Page:Mexico (1829) Volumes 1 and 2.djvu/286

246 MEXICO. collected in the six principal Bishoprics. From the others, there seem to have been no regular returns. In addition to this revenue, the Clergy possessed an immense capited in specie, which had accumulated, during three centuries, under the denomination of Capitales de Capellanias, y Obras Pias, arising partly from bequests, and partly from surplus income ; the whole of which was supposed, in 1805, to amount to forty- four mil/ions and a half of dollars. This capital, which was lent upon mortgage to the landed proprietors of the country at a very moderate interest, and secured upon their estates, was distributed amongst the different Bishoprics in the fol- lowing proportions : — Dollars. Mexico . , . . . 9,000,000 LaPuebla ..... 6,500,000 Valladolid ..... 4,500,000 Guadalajara . • . . . . 3,000,000 Durango, Monterey, and Sonora . .- 1,000,000 Oaxaca and Merida .... 2,000,000 Obras Pias, belonging to the Regular Clergy . 2,500,000 Funds of dotations of churches, convents, and nunneries . . . . . 16,000,000 Total , . . 44,500,000 The landed property of the Church {hienes rakes) bore no proportion to its Capital in specie. Its whole value was not supposed to exceed two and a half, or three millions of dol- lars ; and this advantage will be duly appreciated by those who have seen the effects of territorial influence on the part of the Clergy, combined with that of religion, exemplified in the Peninsula. In 1826, the number of the Secular Clergy was estimated