This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1851. Excerpt: ... patents of nobility, to all Spaniards who would go and take up their residence there. Its introduction, which might have been justified at that time, both in recompense of military service and to promote the more rapid settlement of the country, is, under the present circumstances, prejudicial to Spain as well as to the Indies; to Spain, on account of the great number who emigrate from it to acquire in the Indies the two possessions which are most esteemed among men, and which all do not here enjoy, namely, wealth, or the goods of fortune, and nobility; the privilege of the latter being freely bestowed upon all who go there, enabling them to hold offices and perform acts which are reserved for the nobles, the bare name of Spaniard being the best patent there can be in those parts; it is also pernicious to the Indies, for, besides the tumults it occasions, the reproach it brings upon the order of nobility, and the idleness and vices that are consequent upon it, the mechanical arts, as well as all the arts of industry, which are essential to a well-ordered republic, are completely abandoned, being held in contempt in that country by those who have no occasion to neglect or despise them in this The inhabitants of the Indies, both Creoles and Europeans, and especially those of Peru, of whom we are now speaking, should they continue to be the loyal subjects of the king, and remain steadfast in their fidelity, can have no motive to covet another kind of government, which shall be more advantageous to them, or a more perfect degree of freedom than that which they now have, or greater security for their property. They all live there after their own caprice, without the burden of any other impost than that of the excise of the Alcabala, which is paid very irregula...