[MEXICO CITY]. SUÁREZ IRIARTE, Francisco. Defensa pronunciada ante el Gran Jurado el 21 de marzo de 1850, por Francisco Suarez Iriarte, acusado en 8 de Agosto de 1848 por el Secretario de Relaciones en aquella fecha, de los crimenes de sedicion contra el gobierno de Querétaro é infidencia contra la patria, en sus actos como Presidente de la Asamblea Municipal de la ciudad y distrito de Mexico. Mexico City: Tipografía de R. Rafael, calle de Cadena, No. 13, 1850. [2] [i-ii], [2], [iii] iv-v [1, blank], [3] 4-147 [1, blank] pp., folding lithograph map of Valley of Mexico after Smith and Hardcastle (Plano de una parte del Valle de Mexico, con el correspondiente corte desde la laguna de Chalco hasta el Valle del rio de Tula levantado y delineado por E. Ten. M.L. Smith, comande. de los Ingens. Topogs. y E. L.V. Hardcastle, Ingeno. Topogo.; 30 x 43 cm). 8vo (20.8 x 14 cm), disbound. Except for a few light spots to title and first leaf, very fine. Other than one short, clean tear to map at text block, the map is fine and fresh.

First edition. Garrett & Goodwin, p. 102. Palau 323979. Sabin 35066 & 93333.

Suárez Iriarte defends himself against charges of sedition against Mexico during the U.S. invasion. He was accused of treason against the government of Mexico during the American occupation, when he was serving as President of the Municipal Assembly of the City of Mexico. This is his impassioned plea to the Grand Jury investigating the charges, in which he says he is not guilty of collaboration with the Americans. Provides a valuable picture of the American occupation of Mexico City, complete with inconsiderate American soldiers, difficult finances, and limited municipal authority. He died before the verdict was rendered.

The Smith and Hardcastle map was published earlier by the U.S. It appears here in its rare Mexican printing. This was the map used as propaganda by those who favoured the annexation of all of Mexico by the U.S.