312 MEXICO. imported indirectly through Spain, or Cuba, the returns for which were made through the same medium.* To the annual average amount of Imports and Exports given above, must be added 9,840,667 dollars three reals ; viz. 8,340,667 dollars, three reals, which I find to be the average value (on a term of thirteen years, from 1779 to 1791,) of the precious metals exported on the King's account; and 1,500,000 dollars, which on the lowest possible computa- tion, must have been the value of the quicksilver, and paper, introduced for the mines, and the Royal Monopoly of To- bacco. Dollars. Reals. The two together, give, on the whole twenty-five years ■ . • 226.016,684 3 which, added to the Imports and Exports of the Balanza General . . 538,640,163 give .... . 764,656,847 3 as the Total, or 30,586,273 dollars seven reals, as the ave- rage annual amount of the whole Exports and Imports of Veracruz. This falls considerably short of Humbold^s estimate, (thirty-seven millions,) but is, I conceive, more correct, for in the twenty-two millions, at which he values the exports of Mexico, he includes Sugar, to the amount of ..... 1,300,000 dol. Cochineal, .... 2,400,000 and Flour, .... 300,000 4,000,000 whereas Sugar only averaged, from 1804 to 1810 inclusive,
- I have borrowed the whole of this analysis of the Balanza de Co-
mercio, (page 309 to 312,) from a very able report on the Veracruz trade, drawn up by Mr. Mackenzie, who was His Majesty's Consul there in 1823 and 1824, and whose investigations, with regard to that period, I have taken advantage of throughout this Section.
