officials, and he was a humble Spaniard indeed, who filled no public position. It is not necessary to enter more fully into the details of the municipal machinery or the somewhat intricate relations of the different branches of power in this much governed city.[1] The treasury department was under a staff of officers whose chief duty it was to receive, tax, and stamp silver bullion, and to deliver quicksilver for use in the mines. At one time the administration of the exchequer seems to have been intrusted to the governor and audiencia, but they did not long retain control, for the king always took care that the precious metals in transit between the mines and the royal coffers in Spain should pass through as few hands as possible. A branch treasury was also established at Zacatecas, where the revenue for a single decade, commencing in 1730, amounted to nearly four million pesos.
Before 1600, as we have seen, rich mines were discovered, and during the next two centuries many were developed, often with rich returns in spite of great disadvantages. They were nearly all of silver-bearing ore, though according to Mota-Padilla, very fine gold was taken out at Mezquital, and in such abundance as to be used secretly in trade throughout the country. This yield ceased however toward the middle of the eighteenth century. Respecting methods of mining and of reduction we have little or no contemporaneous information, while of the yield we have for statistics only a few meagre, disconnected, and doubtless in most instances inaccurate statements bearing upon different localities at different periods.
Bullion was presented at the treasury at Guadalajara, Zacatecas, and in later years at Llerena, and was there properly stamped after the royal dues had been
- ↑ Villa-Señor, Teatro, ii. 204-6, names the secular cabildo of Guadalajara in 1745 as consisting of twelve regidores, alférez real, alguacil mayor, two alcaldes, contador, procurador, and notary. He also speaks of a custom house staff.
