He  spoke  next  about  the  population  and  the  foreigners,  who
had  been  naturalized  or  granted  letters  of  security.     He  did  not


134  THE  MEXICAN  GOVERNORS.
regard  with  favor  the  local  militia — and  particularly  in  view  of
the  disturbances  which  had  recently  agitated  the  territory.  But
the  measures  which  had  been  adopted  seemed  productive  of
good  results;  and  he  thought  the  territory  would  advance,  in
common  with  the  whole  republic,  in  the  paths  of  peace  and  pros-
perity. To  secure  such  a  consummation  was  worthy  the  earnest
attention  and  care  of  the  government.  It  was  a  vast  country,
rich  in  natural  advantages,  almost  limitless  in  its  capacity  for
what  might  be  made  of  it.^

This  report,  as  in  fact  all  Victoria's  official  papers,  read  well.
