Iturbide. But his general information is various and pertinent; his book is a compend of useful information about Mexico, its resources, industries, general administration, church, army, etc., being succinctly treated of and intelligently grouped. His impulse as a writer is honest, judging, where he thinks that comments are opportune, the Mexican people with much insight. Except for a paragraph in his preface which points to considerable faith in Santa Anna, he seems to lean toward no party or opinion of the country he describes. As an appendix to his work, he gives copies of the constitution, with two reform acts, and a treaty with England.
Beltrami (J. C.), Le Mexlque. Paris, 1830, 8vo, 2 vols, 443, 431 pp. Account of travels through Mexico. Beltrami was a royal counsellor and member of the medico-botanic society of London, and of other scientific associations. Ill health and the abolition of his court caused him to become a traveller; and as such he issued several works relating to his pilgrimage in Europe and America (see ii. 19G-8, and other places), wherein he displays a republican and anti-church spirit. He promises other works on different countries in America. The present book is a continuation of A Pilgrimage in Europe and America, which docs not pass outside of the U. S., and like that written in form of letters addressed from different places to a countess. He opens with the voyage from New Orleans to Tampico, whence he proceeds into the interior through San Luis Potosi and Querétaro to Guadalajara; thence by way of Guanajuato to Mexico City and Vera Cruz, when the work ends. During this trip he gives his observations on cities and country, on institutions, industries, manners and races, and political occurrences, interspersing the narrative with frequent learned allusions, analogies, and historic anecdotes. As a naturalist and savant he devotes attention to line arts; as an anti-churchman he wages bitter warfare on the ignorant and immoral friars; and as a moralist he discourses on popular characteristics. His classic and other similes, and quotations in Latin, etc., are perhaps too frequent, but much useful information is given. The style is admirably suited for letters, and throughout runs the French piquancy which is always so attractive.
Mathieu de Fossey, Le Mexique. Paris, 1857, 8vo, pp. viii. and 281. The author entered Mexico with the Goatzacoalco colony, and remained in the country as a trader, travelling extensively through the republic in that capacity. He gives an account in this volume of his travels and residence in Mexico during the period from 1831 to 1856, describing in the easy French style the politics and people, the country and its resources; in fact, everything of interest that fell beneath his eye. Of good education and connections, he was able to form the acquaintance of prominent persons, and consequently to gain a higher insight into society and politics. Being a fair observer and vivacious writer, he has imparted zest and interest to his narrative. He rather flatters the Mexicans, and finds foreigners more objectionable than others; nor does he spare his own people. Where views are expressed, they appear impartial and sound. A second edition of his work was published in Paris in 1862. Fossey also published in Mexico in 1844 his Viage a Méjico, 12mo, pp. 359, originally written in French and translated into Spanish.
José Ferrer de Couto, Cuestiones de Méjico, Venezuela y America en General. Madrid, 1861, 8vo, pp. 660. This work contains much valuable historical and political matter. The author vindicates the administration of the Spaniards in the new world from the time of the discovery, and urges that the reorganization of Mexico should be effected by European intervention. Indeed, the whole work was written with that object. During the same year Ferrer published Comentarios sobre la Cuestion dc Mexico, a small work of 48 pages in pamphlet form, designed to be a supplement to the above. It contains the same political views with regard to the relations between Mexico and the U. S. After entering into an explanation of the different races and political parties in Mexico, and giving a brief sketch of events from the time of the independence, the writer proceeds to state his views regarding the