Jesuits, but that its author was unknown. Now if the so-called Diario of Rivera be compared with that of Robles for the same period, their identity of origin is at once apparent; the manuscript attributed to Rivera is the Diario of Benavides mentioned by Robles.
Owing to the defects of Bustamante's version already noted, that of Robles is to be preferred, not only because of its greater fulness, but because the editors of the Doc. Hist. Mex. have wisely refrained from any attempt to change the original. The style and manner of treatment, which is in the usual form of a diary, is the same as in Guijo. It occupies volumes ii.-iii. of Doc. Hist. Mex., série ii. Following these are the Diario of José Manuel de Castro Santa-Anna, extending from 1752 to 1758, Doc. Hist. Mex., série i. tom. iv.-vi.; and the Diario of José Gomez, one of the vice-regal halberdiers, extending from August 1776 to May 1798, Doc. Hist. Mex., série ii. tom. vii. To these may be added the Gacetas de Mexico, with reviews of both domestic and foreign events, and the political and local affairs of the capital and the provinces. Toward the end of the century they became permanently established, after appearing previously for short periods.
About the middle of the eighteenth century the Spanish crown, feeling the need of a full and detailed account of the actual extent of its increasing dominions in the new world, and the civil and religious condition of their inhabitants, issued a royal decree dated July 19, 1741, demanding from the alcaldes mayores and justices a complete report on their respective districts. The compilation of these data in New Spain was confided by Viceroy Fuenclara, to the auditor-general of the department of quicksilver, José Antonio de Villa-Senor y Sanchez. Villa-Señor, according to Alcedo, Bib. Am., MS., ii. 1158, was a native of Valladolid in Michoacan, but Brasseur de Bourbourg, Bib. Mex.-Guat., 154, gives Mexico as his birthplace, describing him as 'un mathématicien distingué, un historien exact et un bon citoyen.' Villa-Señor lost no time in beginning his labors, and published in Mexico the first volume of his work in 1746, and the second two years later, under the title of Theatro Americano, Descripcion General de los Reynos, y Provincias de la Nueva España. After a brief and general account of the early history of America and the Aztecs, with an outline of the physical geography of New Spain, the text proper follows, in six parts, corresponding to the six dioceses, with the history of their towns, parishes, and missions, classified by districts, together with some information regarding their relative situations, actual population, condition, products, and industries. Volume i., containing books i.-ii., with 382 numbered pages, is devoted to the archbishopric of Mexico, and the see of Puebla, including a full description of the city of Mexico, its public buildings, general and local government departments, and revenues. The second volume is equally divided between the remaining bishoprics. Though at the time of its publication this work enjoyed a. high reputation for accuracy, it was subsequently found to contain many errors. Alcedo, Bib. Am., MS., ii. 1159. Approaching, in its nature, a geographical and historical dictionary, it was the first of its kind relating to New Spain; and notwithstanding its defects, which later publications have served to rectify, it is invaluable for the history of this period, and has been freely used by subsequent writers. Villa-Senor is said to have been the author of several other works,
