CHAPTER XXI.
VICEROYS FORTY-SEVEN TO FORTY-NINE.
1779-1787.
Viceroy Martin de Mayorga — His Exceptional Position — War with Great Britain — Warlike Measures — Mayorga’s Efficient Rule — Viceroy Matías de Galvez — His Short Administration — He Promotes Improvements — The Conde de Aranda's Plan — Independent Kingdoms in Spanish America to be Erected — King Cárlos' Objections — The Addiencia Rules a Few Months — Viceroy Conde de Galvez — His Great Services and Rank — Unbounded Popularity — Treasonable Schemes Attributed — His Illness and Death — Posthumous Birth of his Child — Magnificent Ceremonials at the Christening — The Family Liberally Pensioned — The Audiencia Rules Again.
Martin de Mayorga, a knight of Alcántara and mariscal de campo of the royal army, who had been captain of the Spanish royal guards, governor of Alcántara in Estremadura, and lastly governor, president, and captain-general of Guatemala, became the forty-seventh viceroy of New Spain. He had but just surrendered the baton of command to the inspector of the troops, and was on the point of departing for Spain, when despatches reached him that in the pliego de mortaja opened in Mexico at the death of Viceroy Bucareli he was named as the successor ad interim.[1] On the 23d of August, 1779, he entered the viceregal palace, and took the oath of office, which was administered him by the regente in the presence of the oidores.[2]
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