tions, which had been interrupted during the occupation of the city by the "insurgent monster, Miguel Hidalgo;" while the ecclesiastical chapter drew a pitiable picture of the degradation its members had been subjected to in having been compelled to repress any utterance of their sincere loyalty and fidelity. The university, moreover, in all humility, declared that it had made no demonstration in favor of Hidalgo such as was offered to a legitimate government, informed the viceroy that a donation of $1,510 had been contributed by the members of the faculty for the benefit of the army, and said that certain of them had been commissioned to preach and write in refutation of the proclamations and pamphlets printed by the insurgents. The faculty, moreover, petitioned the viceroy to appoint Calleja president, governor, and captain-general of Nueva Galicia.[1] Venegas graciously received these explanations, and in his reply to the ecclesiastics, expresses the hope that time will prove that he has not been deceived in forming the high opinion which he entertained for them.
When Hidalgo departed from Guadalajara, the audiencia and other authorities had reëstablished themselves. President Abarca and others, who had lain concealed, as soon as Calleja's victory became known, issued from their hiding places and reassumed their previous positions. Nevertheless Calleja closely investigated the conduct of those oidores and other officials who had remained in the city,[2] and considering that the weak and vacillating character of Abarca
- ↑ Gaz. de Mex., 1811, ii. 109-12, 246-8; Hernandez y Dávalos, Col. Doc., ii. 377. The viceroy, Jan. 19th, ordered Hidalgo's proclamations, his reply to the inquisition, and other seditious publications to be burned by the executioner in the plaza of Mexico. On the 26th the inquisition issued an edict pronouncing the greater excommunication against all who should keep such papers in their possession. Copies of both documents can be found in Negrete, Mex. Sig. XIX., iii. 85-97.
- ↑ The regent Antonio Villa Urrutia, feigning sickness, attended no session of the audiencia during the time that the city was occupied by Hidalgo, who, however, frequently visited him. He was reinstalled in his office, as also was Oidor Sousa, who had attended only once, and then under a public protest before the escribano Arroyo de Anda. Adrade was another member who had refused to join the sessions. Alaman, Hist. Mej., ii. 140; iv. ap. 63-4.
