Page:Vol 3 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/379

Rh respect of his subjects, and chief among them was his personal courage. It is related that when a revolutionary mob once gathered about his palace he rode in among them unattended by any guard, and by his commanding presence and stern rebuke caused the rioters to disperse. Although he devoted much of his time to his individual interests, it cannot be alleged that he neglected the affairs of state. It is even claimed that he augmented the resources of the country, and greatly increased the royal revenue. The generous protection extended to Escandon in the pacification of Nuevo Santander is also greatly in his favor.

The years 1749 and 1750 were sad ones for the inhabitants of New Spain. The crops were destroyed by unusual frosts in many provinces, occasioning a famine throughout the country, which in its turn was succeeded by an epidemic in the territory under the jurisdiction of the audiencia of Guadalajara. During the same period many and destructive earthquakes occurred, the centres of which seem to have been near the volcano of Colima. Many lives were lost and towns destroyed, though the city of Colima suffered but little.

Fernando VI., who succeeded to his father Felipe V. on the decease of that monarch in August 1746, had certainly no reason to be dissatisfied with Revilla Gigedo's administration, for his constant demands for gold to replenish the empty coffers of the royal treasury were ever promptly complied with. But the count had now ruled for nine years, and he was rich enough. His resignation was accepted in 1755, on which date he returned to Spain. He was succeeded