Another of Marquina's acts showing his humane disposition was the release of English prisoners at Vera Cruz. He had seen the Spanish prisoners suffer at Jaimaca, and by this generous step obtained the release of his countrymen from the governor of that island. Reforms were made in the police system, and strict measures were taken to enforce the ordinances passed by Revilla Gigedo and Azanza, by which the plebeians were prohibited to present themselves in public unless decently clad, all such offenders being thenceforth treated as vagrants. Though this measure was considered tyrannical, its enforcement meeting with great obstacles, it is claimed to have had a very salutary effect.[1] The regulations of the various guilds of Mexico excluded women, and prohibited them from engaging in any labor or industry of which they claimed a monopoly. Marquina's predecessor had fully recognized the injustice of this social tyranny, and declared by an ordinance of April 22, 1799, that women should be free to employ their time in any labor suited to their strength and the decorum of their sex.[2] This ordinance was now reiterated and enforced.
- ↑ The reform was extended over the whole country. The guilds and cofradías were prohibited from receiving any person not decently dressed. In processions, or in the streets they passed, in the paseos, or at church festivals, no person was allowed with a 'manta, sábana, zarape,' or similar garment under pain of eight days' imprisonment. The same was enforced in regard to children in primary schools. This was in compliance with Azanza's recommendation that 'la vergonzosa desnudez del pueblo bajo ofende tanto la vista de la gente culta, y ocasiona muchos daños fisicos y morales, quise destruia enteramente este abuso pernicioso, tan comun en la Capital como en otras Ciudades del Reyno.' Instrucciones, MS., 60.
- ↑ 'Declaré por punto general que las mujeres pueden ocu parse en qualesquiera labores y manufacturas que sean compatibles con las fuerzas y decoro de su sexo.' Azanza, Instruc., MS., 59. A similar decree with reference to
charge of the government took advantage of the viceroy's absence to give the people a bull-fight. On his return, Marquina, enraged, immediately issued a decree declaring that bull-fight null and void! The only public improvement made during his rule was a fountain, donated by the viceroy himself. For some reason it was without water and soon became a receptacle for filth and offal. One morning there was attached to it a placard with the following epigram:
'Para perpetua memoria
Nos dejó el Señor Marquina
Una pila en que se orina,
y aqui se acaba su historia,'
