vent of San Fernando, where the remains were deposited, with religious rites.[1] As a mark of appreciation of the purity, uprightness, and ability shown by Galvez during his rule in Mexico, the king on the 26th of March, 1785,[2] decreed to relieve him of a residencia, and consequently his estate of the expenses incident thereto.
It was at this interesting period in American history—1783—that Cárlos' principal secretary of state, Pedro Abarca de Bolea, conde de Aranda, having returned with a leave of absence from Paris where he went by express order to sign the general treaty of peace with Great Britain by virtue of which the independence of the United States of America was afterward recognized by George III. and his government, made a sweeping suggestion to his sovereign. Entertaining a favorable opinion of the state of learning and culture prevailing among the Spanish Americans, he recommended the creation of three independent monarchies in the king's American dominions, each under a prince of the Spanish reigning family, Cárlos for himself and his successors assuming the title of emperor, and the latter for all time to be recognized by the American monarchs as the head of the family. Marriages of the new sovereigns and
- ↑ The viceroy's last will called for a humble funeral, but the audiencia disregarded the wish, official etiquette requiring it, and caused the viceregal and military honors to be paid. Rivera, Gob. Mex., i. 453. The body was escorted from the foot of the palace stairs by six colonels, the captain of the halberdiers, Conde de Santiago, and the master of the horse, Agustin Yañez. Three regiments, regular troops and militia, and the company of halberdiers—the last as the guard of honor of the audiencia—took part in the pageant. The mass at the church was celebrated by the precentor of the cathedral. The following gentlemen acted as mourners: the fiscal de real hacienda in the real audiencia, Ramon de Posada y Soto; the secretary of the viceroyalty, Francisco Fernandez de Córdoba; Fernando José Mangino; Colonel Juan Cambiaso of the Corona regiment; and José Chavez and Francisco Cabezon, executors conjointly with the above named Posada and Córdoba. Gomez, Diario, 196-7; Galvez, Solemnes Exequias, 2. On the 4th of March, 1785, there were solemn obsequies, with eulogy of the deceased, all the civic and ecclesiastical bodies being in attendance; the ceremonies were imposing. Next day the archbishop officiated at the mass, and a sermon was preached. Gomez, Diario, 203; Galvez, Elogio Fúnebre, 1-42.
- ↑ Ordenes de la Corona, MS., iii. 56.
