a dark sallow complexion. Brave and industrious, prompt and cautious, he was strict, perhaps stern, in the administration of justice. Possessed of a genial and generous disposition, the absence of arrogance won for him much good-will; and though the kindness of his heart ever prompted him to friendly acts, he was guided by discrimination in his benevolence. The satisfactory manner in which he performed his duties in the matter of residencias in Nueva Galicia, and the successful commencement which he made for the establishment of a healthy government, speak loudly in his praise.
When the news of Torre's death reached Mendoza he appointed Luis Galindo chief justice of Nueva Galicia,[1] and shortly afterward Francisco Vazquez de Coronado provisional governor, this latter appointment being confirmed by royal cédula of April 18, 1539.[2]
Vazquez de Coronado was a native of Salamanca, and had married a daughter of Alonso de Estrada, the royal treasurer of New Spain.[3] Mendoza held him in high esteem, but his eyes were perhaps a little blinded by friendship. The viceroy regarded him as a prudent and able man, and gifted with talents above
- ↑ He also ordered Galindo to remove the Spanish settlers from Tonalá to Guadalajara, which was done and lots assigned to them. Tello, Hist. N. Gal., 369-70. Mota Padilla says the building of Guadalajara was arrested, and Mendoza ordered the Spaniards at Teutlan (Tetlan?) and Tonalá to be removed to that town. Cong. N. Gal., 109.
- ↑ The same cédula ordered Coronado to take the residencia of the deceased governor. Coronado's salary was fixed at 1,000 ducats, with an additional sum of 500 ducats, to be paid him out of the government revenues of his province. Id., 110. Herrera, dec. vi. lib. v. cap. ix., has here confused events. He leaves it to be inferred that the death of Torre was not known in Mexico at the time of Coronado's appointment by the king; 'y llegado a Guadalajara, hallo que era muerto.'
- ↑ He had received as his wife's dowry one half of Tlapan, which town had been obtained from the crown by his mother-in-law in compensation for Tepeaca of which the audiencia had deprived her. Mendoza, Lettre, in Ternaux-Compans, Voy., série ii. tom. v. 252. Cortés states that Coronado received Jalapa, the tribute from which was over 3,000 ducats, and accuses Mendoza of taking that source of revenue from the crown and granting it to the wife of Estrada with the understanding that it should be given to Coronado. Cortés, Escritos Sueltos, 337.
