CHAPTER XXV.
ADMINISTRATION OF VICEROY REVILLA GIGEDO THE YOUNGER.
1789-1794.
Ancient and Modern Population of New Spain and the Capital — Chapultepec — Palace of Viceroy Galvez — Moral and Social Condition of the Capital — Reforms Made by the Viceroy — Appearance of the City in 1800 — Prominent Buildings — And Other Objects of Note — Nuestra Señora de los Remedios — Arrival of Revilla Gigedo — Crimes and Quick Justice — Military Reforms — Indian Disturbances — The Viceroy’s Letter-box — Formation of Official Archives — Intendencias — Effect of the French Revolution on New Spain — Recall of the Viceroy — Unjust Persecution — His Final Vindication.
According to a census taken in 1790, by order of Viceroy Revilla Gigedo the younger, the population of the intendencia of Mexico then exceeded 1,500,000, and that of the capital was little short of 113,000;[1] and yet it is probable that the latter estimate was little more than one third of the number of inhabitants that peopled Tenochtitlan immediately before
- ↑ 112,926, according to the tabular statement of this census in Gaceta Mex., v. 8. It was considered, however, that this count fell short by about one sixth. Humboldt, basing his calculation on this census, estimates the population at the beginning of this century at 137,000. Of these 2,500 were Europeans, 65,000 Spanish creoles, 33,000 native Indians, 26,500 mestizos, and 10,000 mulattoes. It is probable that this estimate is not too high, though the population of the city was fluctuating, being influenced by floods, political disturbances, and other causes. Moreover, at certain times the capital would be overrun with vagrants, while at others it would be almost free from them. Consult Humboldt, Tab. Estad., MS., 7-40; Id., Essai Pol., i. 194-8; Cancelada, Ruina, 73-7; Guia de Foraderos, 1797, 197-8; Zúñiga y O., Calend., 149-50; Mex., Not. Ciud., 178-80; Guerra, Rev. de N. Esp., i. 31, 335; Abeja, Poblana, 75; Ortiz, Mex. Ind. Libre, 79-80; Mex. Ord. Division, passim; Soc. Mex. Geog., Bol., ii. 8. Russell, Hist. Amer., i. 389 (London, 1778), places the population at 80,000.
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