Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/77

Rh the late viceroy was mulcted in the sum of $435,413, $119,125 of which he was condemned to pay as the value of the invoice of goods which he illegally introduced into New Spain on his arrival there in 1803. The other amount was for money fraudulently obtained from the distribution of quicksilver, and sales of offices and contracts, to each of which original sums was added a fine of equal amount. To secure payment, Iturrigaray's interests in the mining tribunal of Mexico, amounting to $400,000, were attached. He appealed to the council of the Indies, but the sentence was confirmed by it in February 1819, and later by the supreme tribunal of justice. Its execution, how ever, was interrupted by the declaration of independence in 1821, and Iturrigaray having died a short time before, his widow and family went to Mexico and petitioned that the sentence might not be carried out. The arguments now employed were exactly opposite to those advanced by Iturrigaray, who maintained that he had ever remained loyal to Fernando. The family claimed that the deceased