Page:Mexico (1829) Volumes 1 and 2.djvu/287

 MEXICO. at 3473, and in 1827, at 3677- The number of those who took orders during each of these years is not supposed to have amounted to one-fourth of those who were ordained in 1808. The Regular Clergy is divided into fourteen Provinces, possessing 150 Convents, which contain in all, 1918 Friars : so that the whole of the Secular and Regular Clergy of the present day does not much exceed one-half the number known to exist in 1803. The capitals of the Church have diminished nearly in an equal proportion. Of the forty-four millions, originally pos- sessed by it, a part was seized by the Spanish Government in 1805, and 1806, under the administration of the Prince of the Peace, in order to form a Sinking-fund for the redemp- tion of Royal Vales ; a part was embarged by the Authori- ties in order to meet the exigencies of the moment during the Revolution ; and another part swallowed up by those charged with the administration of the funds, {los Directores de Obras Pias, Sfc.,) amidst the general disorder and confusion that ensued. In 1826, Mr. Ramos Arizpe valued the whole re- maining capital at twenty millions of dollars ; nor is there any reason to suppose that it exceeds this amount. In the present state of the country, the Clergy derive but little additional income from this capital ; for the estates upon which it is secured have not yet sufficiently recovered from the effects of the Revolution to pay the interest upon capitals formerly advanced to their proprietors. Many have required, on the contrary, additional advances in order to re- sume their labours ; and all have refused to admit the claim of the Bishoprics to the arrears due during the Civil war. Upon this point the Clergy have, in most parts of the country, come to a sort of compromise with the proprietors ; but in others, where, (as in La Puebla,) they have insisted upon the full extent of their dues, a great deal of bad feeling has arisen. The land-owners have refused to attempt to bring land again into cultivation, from which they could