“According to this Calendar in the Escurial, the Mexican year contained 286 days, divided into 22 months of 13 days. Each day is represented by a different sign, taken from some natural object, a serpent, a dog, a lizard, a reed, a house, &c. The signs of days in the Calendar of the Escurial are precisely the same with those mentioned by Boturini, _Idea, &c._, p. 45. “But, if we may give credit to that author, the Mexican year contained 360 days, divided into 18 months of 20 days. The order of days in every month was computed, according to him, first by what he calls a tridecenary progression of days from one to thirteen, in the same manner as in the Calendar of the Escurial, and then by a septenary progression of days from one to seven, making in all twenty. In this Calendar not only the signs which distinguish each day, but the qualities supposed to be peculiar to each month, are marked. “The paste-board, or whatever substance it may be on which the Calendar in the Escurial is painted, seems, by Mr. Waddilove’s description of it, to resemble nearly that in the Imperial Library in Vienna. In several particulars the figures bear some likeness to those in the plate which I have published. The figures ... which induced me to conjecture that this painting might be a tribute-roll similar to those published by Purchas and the Archbishop of Toledo, Mr. Waddilove supposed to be signs of days; and I have such confidence in the accuracy of his observations as to conclude his opinion to be well founded. “It appears, from the characters in which the explanations of the figures are written, that this curious monument of Mexican art had been obtained soon after the conquest of the Empire. It is singular that it should never have been mentioned by any Spanish author.” The following are the various modes in which the Mexicans contributed towards the support of government, modes resembling the revenue system of Egypt in ancient times. Some persons of the first order were exempted from payment of tribute, but at the same time were bound to personal service in war, and to follow the banner of their sovereign with their vassals. The immediate vassals of the crown not only contributed by personal military service, but also paid a certain proportion of the produce of their lands in kind. Those who held offices of honour or trust paid a certain share of the emoluments derived therefrom. Each “association” cultivated some part of the common field allotted to it, for the behoof of the crown, and deposited the produce in the royal granaries. Some part of whatever was brought to the public markets, whether fruits of the earth or the various productions of artists and manufacturers, was demanded for the public use, and the merchants who paid this tax were exempted from every other. The peasants were bound to cultivate certain districts in every province, which may be considered as crown lands, and brought the increase into public storehouses.