and since that time the Government has paid very little attention to statistical researches. Several memoirs, drawn up by intendants on the actual state of the country confided to their care, contain exactly the same numbers as the table of 1793, as if the population could have remained the same for ten years. It is certain, however, that this population has made the most extraordinary progress. The augmentation of tithes and of the Indian capitation, and of all the duties on consumption, the progress of agriculture and civilization, the aspect of a country covered with newly constructed houses, announce a rapid increase in every part of the kingdom.

The only true sign of a real and permanent increase of population, is an increase in the means of subsistence. This increase, this augmentation of the produce of agriculture, is evident in Mexico ; and appears even to indicate a much more rapid progress of population than has been supposed, in deducing the population of 1803 from the imperfect census of 1793. In a catholic country, the ecclesiastical tithes are, as it were, the thermometer by which we may judge of the state of agriculture; and these tithes have doubled in less than 24

years. In speaking of the progress of the Mexican population, we must briefly advert to its supposed increase by the arrival of European colonists, and to its diminution by the yellow fever or black vomit. It is sufficient to observe that Europe does

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new.

INCREASE OF POPULATION.

not send more than 800 annually to Mexico. Political writers have always exaggerated what they call the depopulation of the old continent by the M. Page, for instance, asserts in his work on the Commerce of St. Domingo, that the emigrations from Europe supply annually more than 100,000 individuals to the United States. This estimate is twenty times higher than the truth; for in 1784 and 1792, when the United States received the greatest number of European colonists, their number did not exceed 5000. The progress of population in Mexico and North America is derived solely from an increase of internal prosperity. As for the vomito prieto, it is never felt but on the coast, nor does it carry off annually more than from two to three thousand persons.

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CHAPTER V.

Manufactures-powder manufactory—goldsmiths—mint— interior commerce-foreign commerce-smuggling-average value of exports and imports.

If we consider the small progress of manufactures in Spain, notwithstanding the numerous encouragements which they have received, since the Ministry of the Marquis de la Ensenada, we shall not be surprised that whatever relates to manufactures and manufacturing industry is still less advanced in Mexico. The restless and suspicious policy of the nations of Europe, the legislation and colonial policy of the moderns, which bear very little resemblance to those of the Phoenicians and Greeks, have thrown insurmountable obstacles in the way of the prosperity of their distant possessions.

Notwithstandig all these obstacles, the manufactures have made some progress in three centuries, during which time Biscayans, Catalonians, Asturians, and Valencians, have settled in the New World, and carried there the industry of their native provinces. The manufacture of coarse stuffs can every where be carried on at a low rate, when raw materials are found in abundance, and when the price of the goods of Europe and Oriental Asia is so much increased by carriage. In time of war,

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MANUFACTURES.

the want of communication with the mother country, and the regulations prohibiting commerce with neutrals, have favoured the establishment of manufactures of calicoes, fine cloth, and whatever is connected with the refinements of luxury.

The value of the produce of the manufacturing industry of New Spain is estimated at about From the quantity and 1,600,0007. per annum. quality of the cotton which the low-lands of New Spain are so well adapted to produce, native manufactures of that material appear to hold the first place in importance. Those of the intendancy of Puebla furnish annually, in time of peace, for the interior commerce, a produce to the value of 325,000. The weavers of cottons of all sorts in Puebla were computed in 1802 at more than 1200. In this town, as well as in Mexico, the printing of calicoes, both those imported from Manilla and those manufactured in New Spain, has made considerable progress within these few years.

The oldest cloth manufactories of Mexico are those of Tezcuco. They were in great part established in 1592 by the viceroy Don Louis de Velasco II., the son of the celebrated constable of Castille, who was second viceroy of New Spain. By degrees, this branch of national industry passed entirely into the hands of the Indians and Mestizoes. The value of the cloths and woollen stuffs manufactured in Queretaro at present amounts to more than 135,000Z.

With the exception of a few stuffs of cotton mixed with silk, the manufacture of silks is at present next to nothing.

New Spain has no flax or hemp manufactories, and the manufacture of paper is also unknown in it. The manufacture of tobacco is a royal right.

The manufacture of hard soap is a considerable object of commerce at Puebla, Mexico, and Guadalaxara. The first of these towns produces nearly 2143 tons per annum; and in the intendancy of Guadalaxara, the quantity manufactured is computed at 54,000. The abundance of soda which we find almost every where at elevations of 6000 to 8000 feet, in the interior table-land of Mexico, is highly favourable to this manufacture.

The town of Puebla was formerly celebrated for its fine manufactories of delft ware (loza) and hats. We have already observed, that, till the commencement of the eighteenth century, these two branches of industry enlivened the commerce between Acapulco and Peru. At present there is little or no communication between Puebla and Lima; and the delft manufactories have fallen off so much, on account of the low price of the stoneware and porcelain of Europe imported at Vera Cruz, that of 46 manufactories which were still existing in 1793, there were in 1802 only sixteen remaining of delft ware, and two of glass.

In New Spain, as well as in the greatest number of countries in Europe, the manufacture of powder