placed under arrest for arranging a duel.[1] Abuses introduced under the rule of Baños were reformed; all grants and appointments made by the latter were declared as null and void by order of the crown; and severe punishment was inflicted on several negligent and defaulting officials.[2]
The activity displayed by the bishop-viceroy was astonishing, and seemed to be transmitted to all departments of the government. Assistance in money, workmen, and ammunition was sent to Cuba; the management of the royal treasury was reorganized so effectually that, after a rule of only six weeks, there were four hundred and fifty thousand pesos ready to be sent to Spain, and from July till October more than seventy law-suits were despatched in the court of the audiencia. Thus the whole aspect of affairs was changed, and hopes were entertained, that New Spain, would prosper under his administration, when news arrived that a successor, appointed by the crown, had reached Vera Cruz. On September 27th the viceroy formally gave up his office, and on November 15th his archbishopric, when his successor took possession.[3]
Alonso de Cuevas Dávalos was the first native of Mexico who ever occupied the archiepiscopal chair of New Spain. He was born in 1590, had studied in the Jesuit college, and been rector of the university in 1632. After holding the offices of canon at Puebla,
- ↑ The imbroglio arose in 1660 on the arrival of Baños, in consequence of remarks made by Pedro de Leiva, about the creoles, in presence of the count. Altercations and brawls followed, but the final settlement of the question had been delayed till Baños was removed. Guijo, Diario, 546-7.
- ↑ Diego Valles, an olficial of the treasury and quicksilver department, was suspended and heavily fined in virtue of a royal cédula, 'the severest ever despatched against an official,' says Guijo. He was charged with being bribed by Baños. Two regidores were removed for having revealed the secrets of the cabildo sessions to the former viceroy. See Guijo, Diario, 537-48, where also several similar cases are mentioned.
- ↑ A month later, December 15, 1664, Osorio returned to his diocese of Puebla, which he retained till his death in 1673. His residencia was taken in 1666, and several charges were preferred against him by representatives of the count of Baños, relative to his conduct at the time of his succession to the government, but no sentence seems ever to have been pronounced against him, save one, imposing a small fine, which afterward was revoked by the council of the Indies, Robles, Diario, i. 29-34, 151.
