Page:Vol 6 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/196

176 the greater part of the imperial revenue, which, at the time Maximilian accepted the crown, was estimated at 15 millions; and we know, from the tenure of the Miramare convention, how little of the remainder could be claimed by Mexico. During 1865 the receipts increased to 19 millions, whereof 11 millions were from maritime custom-houses; but they were rapidly drooping. Notwithstanding the reluctance of Maximilian to increase the burden on the country, fresh taxes had to be imposed in different directions, even on manufactures that should have been protected. Langlais, the successor of Bonnefous, prepared an admirable plan for the finance department, but he died before the application could be made, and little came of it between ministerial objections and countermeasures, and the change of French projects.