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470 the articles of commerce which the merchants of Cadiz thought necessary for its consumption. The scale of the public expenditure was kept down and limited in deference to that of the higher pretensions of the Mexican and other viceroyalties, and, as its financial wants were few, so the adequate resources were of easy collection and weighed comparatively lightly upon the people: it is also certain that, if the exchequer was not overflowing, it was not embarrassed with any considerable debt.

The political events, however, which immediately preceded the revolution, began to disorganize the tranquil and inert system of the public finance: the revenue began to decline by degrees, and, upon the installation of the national authorities in 1821, the whole system was labouring under a perfect state of paralysis. The tribute paid by the Indians had been suppressed, together with the taxes on cards and ice. In the imperial government which followed, violent hands were laid upon