The clergy in Mexico amount to the number of 10,000 individuals, of whom one-half are regulars, who wear the cowl ; and, including lay-brothers and sisters, or servants, may be rated at 13,000 or 14,000. This number is much inferior to what has been generally sup posed, and, in proportion to the population, is not the tenth-part of those in Old Spain, or in France before the Revolution. The ecclesiastical establishment in Mexi co resembles that of Spain, with its full train of digni taries. The inferior clergy are divided into three classes : namely, curas, who are parish-priests in those parts of the country where the Spaniards have settled ; docti ineros, who have the charge of districts inhabitated by the Indians subject to the Spanish government ; and missioneros, who are employed in teaching and convert ing the fiercer tribes, who resist the Spanish yoke, and live in the more remote regions. A great many of them suffer extreme poverty, while the revenues of some sur pass those of many sovereign princes in Germany. The archbishop of Mexico possesses an income of 650,000 francs, 01'27,085/. sterling, and several of the bishops not much less ; while there are clergymen of Indian whose yearly income does not exceed 500 or 600 francs, from 20/. to 25/. sterling. Cortez complained, even in his time, of the extravagant luxury and scan dalous lives of the canons; and requested that religeux, or regular monks, might be sent out in preference; but the advice was not followed.
Their labours among the natives have tended rather to change their ceremonies than their sentiments; and it has been the policy of the teachers, from the begin ning, to tolerate, and even to reconcile with Cnristianity, as much as possible of the ancient system. The san guinary spirit of the old rites is, indeed, abolished : but, otherwise, the Indians know little more of religion than the exterior forms of worship, in which, according to the Catholic ritual, they find one of their principal sour ces of amusement. The festivals of that church, the fireworks with which they are accompanied, the proces sions, dances, and fantastical dresses which are exhi bited, interest the lower Indians in the highest degree and afford an opportunity for displaying, all the pecu liarities of the national character.
New Spain was formerly distributed into the follow ing ten districts :—kingdom of Mexico, kingdom of New Gallicia, new kingdom of Leon, colony of New Santander, province of Texas, province of Cohahuila, province of New Biscay, province of Sonora, province of New Mexico, and the two Californias ; and these divisions are still frequently used in the country. It is now divided into twelve intendancies, and three pro vinces, namely, Some of these intendancies are ten, twenty, and even thirty times larger than others; while several of the least extensive contain above 100 times more inhabitants than the larger divisions. The following Table may be
useful, as presenting in one view these striking inequa lities of the distribution of Mexican population, even in the most civilized part of the kingdom.
The fundamental maxim of Spanish jurisprudence in Mexico and the other colonies is, to consider all these acquired dominions as vested solely in the crown, and as in a manner the personal property of the sovereign. This right is rested upon the bull of Alexander VI. which bestowed, as a free gift, upon Ferdinand and Isabella, all the regions that had been or should be dis covered in America. From the Spanish monarchs all grants of land in that continent proceed, and to them they finally return. The leaders of the various expe ditions, the governors of the different colonies, the offi• cers of justice, the ministers of religion, are all appoint ed by their authority, and removable at their pleasure. The colonists are entitled to no privileges independent of the sovereign ; and even in the largest cities the rights of the citizens are merely municipal, and limited to the regulation of their own internal commerce and police. All political power, every thing relating to pub lic government, centres in the crown, and in the officers whom it has nominated. The viceroy of New Spain not only represents the person of the sovereign, but pos sesses all his regal prerogatives in their utmost extent, and exercises supreme authority in every department of government, civil, military, and criminal. He has the sole right of nominating to the principal offices, and of supplying those which are in the king's gift till the per son whom he appoints shall arrive. His court is form ed upon the model of that of Madrid, and displays an equal or even a superior degree of magnificence and state. He is aided in his extensive government by offi cers and tribunals resembling those of Spain ; and though some of these are appointed by the sovereign, they are all subject to the viceroy's command, and amen able to his jurisdiction.
The administration of justice is vested in tribunals called audiencias, formed upon the model of the Spanish comt of chancery. One of those, consisting of a num ber of judges, proportioned to the extent of the district, is established in every province, and takes cognizance bath of civil and criminal causes. The viceroys are expressly prohibited from interfering in the decisions of these courts ; and in some cases the audiencias may bring his political regulations under their review, and present remonstrances on the subject; or, finally, lay the matter before the king and the council of the In dies. Upon the death of a viceroy, the supreme power is vested in the audiencia of the capital till a successor be appointed, and the senior judge, assisted by his brethren, exercises all the functions of the vacant office.