The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1822-08-06

Mr., Robinson, one of 400, 900 Mr.. Bonnv-
castle gives Il at 35l,D00 and TINT OF the
Two CALIFORNIA; Is given by Humboldt at
1866, and by Mr.. Robinson at $4,000.
From the addition of The whole (some pro-
vinces being given only by cstimation) NJ.
de Hnmf,oidt surprises thai, il, iTf.,, the
population of New Spain was at least a.
48s5e9, But as authentic data to which
he had access m Mexico, convinced him
that the population was rapidly advancing,
he has placed il at $500, 900 for 1908 and
in 1906, he states il to exceed $500, 200.
Soon after the last named period, the tfou.
bles in the Spanish American possessions
began, by which the progress ofpopulation
may Rave been arrested. Whether IL is
likely 10 have been so much diminished,
That we ought 10 fix il with Mr.. Robinson nj
3,660,000, for 1916, is matter of doubt.
Assuming the population to be some
where between five and six millions, which
we are inclined to think a very liberal al
iowance, the great proportion Of one half
or nearly one half is supposed to be native
Mexican Indians. The remainder consists
oil Europeans; of creoies, or persons Of
European extraction born in America of
mestizos, those born of Spaniards and In
dlans muHattoes, those born OF whites and
negroes sambos, the mixture of negroes
and Indians, and negroes. On the eastern
coast are few Chinese and Maays, who
have found their way from Acapulco IN
consequence Of the intercourse between that
port and Manila. The European Span
lards amount to about 10000, and The ere
oles to about 10000 The former hold The
Chief Offices, civil, military, and ecclesiasti-
cal and are in general the only well edncar
ted portion of the community This leads
to great jealousy between them and the
ereoles.-There are very few slaves in Mex
leo the whole number being given by
humboldt at 10000, of whom 5000 are
negroes, and 1000 Indians from hostile
tribes on the northern frontiers, taken pri-
soners IN war. The mass of the native
Mexican population is free, being subject
to no service or burden, but the capitaiion
tax OF about two dollars head They la
Dor, however under great civil disabilities,
and intcrmarriage is forbidden between
them and the whites. Some -f them, ac-
cordng to NJ. lie Humboldt, are in posses
sion OF great fortunes although they retain
I he exterior appearance of poverty. By
the plan OF constitution, promulgated by
Gen. lturbide at yguala, Feb. "a, 1891, cali
the jnhabliants of New Spain, without dis.
tnction Of Africans, Europeans, or Indians,
are citizens ofthe new monarchy, with eli
glbllity to all employments, according TO
their virtues and merits.n
IN his chapter on the cheeks of papua-
finn IN IL, IInr,I,lJt -. -
account Of the diseases OF New Spain, par
tclsiarly small poy, yellow fever, destrlc-
live sort ofplague, TO which the Indians a
lone are subject, called mdtlazaLtuaH, and
the diseases resulting from famine. We
have not however, time to engage in this
subject. The progress of the small pox
has been much diminished by vaccination,
and the very curious circumstance is
that the effect ofthc COW pox
as an antidote to small pox was, before the
discovery OF DIR. Jcnner, familiarly known
to the poasantry among the Peruvian An
DIES, who had observed that those employ
ed in milking cows in the Cordilloras,
caught from these animals mild cutaneous
disease, which prevented their taking the
small pox. II is we'll known that the be-
lief in this fact among the pcasantry in
Worcestershire led Dir. Jenner to his dis
corery.
The riches Of the Mexican soil, exclusive
OF the precious metals, are well known TO
be unsurpassed by those of any other re-
gion.--Am0ng the agricultural products,
are those which might doubtless become
the source Of greater wealth, than all the |
mines ofsiIver and gold. Mexico produces
wheat, maize, cotton, indigo, pmento, SUI |
gar, tobacco, the agaye, cocoa, and the co.
clinical plant. II has the banana, the prin- |
cipal article Of food for the poor peasantry,
and the nanioc, which yields the cassa9a
bread, and possesses the valuable property |
of resisting the attacks Of insects. II pro- |
duces the potatoe, tematas, rice, and the !
ordinary esculents Of Europe and on the !
table land the European fruit trees, such as !
plunbs, apticots, figs, cherries, peaches,
melons, pears, and apples, are successfully |
cultivated. The olive and the vine are |
checked by nothing, but the illiberal policy |
of the mother, country, which thinks il ne |
cessary to discourage their growth in the |
colonies, for the sake of protecting the vine
and oil of Spain. Besides these the tropi- |
cal productions, as guaYas, ananas, sapotes, |
mameis, oranges, and lemons: vanilla, sar-
and iaiap, (which takes the name |
from the town Of Xalapa, where it is found
odoriierous gums, medicinal plants, and
drugs, the dyeipg woods, such as Iogwood,
the fine woods for furniture, the silk worm.
honey and wax, and the pearl fishery Of
the coast of California, contribute their res
pective shares to the natural wealth of this
favored region.
But the most celebrated source ofwealth
in this region is the gold and silver mines.
The eleventh chapter NJ. de Humboldts
political essay is devoted to this subject,
ard is one of tie most elaborate and inter-
esting in his worh.-Mr. Bonnycastlc has
condensed into fe5y pages the most pro
iritlnraf M.