Page:Vol 6 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/669

Rh The institution has well answered the purposes for which it was created, and it is evident that there is good material in Mexico for artists of a high order.

There is at the capital a national museum containing many valuable works, the most important part being the Mexican antiquities. It was founded in 1825, and reorganized in 1831. A law of 1829 forbids the exportation of antiquities, reserving to the government a prior right of purchase.

There is a national conservatory of music at the capital to give instruction in vocal and instrumental music. The country has produced a number of excellent musicians, both vocal and instrumental, and not a few fair composers.

Mexico was the first city on the American continent to have a printing-press, and to publish a book. The press came hither with Viceroy Mendoza in 1535. It is believed that Juan Pablos was the first printer. The first book issued was the ''Escala Espiritual para llegar al Cielo, Traducido del Latin en Castellano por el Venerable Padre Fr. Ivan de la Madalena, Religioso Dominico, 1536. This work no longer exists. Two books are said to be extant, with the date 1539 and 1540, the former being a Doctrina Christiana'', and the