After selling an important art collection in 1822, William Bullock decided to embark on an ambitious journey to a newly independent Mexico. In the company of his son, he left Dartmouth for Veracruz. Once in Mexico, he collected fauna and indigenous objects such as Mexica sculptures. In 1824, inspired by the exhibitions on Egypt shown in London by Giovanni Belzoni, he decided to organize exhibitions of his own, showing both the antique and modern Mexico. The public was fascinated by the objects Bullock had collected during his stay in Mexico, from 1822 to 1823. These volumes include observations on changes that occurred in the New Spain, descriptions of places he saw, the new government, industries, etc.