Notes in Mexico in 1861 and 1861 : Politically and Socially Considered

502 Pages·1862·20.103 MB·English

by  Charles Lempriere

MEXICO
POLITICALLY AND SOCIALLY CONSIDEEED.
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NOTES
MEXICO IN 1861 AND 1862:
POLITICALLY AND SOCIALLY CONSIDERED.
CHARLES LEMPEIEIiE, D.C.L.
OP TUB IiVNBli TEMPLE, AND LAW FELLOW OP ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE, OXFOKD
AUTHOH OP 'the AMEUICAN CEISIS.'
LONDON:
LONGMAN, GREEN, LONGMAN, ROBERTS, & GREEN.
1862.

^^A":
CONTENTS.
....
I. Introductory 1
.....
II. From Vera Cruz to Mexico . 47
III. Mexico 74
IV. Environs of Mexico . 105
V. Description of the Country 129
VI. Statistics . . • . 181
— —
VII. Population Finance Copper Bonds-
—
Insecurity of Life Army 229
OVIII. JoU14NEY FROM MeXICO TO VeRA CrUZ 281
^ IX. History of Etents 321
^
J
X. Position of England 376
.
—
APPENDICES
:
I 423
II 437
Ill 456

—
NOTES IN MEXICO, 1861-62.
CHAPTER
I.
INTRODUCTORY.
The merciful hand of Providence has bestowed on
the Mexicans a magnificent land, abounding in
—
resources of all kinds a land where none ought to
be poor, and where misery ought to be unknown
—
a land whose products and riches of every kind
are abundant, and as varied as they are rich. It is
a country endowed to profusion with every gift that
—
man can desire or envy; all the metals from gold
tolead ; every sort ofclimate from perpetualsnowto
tropical heat, and inconceivable fertility. Wheat,
maize, barley, sugar, coffee, spices, tobacco, cotton,
indigo, drugs, &c., are cultivated with little eflfort.
One thing alone is wanting, that is, a government
and the absence of this mars all the other mani-
B
—
2 NOTES IN MEXICO, 1861-62.
fold advantages. The people are docile and easily
managed they care not who rule them (always ex-
;
cepting the Spaniards) so long as they are left in
peace and tranquillity to pursue their humble and
unambitious life. Three steamers in the Pacific and
three in the Gulf would effectually stop all smug-
gling, and insure an overflowing treasury to any
well-regulated administration.
Theentirepublicdebtdoesnotexceed^120,000,000,
about£24,000,000sterling,amerebagatelle,consider-
ing its wealth and resources. Their presentunpro-
ductiveness arises entirely from mismanagement and
malversation. Every man, for years past, when he
—
has secured office no matter what, from minister
downwards, with a few honourable exceptions,
has thought of nothing but enriching himself at
the public expense; and this they have managed
to do to no small extent, even at the worst
of times. The present government, though really
representing the constitutional feeling and strength
of the country, is weak and vacillating, and has
never been able to organise an efficient and strong
central moving power, which can be felt through all
its dependencies. They naturally look to England as
the ark of civil liberty; while the clergy are leaning
onFrancein the hope of reestablishing ecclesiastical