The foreign debt of Honduras amounted to a total of 5,397,7701. at the end of 1884. No interest has been paid since 1872, and its accumulation has (1883) reached the amount of 5,022,4891. The debt consists of three loans: the first contracted at the London Stock Exchange in 1867, for the nominal amount of 1,000,000l.; the second issued in London and Paris in 1868, for the nominal amount of 2,490,1087.; and the third, negotiated at the London Stock Exchange in 1870, for the nominal amount of 2,500,000l. The first and third loans were at 10 per cent., and issued at the price of 80, and the second loan was at 6 per cent., and issued at 75. All the loans were raised for the professed object of constructing an interoceanic railway from Port Cortez, or Puerto Caballos, on the Atlantic, to the Bay of Fonseca, on the Pacific, 232 miles in length. But only a short section of the line, on the Atlantic side, 53 miles in length, was constructed in 1875, and then lying abandoned-the contractors having received on account of the works 689,7457., being but a part of the amount due-and there was no further attempt at the time to open the railway. If paid, the interest and sinking fund on the three loans would amount to an annual charge of 695,7001. on the public revenue of Honduras-130,000l. in respect of the first; 240,7007. in respect of the second; and 325,000l. in respect of the third loan-or more than seven times the estimated total receipts of the government of the republic.

In May 1872 the government of Honduras issued at the London Stock Exchange the prospectus of a 'ten per cent. ship railway loan' of 15,000,000l., 'for the purpose of adapting the present interoceanic railway, now in course of construction, to a ship railway across the republic of Honduras,' that is 'a railway capable of conveying ships of large tonnage, without disturbing the cargo, between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, to and from Puerto Caballos on the former, and the Bay of Fonseca on the latter.' The loan was to be in 150,000 bonds of 1007. each, issued at the price of 80, and repayable in fifteen years. It met with no subscribers. The active army consists of 830 men with 31,500 militia.

The area of the republic, divided administratively into seven departments, is calculated to embrace 39,600 English square miles, with a population, in 1884, of 458,000, or 10-6 inhabitants to the square mile. A census was taken in 1881, but the returns were not regarded as trustworthy. The republic is divided into 13 departments, 60 districts, 212 municipalities. The bulk of the inhabitants consists of aboriginal 'Indians,' and the sparse European-descended population, mainly of Spanish origin, is in the small ports on the Pacific coast and in the town of Santa Rosas, in the tobacco districts of Gracias. Capital of the republic is the ancient town of Tegucigalpa, with 12,000 inhabitants, including the district, situated nearly in

the centre of the state, and chief station on the planned interoceanic railway.

The exports of Honduras consist chiefly of cattle, mahogany, hides, and india- rubber, the total value estimated at about 1,600,000 dollars per annum, while the imports, valued at 1,500,000 dollars, comprise cotton goods, silks, and hardware. In 1882 the exports were estimated at 453,1307., and imports 361,3937. From Truxillo alone the exports of 1883 were valued at 160,9107., including 26,000 head of cattle, valued at 130,000l.; mahogany, to the value of 17,6007.; hides and deer-skins, 8,000l. The resources of the country are at present wholly undeveloped. There are no complete official returns of the value of either the imports or exports, owing partly to the customs at the principal ports being farmed out to individuals whose interest it is to conceal all facts concerning their revenue. The commerce is mainly with Great Britain, but the value is not given in the 'Annual Statement' of the Board of Trade, which merges Honduras into Central America.' (See page 586.) The gold and silver mines of the country are officially stated to be in a fair way of development.

In 1884 there were 33 post offices, which carried 299,614 letters, newspapers, &c. in 1883; the revenue was 7,6517. and expenses 3,6147. There are 1,800 miles of telegraphs, with 23 offices and 107,730 messages in 1883, and 29 miles of railway.

Diplomatic and Consular Representatives.

1. OF HONDURAS IN GREAT BRITAIN.

Consul-General.-Guillermo Binney, accredited October 17, 1882.

2. OF GREAT BRITAIN IN HONDURAS.

Minister and Consul-General.-J. P. Harris-Gastrell.

Money, Weights, and Measures.

The money, weights, and measures of Honduras and the British equivalents, are as follows:

MONEY.

The Dollar, of 100 cents: nominal value, 48.; real value, 38. 4d.

1. OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS,

Gaceta Official de Honduras. Comayagua, 1884.

Report by Consul Melhado on the trade and commerce of Truxillo in 1882, in Reports of H.M.'s Consuls.' Part III. 1883.

Report on Honduras in 'Reports of H.B.M.'s Consuls.' Part III. 1884. London, 1884.

Trade of Central America with Great Britain; in 'Annual Statement of the Trade of the United Kingdom in the year 1883.' Imp. 4. London, 1884.

2. NON-OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS.

Bates (H. W.), Central and South America. London, 1882.

Fröbel (Julius), Seven Years' Travel in Central America. 8. London, 1853. Gonzalez (D.), Geografia de Centro-America. San Salvador, 1878.

Marr (Wilhelm), Reise nach Central-America. 2 vols. 8. Hamburg, 1863. Pelletier (Consul E.), Honduras et ses ports. Documents officiels sur le chemin de fer interocéanique. S. Paris, 1869.

Reichardt (M.), Centro-America. 8. Braunschweig, 1851.

Scherzer (Karl, Ritter von), Wanderungen durch die mittelamerikanischen Freistaaten Nicaragua, Honduras und San Salvador. 8. Braunschweig, 1857. Squier (E. G.), Honduras: descriptive, historical, and statistical. 8. London,

1870.

MEXICO.

(REPÚBLICA MEXICANA.)

Constitution and Government.

THE present constitution of Mexico bears date February 5, 1857, with subsequent modifications, down to October 3, 1882. By its terms Mexico is declared a federative republic, divided into States -19 at the outset, but at present 27 in number, with 1 territory and the Federal District-each of which has a right to manage its own local affairs, while the whole are bound together in one body politic by fundamental and constitutional laws. The powers of the supreme government are divided into three branches, the legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative power is vested in a Congress consisting of a House of Representatives and a Senate, and the executive in a President. Representatives-227 in 1883 -elected by the suffrage of all respectable male adults, at the rate of one member for 40,000 inhabitants, hold their places for two years. The qualifications requisite are to be twenty-five years of age, and a resident in the state. The Senate consists of fifty-six members, 2 for each state, of at least thirty years of age, who are returned in the same manner as the deputies. The members of both Houses receive salaries of 3,000 dollars a year. The President is elected by electors popularly chosen in a general election, holds office for four years, and cannot be re-elected until another period of four years has elapsed after the expiration of his term. The Senator who presides over the Senate by monthly election acts temporarily in default of the President of the Republic. Congress has to meet annually from April 1 to May 30, and from September 16 to December 15, and a permanent committee of both houses sits during the recesses.

President of the Republic.-General Porfirio Diaz; installed President of the Republic, as successor of General Manuel Gonzales, December 1, 1884.

The administration is carried on, under the direction of the President, by a council of six Secretaries of State, heads of the departments of Justice, Finance, the Interior, War and Navy, Foreign Affairs, and Public Works.

The prevailing religion is Roman Catholic, but the Church and State are independent of each other, and there is toleration of all other religions. There are 62 Protestant churches with over 20,000 adherents. No ecclesiastical body can acquire landed property.

Primary education has been declared compulsory, but the law is

not enforced. Schools are supported partly by the central, partly by the State governments, and partly by beneficent societies. In the year 1884 there were in Mexico 8,986 public elementary schools, with nearly 500,000 pupils, and 138 for superior and professional education, with an attendance of 17,200. The amount spent by Government on education in 1884 was 680,0001.

Revenue, Expenditure, and Army.

The public revenue is derived to the extent of more than onehalf from customs duties, laid both on exports and imports. The amount spent on public works has increased in recent years—more than one-third for 1884-while about one-fourth is allotted to the army. The finances of the state were for many years in great disorder, the expenditure constantly exceeding the revenue. Since 1880, however, more order has been introduced into the finances; the country has become more prosperous, and according to official statement the revenue can now meet the expenditure.

According to the last official statement published by the head of the Treasury Department, the revenue for the year ending June 30, 1882 (taking the dollar at 4s., though the actual price current is about 3s. 8d.), was 6,093,2187, and expenditure 5,043,5267. 'The surplus of 1,049,6921. was spent according to subsequent grants and authorisations made by Congress.' The budget estimates for 1882-83 showed a revenue of 5,420,000l. and expenditure of 5,402,3017. The revenue of that year actually amounted, according to official statement, to 6,600,000l., the customs' receipts alone amounting to 3,600,000l. The budget estimate of revenue for 1883-4 was 6,932,000l., and expenditure 6,142,7997. The following is the budget estimate of expenditure and unofficial estimate of the revenue for the year ending June 30, 1885:—