pointing to a door on the opposite side, which also flew open. The marques turned mechanically, and saw two of the gayest, handsomest, and most dissipated youths of the court, whom he recollected as occasional visitors at his house. They appeared no less confused, and, with their embarrassment, there was an evident mixture of alarm. The truth now began to break on the mind of the nobleman. "You see, marques," said the count, "that but for the vigilance of my police, you would have had the honor of being father-in-law to two of the greatest scamps in my viceroyalty. See what a dilemma your carelessness has brought me into, my dear sir! I am obliged to wound the feelings of two of the most lovely ladies in my court, to save them from the machinations of scoundrels unworthy of their charms, and I fear they will never forgive me! Farewell, señor marques; take my advice, and brick up your postern. Calderon[49] was a wise man, and he tells us that a house with two doors is hard to keep. As for these young scape-graces, they sail in the next galeon, for Manilla, where they can exercise their fascinating powers on the _chinas_ and _mulatas_ of the Philipines!" [Footnote 48: During the administration of the second Count Revilla-Gigedo the sum of one hundred and nine millions, seven hundred and four thousand, four hundred and seventeen dollars, was coined in gold and silver in Mexico.] [Footnote 49: One of Calderon's comedies is named "_Casa con dos puertas mala es de guardar_." See Lady's Magazine for 1844.] CHAPTER XVI. 1794-1808. BRANCIFORTE VICEROY--HIS GRASPING AND AVARICIOUS CHARACTER--CORRUPTION TOLERATED.--PERSECUTION OF FRENCHMEN--ENCAMPMENTS.--BRANCIFORTE'S CHARACTER.--AZANZA VICEROY.--EFFECT OF EUROPEAN WARS ON COLONIAL TRADE AND MANUFACTURES.--THREATENED REVOLT.--MARQUINA VICEROY--REVOLT IN JALISCO.--ITURRIGARAY VICEROY.--GODOY'S CORRUPTION--WAR.--DEFENCES AGAINST THE UNITED STATES--MIRANDA--HUMBOLDT.--MEXICO TAXED FOR EUROPEAN WARS--FERDINAND VII.--NAPOLEON IN SPAIN--KING JOSEPH BONAPARTE.--ITURRIGARAY ARRESTED.--GARIBAY VICEROY. THE MARQUES DE BRANCIFORTE, LIII. VICEROY OF NEW SPAIN. 1794-1798. The Marques Branciforte, who reached Mexico on the 11th of July, 1794, contrasts unfavorably, in history, with his illustrious predecessor Revilla-Gigedo. Partaking of the avaricious qualities of this personage's father, he seems to have possessed but few of his virtues, and probably accepted the viceroyalty of New Spain with no purpose but that of plunder. Scarcely had he begun to reign, when his rapacity was signally exhibited. It is said that his first essay in extortion, was the sale of the _sub-delegation_ of Villa-Alta to a certain Don Francisco Ruiz de Conejares, for the sum of forty thousand dollars, and the bestowal of the office of _apoderado_ on the Count de Contramina, the offices of whose subordinates were bought and sold in the political market like ordinary merchandise.