Page:Mexico (1829) Volumes 1 and 2.djvu/303

 MEXICO. 263 Bpectable individuals who have died, have been attended by a number of the natives, personal friends or acquaintances of the deceased ; and, although cases have certainly occurred, in which the repose of the tomb has been violated, I am inclined to attribute them less to fanaticism, than to cupidity, and to a mistaken belief that money was contained in the coffins, the use of which was little known amongst the Mexicans them- selves. With regard to marriages, considerable difficulties have arisen since the late influx of foreigners ; nor can a Protestant yet contract marriage with a Mexican, otherwise than by professing his conversion to the Catholic faith. Between two foreigners, both of the reformed church, the marriage rite is allowed to be celebrated in the house of the Mission of the country to which they belong, and is registered as valid by the Mexican Ecclesiastical authorities, on the transmission of a proper certificate. Such, at least, is the course which has been pursued in His Majesty's mission, and which may be regarded as a precedent for the subjects of any other power, similarly situated. It would be an injustice to the Mexican government not to add, that in this, and every other question connected with religion, the Executive has shown the greatest attention to the complaints of foreigners, and has given them every pro- tection, and every facility that it was possible, under present circumstances, to allow of. I know not one, but many in- stances, in which the personal influence, both of the President and of the Ministers, has been exerted with the most benefi- cial effects ; and I cannot but think that this example, se- conded, as it is, by the wishes of the better-informed Mexi- cans, both in the Capital, and in the States, will, speedily, produce such a change in the feelings of the community at large, upon this subject, as will enable the Legislature by a national act, to dispense with restrictions, which are com- pletely at variance with the spirit of the other institutions of the country.