and mining tribunals of $2,000,000, and others from the merchants and public, not bearing interest, so that in less than three years he despatched $32,000,000 to different parts for the king's account.[1] His successor Azanza almost despaired of raising another loan on similar terms though instructed by the king to do so.[2] By judicious financiering and squeezing, however, he managed to send to Spain and different colonies, during his short administration of less than two years, $26,600,000, besides paying government debts to the amount of nearly half a million, and leaving more than $6,100,000 in the treasury. But as the clouds gathered round the Spanish throne the needs of the monarch became greater and more pressing. In 1801 a war tax was imposed upon bequeathed property,[3] and in 1805 Cárlos IV. levied an annual income upon the revenues of the church, which between 1805 and 1809 amounted to $12,080,291.[4]
Meanwhile loans and more loans were asked for, and responded to with patriotic readiness and liberality; but when at last in 1809 one of $20,000,000 was called for immediately after a contribution of over $3,000,000,[5] the people murmured, and the money could not be raised.[6]
The receipts of the treasury from ordinary sources in 1809 amounted to $20,462,307; after payment of
- ↑ Branciforte, in Linares, Instruc., 8-9.
- ↑ Me desalentaba el recuerdo de las repetidas contribuciones de la misma clase que habian hecho en los ultimos tiempos.' Azanza, Instruc., 110-11.
- ↑ The tax varied from two per cent on the amount left to one half of one year's income, according to the amount and kind of property bequeathed. Disposic. Varias, i. 116-19.
- ↑ Soc. Mex. Geog., 2da ep. i. 488-95.
- ↑ In 1809, Andrew Cochrane was sent by the English government 'con una letra de la junta Central de 3 millones de duros' to negotiate a loan for that amount. The call was responded to with great readiness, and in a short time the sum of $3,210,435 was raised. Cancelada, Tel. Mex., 32-6. A list of the subscribers is given. Consult Alaman, Hist. Mex., i. 304-5. In the previous year $2,100,000 had been raised, and shortly afterward the resident Europeans contributed $2,700,000. Cancelada, Ruina de la N. Esp., 80-1.
- ↑ Alaman, Hist. Mex., i. 306-7. A second attempt was again made in 1810. Disposic. Varias, ii. 3, 4, 15; Gaz. Gob. Mex., 1810, i. 797-801. The national constituent congress recognized by decree 'debts contracted by the government of the viceroys till September 17, 1810.' Mex. Mem. Minist. Rel., iii. doc. vii. no. 4, p. 6.
