The value of the work is recognized not so much in the many reprints, as in the extensive use made of it by later writers, hardly any one attempting to consult earlier authorities for the field covered; and indeed they could not have done better, for it is with rare exceptions not only full and accurate, based on official data freely placed before the author, but it may be called the first comprehensive and philosophic treatise of the kind on New Spain. Nevertheless it is not exhaustive, and it rarely goes back beyond the generation of Humboldt's time for statistics or historic information, a circumstance overlooked by many a hasty and ungrateful borrower. For my purposes, though the scope is broad, the work has served merely as an aid to fill certain gaps. None the less do I acknowledge my obligations to the researches of this truly great man, the first to unlock the Spanish colonies to foreign investigators, and I heartily join my voice to the applause still ringing to his memory.
Herewith I give broader references to some authorities consulted for the preceding chapters: Cedulario, MS., i. 09, 90, 152-4, 179-97, 204; iii. 23, 49, 61-4, 129; iv. 24-5, 158-9; Vireyes de Mex., Instruc., MS., passim; Órdenes de la Corona, MS., i. 5-6, 45-50, 134; iii. 12, 42, 53-7, 79-86, 128-30, 158, 177-80; v. 1-54, 133; vi. 63-76; Concilios Prov., MS., i. 1-369; ii., passim; iii. 63-203; iv. 69 et seq.; Reales Ordenes, i. 254-8; ii. 1-17, 305-33; iv., passim; viii. 16, 24, 214-15; Instruccion Vireyes, 29, 97, 104-204; Reales Cédulas, MS., i. 8-10, 75-6, 105-6; ii. 58-63, 153-9, 172-3, 237; Revilla Gigedo, Instruc., MS., i., passim; ii. 1-8, 80-100; Id., Instruc., 1-353; Id., Residencia, MS., passim; Id., Bandos, passim; Id., Solemnes Exequias, 1-91; Branciforte, Instruc., MS., 13-36; Azanza, Instruc., MS., passim; Papeles de Jesuitas, MS., 5; Linares, Instruc., MS., passim; Panes, Vireyes, MS., 54, 82, 119; Certificacion de las Mercedes, MS., 53-5, 119-20; Medina, Chrón. S. Diego, 234; Papeles Franciscanos, MS., 221, 313-15; Villa-Señor, Theatro, i, 33-6, 53-61; Providencias Reales, MS., 52, 204-5; Calle, Mem. y Not., 38-45, 157, 161-2, 181-3; Intendentes, Real Ordenanza, 347-410; Disposiciones Varias, passim; Gonzalez Dávila, Teatro Ecles., i. 274; Torquemada, i. 298-304, 620-1; Alegre, Hist. Comp. Jesus, i. 38-40; ii. 73-4; iii. 107-8; Sigüenza y Góngora, Carta al Almirante, MS., 4-9, 37; Id., Parayso, Occid., 25-32; Pacheco and Cárdenas, Col. Doc., iv. 136-40, 363; Recop. de Indias, i. 507 et seq.; Col. Doc. Inéd., xxxi. 496-502; Cortés, Hist. N. Esp., 34-5; Doc. Hist. Mex., série i. tom. i., ii., passim; Id., série ii. tom. vi. 5-96; tom. vii., passim; Alaman, Disert., iii. 62-85, 239-44, 262-4, 296, 390-1; Id., Hist. Mej., i. 8 et seq.; ii. 1-2; iv. 724; v. 956; Colon, Juzgados Militares, ii. 52360; iii., iv., passim; Cartas de Indias, 272, 791-2; Doc. Ecles. Mex., MS., i. 1-52; Carriedo, Estudios Hist., ii. 107; Vetancvrt, Chron. San Evang., 31-48, 67-9, 81-3; Id., Trat. Mex., 1—5, 34-45; Beleña, Recop., i., passim; ii. 86, 332-5; Gomez, Diario, passim; Presidios, Reglamento, 1-132; Robles, Diario, passim; Morfi, Col. Doc., MS., 8-26, 211-39; Arrangoiz, Mex., i. 33-4; Monumentos Domen. Esp., MS., passim; Guijo, Diario, 8 et seq.; Arroniz, Hist, y Cron., 150-5; Mota Padilla, Coñq. N. Gal., 3-18, 177; Bustamante, Cuad. Hist., i. 10-11; Id., Efemerides, i. 33; Id., Medidas Pacificacion, MS., ii. 63-4; Id., Voz de la Patria, iii. 7-8, 24; Villarroel, Enfermedades, 55, 111-14, 163-72; Montemayor, Svmarios, 3-9, 184-91; Cárlos III., Reales Exequias, 1-33; Id., IV., Breve Relacion, passim; Colon de Larriátegui, Juzgados, 1-466; Alzate, Gaceta, i. 71-7, 166-7, 231-4, 365; ii. 82 et seq.; iii. 1-3, 46-8, 453-62; iv. passim; Rivera, Hist. Jalapa, i. 67, 142-210; Ortiz, Mex. Indep. Libre, 79-80, 159-222, 485-535; Pinart, Col. Doc. Mex., 463-4; Orozco y Berra, Mem. Ciud. Mex., 171-2, 194-206; Lacunza, Discursos Hist., no. xxxvi. 513-35; Palafox y Mendoza, El Venerab. Señor, 23; Mayer's Mex. Azt., L 96 et seq.; Cavo, Tres Siglos, i. 264-5; ii. 2-12, 65-83; iii. 87-9,