MEXICAN WEALTH. from the travels of humboldt.

This traveller affirms that the riches of Mexico are infinitely superior to those of Peru. I know of no Peruvian family, says he, in the possession of a fixed and certain revenue of 130,000 francs ($26,000)—but in Mexico there are individuals who possess no mines, and whose revenue amounts to a million of francs ($200,000.)

The family of the Count de la Valenciano possesses alone, on the ridge of the Andes, a property worth 25,000,000 of francs, ($5,000,000,) without including the mine of Valenciano, which yields one year with another, a nett revenue of 1,500,000 livres ($240,000.)

The Count de Regia built at his own expense two vessels of the largest size, worth $600,000, and presented them to the King of Spain.

The family of Fagoaga, well known for its beneficence, intelligence and zeal for the public good, exhibits the example of the greatest wealth which was ever derived from a mine.

A single vein which the Marquis of Fagoaga possesses in the district of Sombredath, left in five or six months, all charges deducted, a nett profit of $4,000,000.

The European reader will be still more astonished, when I inform him of the extraordinary fact, that this family lent about the year 1800, a sum of more than three millions and a half of francs, ($700,000) without interest, to a friend whose fortune they believed would be made by it in a solid manner.

The mines (says Humboldt) have undoubtedly been the chief sources of the greatest fortunes of Mexico; but there is also a considerable number of rich families who have never had the working of any mines.

Such are the descendants of Cortes, the conqueror of Mexico.

The Duke of Montelon, the head of that family, possesses superb estates in the province of Caxaca.

They would yield him an annual revenue of $300,000, but residing in Naples, the greater part of this sum is pocketed by collectors.

To complete the view of the immense wealth centred in the hands of a few individuals in Mexico, (continues Humboldt,)

I will add exact establishments of the revenue of some of the Mexican clergy; a vast number of whom suffer extreme poverty, while others possess revenues which surpass those of many of the sovereign princes of Germany.

For example:

The Archbishop of Mexico receives annually, $130,000 The Bishop of Puebla, 110,000 “ of Valladolid, 100,000 “ of Guadalaxara, 90,000 “ of Durango, 35,000 “ of Monterey, 30,000 “ of Yucatan, 20,000 “ of Oarcaca, 18,000 “ of Sonora, 6,000

Making the enormous sum of $539,000 annually divided among eight clergymen!

A sum almost sufficient to defray the expenses of the civil government of the United States.

But it is in Mexico, as everywhere else, the inordinate wealth of a few makes the inordinate poverty of many.

The great body of the people (says Humboldt) are suffering for necessaries, while the nobles and great clergy are wallowing in princely estates.

In the metropolis alone, a city which contains 40,000 inhabitants, you may see 20,000 poor wretches, like the Lazaroni of Naples, sleeping in the open air, and depending for their bread upon the bounty of the passenger.