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 capital 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 millions 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 following proportions:—
| Dollars | |
| México | 9,000,000 |
| La Puebla | 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 | 44,000,000 |
| —————— |
The landed property of the Church (bienes raices) bore no proportion to its Capital in specie. Its
