Architecture

Informe concerning complaints from Concepcion against a number of frays from misiones fernandinas. Complains include doctrination of Indians in their own languages, baptism without previous instruction, economic inequality between missions, and a number of petty complaints, Concepcion is accused of being crazy, and transfering him to another colegio is recommended. Follows letter from Concepcion asking for audience from virrey and detailed account of situation. Questionnaire sent by Borica to comandantes of presidios asking about situation in misiones; answers describe in some detail every day life of converted Indians including housing, daily diet and clothing in misiones (folios 10-41). Follows copy of informe previously sent to Branciforte by Borica, and now sent to Azanza. Letter from Buenaventura describing in detail con un Muchacho y Le mando que Se Vaya a fornicar. Borica certifies Arenaza's good record in official document. Follows summary of book-keeping in missions of Nueva California. History of religious, military and civil dominance in California since 1772 is described in some detail by Lull, asking to clear the name of the Missiones in California. Fiscal de la real hacienda suggests sending Concepcion back to Spain to avoid scandals. Unsigned document explaining how missions in California should be divided among different orders. In a long document Laruen summarizes in detail everyday life in missions in California special detail on punishment to Indians, number of lashes, instrument etc, claiming that if something, the treatment to Indians is very soft (mui blando el trato), also very detailed account of aranceles of all missions in California. Laruen asks to dismiss the whole incident with Concepcion, explaining that it is all based in anger of neighbor misiones and presidios due to his bad attitude toward them, follows similar detailed account on housing including measurements of dwellings, materials of clothing, money allocated. This informe and particularly the one that follows are an answer to accusations made by Borica and a number of captains of presidios in the area. (folios 63-101, 104-111). Following is a long document from Arillaga explaining discrepancies between reports from missionaries and military personnel, he explains cada uno dice de la Feria, como Le fue en ella. (folios 112-119). Letters from fiscal de la real hacienda clear the misiones from any fault, concluding the expediente

Complaints about up keep of houses 11 & 12. House #12 rented to Furlong. Silva desires to purchase property. Decision to turn over house to Silva after Furlong vacates the property. Marquira y Raya died leaving property vacant. Letter concerning administration (execution) of Arguelles will. Ff. 78 list of rents secured. Detailed list of property activities for last nine years. Macua (executor of will) wants property vacated. Macua rented #'s 11,12,3,4,6,7,8, & jardin#5. Contaduria ceded that arguelle owned one quarter of all property on vergana. (K. Mccaston, may 1990)

Discussion of ruined state of presidio de Horcasitas; expenses entailed in construction and reconstruction costs, expedition against Seris. Detailed description of construction features and materials. Speculation on cause of deterioration. Documents include beautiful plan view drawing of presidio, F. 243. (D. Marksz, October 1987)

Castro comments on Nava's proposals for presidio, asking that cost study be done before he makes decision. Nava gives info on construction materials, details of design of proposed presidio. Suggests that prison labor be used, that funds could be taken from primera volante's fondo de gratificacion; estimates that with those measure total cost for presidio would be 9-10,000 pesos. Includes sketch of proposed presidio with explanation of use of various buildings shown in drawing. Castro adds suggestions to Nava's plan, but judges that presidio would be ineffective due to geography and inability of soldiers to patrol all the area that Indians use; also states that Indians (Tamaulipos) are too fierce to be contained by reduccion. Budget for plan included. Castro chides Nava for stating that northern Villas had no urgent problems with Indians without first visiting area or consulting topographic map. (O. Velez, February 1990)

Llanos y Valdes, the bishop, is accused of carefully cutivating several crops while not allowing any of the benefits to go to the poor or to the public in general. Mention is made of the halted construction in Monterrey of cathedral, Hospital, convent, and seminary. Several informes addressed to the virrey Revilla Gigedo asked him to find speedy solutions to the various problems caused by the bishop; one even asked for the aid of the church in Madrid. As one author stated, the overall problem is the mismanagement by Llanos y Valdes of the Diezmos for the diocesis. On January 24, 1794, Llanos de Valdes wrote to Revilla Gigedo on his own behalf; he denied mismanaging the Diezmos and said that the money made from the crops was enough to cover only a portion of the debts of the Diezmos. Additionally, Llanos y Valdes' excommunication of Rubalcava came up again (he received such treatment for being absent from the Pesqueria el Grande Valley without the permission of the bishop). Ff. 427 is chart of monetary transactions for ecclesiastical items. Ff. 421 and 431-435 and 439 are also charts; they are copies of pages from rublacava's books as contador de Diezmos for Monterrey. Ff.411 is followed by informes, also copies of earlier documents, explaining the chart's contents. (S. Langmack may 1990)

Informes claiming that bishop Llanos y Valdes of Monterrey was threatening people there with excommunication for trivial reasons, demanding such threats stop. Many requests that something be done to help the city to return to its Former tranquility. There is also discussion of halted convent. The bishop moved the episcopal seat to Saltillo, in the farthest reaches of the Obispado, where he then purchased houses with money intended for the religious construction in Monterrey. Alva mentioned the disharmony between the bishop and Herrera (gobernador) in relation to the problems. (S. Langmack April 1990)

Beginning on ff.178 of this volume, there is a list of 20 items concerning the management abilities and behavior of the bishop Llanos y Valdes in Monterrey. Within this set of documents is a rough draft of the first 17 items on that list. They particularly concern his practices in relation to the construction of cathedral, Hospital, convent (for monjas Capuchinas), and seminary. This rough draft is followed by a Series of letters, none signed but all written in the same handwriting and on the same date but to different people, which refer to grave points directed against the person and dignity of the bishop. These letters are dated earlier than the rough draft. (S. Langmack, April 1990)

Imaz y Altolaguirre's informe discusses 5 points surrounding the building of the cathedral in Monterrey and the bishop's desire to move the episcopal seat to Saltillo which he (Imaz y Altolaguirre) felt obliged to disclose to the unnamed recipient of the informe. The discussion changes, however, due to Llanos y Valdes' death. Borbon said that the cathedral begun in Monterrey (See preceeding folios of Vol. 196) should be completed. The discussion surrounding the building of the cathedral, Hospital and convent continues with mention of the amounts of money already spent (ff.225). (S. Langmack, April 1990)

List of 20 suggestions for handling the religious construction halted by Llanos y Valdes (bishop) before of his death, para averiguar la realidad. the Author, unnamed, thought it important to list and interpret these for the recipient of this information. The listing is followed by such an interpretation. The author hoped for a response from the recipient, named only as vuestro Senor Dean y Cavildo de la Santa Yglesia del Nuevo Reyno de Leon. the discussion is the same as it has been why the bishop halted the construction; the salary paid to the architect; in general, the economics of the matter; the fact that the bishop independently decided to move the episcopal seat to Saltillo (it is pointed out that the route from Monterrey to Saltillo, which would be taken to move the construction materials, went over the Sierra Madres and past indios barbaros); that he failed to give sacraments to many including some who died without receiving them; etc. Also, mention is made of the bishop using the threat of excommunication in Cases which the author considered trivial y de ninguna importancia (number 8 in the informe, ff.179) and he mentioned the excommunication of Blanco (number 9, ff.179). Ff.183 contains list of goods received by Urgarte y Bungoa from Llanos y Valdes, the bishop whom the controversy surrounds, including priests clothing and religious items (chalice, mass book, etc). (S. Langmack, April 1990)

Discussion of an bishop's alleged mismanagement and abuse of Monterrey's cathedral's treasury in relation to the religious contruction in Monterrey which the bishop, who is not named, oversaw. The bishop is probably Llanos y Valdes who is discussed in the rest of Vol. 196. Ff.170-172 mention expenditures in relation to construction. (S. Langmack, April 1990)