Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/86

in its efforts to send pecuniary aid to the peninsula, could not afford the expense of maintaining a standing army.^[1] A regiment of grenadiers was organized, and this with the dragoons of Mexico constituted the military force in the capital.

During Garibay's rule the revolutionary tendency advanced apace. Secret meetings were held at private houses.^[2] A society known as the Racionales Caballeros was organized at Vera Cruz, Jalapa, and Mexico, which by its machinations greatly aided the cause of independence.^[3] Further than this, the secret agents of Joseph Bonaparte were actively at work inciting the inhabitants to rebellion.^[4]

1. Manuel Abad y Quêipo condemns this action of Garibay, stating that he did so 'por haber entendido que, entre algunos oficiales se hablaba con libertad sobre independencia, y por remediar este mal. . .incurrio en otro mayor, que fué poner en contacto á los milicianos con sus vecinos, sus parientes y amigos, en que es imposible que el contacto de los unos deje de contaminarse con los otros.' The bishop says that he ought to have punished these free-spoken officers, and placed others in command who could have been relied upon. Informe dirig. Al rey., in Zamacois, Hist. de Mej., ix. 8678.
2. A prominent personage now was the marqués de Rayas, who was a stanch adherent of Iturrigaray, and espoused the cause of independence after his fall. The proofs of disloyalty against him were so strong that he was sent prisoner to Spain, but was detained at Vera Cruz by sickness. In 1821 he returned to Mexico. Refutac. Artic, de Fondo, 19-21.
3. Their mode of operation was to work on the government so to act as to foment discontent. The efforts of this society were particularly successful with Viceroy Iturrigaray, according to Queipo, who states that by flattery and cajoling they so influenced him that 'lo hizo titubear en la fidelidad de tal modo, que su conducta ambigua hizo creer á los sediciosos que estaba decidido en su favor, y con esto arrojaron la máscara y atacaron cara descubierta los derechos de la monarquia.' Informe dirig. al rey., in Zamacois, Hist. Mej., ix. 802.
4. 'Pero no olvidando tampoco Napoleon el objeto interesante de las Américas, envió comisionados á seducir y comprar los virreyes, gobernadores y demas personas que por la fuerza ó por su influxo pudiesen dominar el pueblo.' Gaz. de Mex., xv. 933. In August 1808, among other seditious papers seized at Vera Cruz was a despatch from Champani, the French minister of foreign affairs, officially recommending a system of operations to promote rebellion. Arrillaga, Informe, in Cedulario, iv. f. 59, no. 1. The same year General Octaviano d'Alvimar, having been authorized to expend large sums of money with this object, entered Mexican territory from the U. S. He was arrested at Nacodoches, in Texas, in August 1808, and proceedings were instituted against him as an agent of Napoleon. Garibay sent him prisoner to Spain in 1809, and after the independence D'Alvimar attempted to recover damages for his imprisonment and loss of personal effects. Gaz. de Mex., ut sup.; Rivera, Gob. de Mex., i. 549; Bustamante, in Cavo, Tres Siglos, iii. 259-01. D'Alvimar, while being conducted to the capital, passed through Dolores, and had several interviews with Hidalgo, whom he earnestly encouraged, it is asserted, in revolutionary designs. Diaz Calvido. Sermon, 107-8. Hidalgo, however, at his trial asserted that his conversations with