Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/130

114 of Santa Cruz, without being allowed to communicate with any one. His wife was conveyed to the convent of Santa Clara, and although enceinte, was deprived of the company of her friends, and even of her children, who were separately imprisoned.

It is difficult to account for the subsequent proceedings of the government against Dominguez, unless they can be explained by the contemptuous regard with which Oidor Aguirre viewed the political attitude of the creoles. Information of the corregidor's arrest was conveyed without loss of time to Venegas, who consulted with Aguirre. That minister expressed such disdain for any attempt that could be made by 'Americans' to overthrow Spanish rule, that he assured the viceroy that at an official piece of parchment on a stick they would be frightened like asses. He concluded by suggesting that Juan Collado, the alcalde del crímen, should be sent, with an escribano and minor officials, to investigate the matter. The viceroy acted upon this advice, and Collado briefly dismissed the charge against Dominguez and reinstated him in office.