An examination into the sources of the wealth of the principal families of the Mexican nobility will confirm what I have stated with regard to the towns, by leading us nearly to the same result. The family of Rēglă, which now possesses landed property to an immense extent in various parts of the country, purchased the whole of it with the proceeds of the mines of Real del Monte. The Făgŏāgăs owe their present importance to the great Bŏnānză of the Păvĕllōn at Sŏmbrĕrētĕ. The estates of the family of Vĭbāncŏ proceeded from the mines of Bŏlāñŏs. The houses of Vălĕnciānă, Rūhl, Pĕrĕz, Gālvĕz, and Ŏtērŏ, are all indebted for their possessions to the mines of Valenciana and Vĭllălpāndŏ, at Guănăjūātŏ. The family of Sărdănētă (Los Marqueses de Rayas), takes it rise from the mine of that name. Cātă and Mĕllādŏ gave to their first proprietor (Don Francisco Matias de Busto) the Marquisate of San Clemente, with immense wealth, a part of which has been transmitted to his descendants. The Cañada of Laborde, at Tlalpujahua, with the mines of Quĕbrădīllă and San Ăcāsĭŏ, at Zăcătēcăs, all contributed towards the three fortunes of Laborde. The family of the Ŏbrĕgōnĕs owes its beautiful estates, (near Leon,) to the mines of La Purisima, and Concepcion, at Catorce; as does the family of Gordoa, the estate of Malpasso to the mine of La Luz. The son of Zămbrānŏ, (the discoverer of Guārĭsămĕy,) wasted as his rightful property has been, is still in possession of four of the largest estates in
