e is not noticed in Mexican affairs since
then, it is not unreasonable to suppose that he died shortly after this
date, although his death first appears in the Transactions of the
Massachusetts Historical Society for 1861.

Alaman figured in the Mexican Cortes, and also as Minister of Foreign
Affairs, especially under President Bustamente. In the latter capacity
he inspired the respect of foreign diplomatists. One of these, who had
occasion to know him officially, says of him, in answer to my inquiries,
that he "was the greatest statesman which Mexico has produced since her
independence." His portrait, as engraved in one of his volumes,
resembles the late Mr. Clayton of Delaware. He was one of the few
persons in any country who have been able to unite literature with
public life, and obtain honors in each department.

His first work was "Dissertations on the History of the Mexican
Republic," _Disertaciones sobre la Historia de la Republica Megicana_,
in three volumes, published at Mexico, 1844. In these he considers the
original conquest by Cortez; its consequences; the conqueror and his
family; the propagation of the Christian religion in New Spain; the
formation of the city of Mexico; the history of Spain and the house of
Bourbon. All these topics are treated somewhat copiously. Then followed
the "History of Mexico, from the First Movements which prepared its
Independence in 1808, to the present Epoch," (_Historia de Mejico desde
los primeros Movimientos que prepararon a su Independencia en el Ano de
1808 hasta la Epoca presente_,) in five volumes, published at Mexico,
the first bearing date 1849, and the fifth 1852. From the Preface to the
first volume, it appears that the author was born in Guanajuato, and
witnessed there the beginning of the Mexican revolution in 1810, under
Don Miguel Hidalgo, the curate of Dolores; that he was personally
acquainted with the curate and with many of those who had a principal
part in the successes of that time; that he was experienced in public
affairs, as deputy and as member of the cabinet; and that he had known
directly the persons and things of which he wrote. His last volume
embraces the government of Iturbide as Emperor, and also his unfortunate
death, ending with the establishment of the Mexican Federal Republic in
1824. The work is careful and well considered. The eminent diplomatist
already mentioned, who had known the author officially, writes that "no
one was better acqu