Page:Vol 3 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/487

Rh project of creating a botanic garden, together with an institute for lectures, a library, etc, but the heavy expenditure that must be incurred checked these enterprises.

At this time the treasury had much trouble in meeting the outflow resulting from various causes beyond Florez' control. In 1787 the revenue had decreased considerably, and left a deficit of nearly one million dollars, though Florez had remitted ten millions. Being unable to finish the palace of Chapultepec he recommended that it should be sold, or that the surplus from the liquor revenue should be applied to its completion. The old palace at the foot of the hill was now a mass of ruins. The health of the viceroy had been bad during the most of the time of his administration. He suffered from hypochondria, which restricted his efforts. Consequently, on the 26th of September, 1788, he petitioned the king to relieve him of his office and permit his return to Spain. This was granted in a royal order of February 22, 1789, with the condition that he should remain in Mexico till his successor arrived. The crown, however, in order to show its appreciation of Florez' services in Mexico, relieved him from the usual residencia, and directed that six months' pay of a viceroy should be placed at his disposal from the royal treasury, to take him back to Spain. He accordingly left Mexico on the 5th of October for Guadalupe, refusing the honors paid to viceroys on such occasions. After delivering the command to his successor, on the 19th he started for Vera Cruz, remaining in Jalapa till November, when he embarked for Spain on the ship of the line San Roman.