Page:Mexico (1829) Volumes 1 and 2.djvu/147

MEXICO. 115 mote provinces ; Curas, whose lives had been passed in the midst of their parishioners ; and young men educated for the law, or the church, and just emerging from the university ; — all flew to arms, and embarked at once in a contest, for which no one conceived them to be prepared. Nor were the feelings which led to this step light or evanescent in their nature. The war was carried on for years, under most un- favourable circumstances, by the Insurgents, with a spirit that set all attempts to reduce them at defiance ; and we shall see one of the most distinguished supporters of the cause of Spain (the Viceroy Calleja) confess, in 1814, (at the very moment when his arms had given him a temporary ascen- dancy,) that this spirit remained unchanged, and could be restrained by nothing but an immense superiority of force. But a rapid outline of the Revolution itself will best explain its character and progress. The government of Mexico, at the commencement of 1808, was entrusted to Don Jose Iturrigaray, whose authority as Viceroy, supported by a host of European officers and settlers, whom the riches of the Colony attracted, appeared to be as firmly estabhshed as at any former period. The country was flourishing and tranquil; mines, and agriculture affording to the whole population, (which did not exceed seven millions,) occupation and wealth : nor did any thing announce the approach of that storm, by which the whole fabric of society was so soon to be overthrown. The first symptoms of agitation appeared upon the receipt of the disastrous tidings from the Peninsula, which announced the occupation of the capital by the French army, and the captivity of the King. The Viceroy, uncertain as to the line which he ought to pursue, and doubtful (it is said) of the fidelity of many of the old Spaniards about him, communicated this intelligence in the Government Gazette, without a single comment to guide I 2