Page:Mexico in 1827 Vol 2.djvu/654

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634
MEXICO IN 1827.

to confirm the opinion expressed in the Fourth Section of the Third Book, respecting its probable future productiveness.

I have little to add to the details given above, except the fact that Zacatecas is the only part of Mexico, in which I am aware that, at the end of 1826, a bad feeling towards foreigners in general prevailed. We had violent prejudices to surmount in many parts of the Federation upon our first admission into the country; but those prejudices gradually disappeared, and in most places were replaced by feelings of a very different nature. In Zacatecas alone they seemed to retain all their original violence.

This circumstance may be attributed partly to the influence of the regular clergy, and partly to the different circumstances under which our mining operations in the State commenced. The working classes had never felt in Zacatecas that distress, from which they were relieved in other districts by the introduction of foreign capitals. The mines of Veta Grande continued in activity during the whole Revolution, and several other mines belonging to old Spaniards were in bonanza up to a very late period. The Companies, therefore, did little more than occupy the places of the former proprietors. Many of the changes introduced by them consisted in reforms, very necessary, but very unpalatable; and although they brought a considerable capital into circulation, the want of it had not been suffi-