of San 
Felipe Neri. The house of this enlightened 
and studious person was to me what the house 
of Siguenza was to the traveller Geinelli. Pi- 
chardo has sacrificed his little fortune in collect- 
