Civil-Naval Relations

Lopez de Toledo describes inventory of Loreto warehouse and lack of sufficient supplies for California missions and presidios. Purchases ordered by superiors, transportation schedules. Stresses need for more money to provision expeditions to Monterrey and San Diego, refers to Galvez 1768 recommendations to remedy scarcity of supply; improve agricultural production and sheep production for meat and wool for clothing. Information Sonora (Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe); Canoas Santa Rita, San Ignacio, San Xavier, Guadalupe and San Francisco Solano; paquebots el Principe, Lauretana, Concepcion, San Antonio and San transhipment to California, pay for craftsmen and Mule drivers. Ff. 196-197 and 211-212 roster list of officers and soldiers with salaries for compania de Cuera. Ff. 209 reports shipwreck off Sonora, sailors lost, plans for other ship to take survivors and cargo to California. (J. M. Johnson, June 1989)

Correspondence of administrative and financial matters consists of documents providing data on qualifications, salaries, appointments, health status and death notice (f. 475) of departmental personnel. Cargos and itineraries for fragata Santiago (Nueva Galicia), Goleta Sonora, Paquebot San Carlos carrying provisions to California. Ff. 471-472 discuss launching of new fragata la Princesa (N.S. del Rosario) and its role in colonization of California. Other documents continue Sonsonate and Realejo transferred to district of Guatemala, status of construction of new Paquebot and tools, supplies (ff. 453-455). Agricultural information on seeds and planting (ff. 451-452). Widow's pensions (f. 462) and salary deductions for payments to wives of officials (ff. 466-467). (J. M. Johnson, October 1988)

Correspondence is on administrative and financial matters in department of San Blas. Several documents deal with appointments, health and salaries of personnel; others with cargos and itineraries of Paquebot San Carlos and Goleta Sonora on voyages to California ports, supplying provisions to discuss damage to Paquebot in storm. Ff. 407 continues discussion of status in construction of Paquebot and why better suited to be fragata rather than Paquebot. Ff. 408-410, 414-419, 430-432, 434 deal with personnel problems of craftsmen on ship construction, delays due to illnesses. Ff. 411-413 on publication of new royal decrees lowering percentage of rights to gold, after royal fifth subtracted. Ff. 423-429 are list of workers contracted in Veracruz with salary information and deductions on salaries for officials for pensions to wives. (J. M. Johnson, October 1988)

Series of documents of administrative and fiscal matters for San Blas. Many deal with cargos and itineraries of paquebots San Carlos and el Principe (San Antonio) and fragata Santiago; others with personnel matters, ship construction and repair. On excess food supplies from Naval department to be given to presidios and missions in California and administered by Serra. F. 344 on three month leave for Choquet for accident suffered to rejoin wife in Spain after 14 yr. Separation; discussion of Hijosa's successor Ruiz and military escort to Mexico. Ff. Wife, approved by viceroy. Details given on amounts and construction of new launch for Paquebot and new buque de Paquebot, many details given on problems and techniques, delay to appoint Ayllon as contador; both assume new duties upon Hijosa's incapacitation. (J. M. Johnson, October 1988)

Correspondence is of administrative and fiscal nature, expenditures, salaries, appointments, recruitment and health problems; ship construction and repair, continuation from previous folios of problems (with keel) and building of launch and paquetbot; supplies for repairing warehouse in comisaria. Cargos and itineraries for Goleta Sonora, paquetbots San Carlos and el Principe (San Antonio). Ff. 311-313 announce arrival of Goleta Sonora, transporting pigs and servants for Areche, explaining delay due to bad Weather and shortage of food supplies. Request to Bucareli and approval by him for extra funds to cover necessary expenses incurred by personnel of the Sonora. (J. M. Johnson, October 1988)

On Hijosa's orders, the following three documents were prepared: 1) ff. 284-304 consist of detailed inventory of the San Carlos, hull, masts, sails, rudder, pilots area, anchors, cables and rigging, pilot's equipment, workmen's supplies and auxiliary boats. 2) ff. 305-307 is a list of food rations, amounts given based on assumed daily consumption and necessity. Major cheese, condiments, water, firewood and kitchen utensils. 3) ff. 308-310; bill of lading for food shipped to Loreto. Includes amounts and buying price of in San Blas and selling price for Loreto, after obligatory (by provincial regulation) 100 surcharge is added. (J. M. Johnson, September 1988)

Correspondence deals generally with following topics: Naval salaries, appointments, service and health records of personnel for department of San Blas, ship construction and repair. Much information on cargos and itineraries of the Goleta Sonora and paquebots San Carlos (toison), Principe and Concepcion. Documents of major importance are the following folios: Ff. 242-248 concern publication of general pardon for all military or commercial deserters from navy. Six month term for amnesty offered; terms and enforcement discussed. Ff. 249-260 and ff. 267-271 deal with problems in construction of (new keel for) launch for paquebot San Carlos (toison) and building of additional paquebot for navy. Ff. 279-281 discuss arrival of ship-building tools from Spain and expert technicians from Veracruz. Difficulties in scheduling itineraries and supplying missions and presidios in California due to shortage of ships. Ff. 264-266 request by Hijosa and approval by viceroy for monthly amount of his salary to be sent to assist his wife. Ff. 272-274 deal with illnesses and delayed arrival of technicians; ongoing need for recruitment of surgeon for department. (J. M. Johnson, September 1988)

Most important documents concern arrival in San Blas of two carriages and four servants for Areche to be shipped to Acapulco (folio 198); and detailed inventory of the Goleta Sonora (N. S. de Guadalupe) including food supplies, its physical structure, rigging and equipment (ff. 199-213). Bausa requests monthly sum sent from royal treasury to Sister in financial need; approved by Hijosa and viceroy (ff. 330-333). Fragata Santiago (Nueva Galicia) and paquebots Concepcion and San Carlos; costs and logistics of transportation of materials to California ports; procurement of supplies and skilled labor for ship repair; appointments of Naval, religious and medical personnel; and reports on departmental personnel, including illnesses and deaths. (J. M. Johnson, September 1988)

Major documents deal with salaries, personnel, appointments, expenses, budgets and pensions for the department; supplies for California presidios and cargos and itineraries for the fragata requirement for monthly reports by Hijosa for personnel in San Blas and California; shipment of carriages for Areche; technical experts in shipbuilding to be sent to San Blas from Spain; ports of Realejo and Sonsonate now belong to district of Guatemala; need to recruit two surgeons for San Blas to fill vacancies. (J. M. Johnson, September 1988)

Primary topics of correspondence are: recruitment of pilots, contramaestros, sailors for arsenal; explanations of vacancies and discussions of qualifications, salaries, illnesses and regulations concerning personnel. Cargos and documents transported to California. Expenses for provisioning ships. Viceroy orders naval equipment stored in Veracruz to be released for use in San Blas. Many details of shipments, itineraries, etc. of Goleta Sonora, paquebot El Principe, fragata Santiago and navio de guerra San Luxan (?). F. 52 Carlos III orders Hijosa to return to Spain to resume marital life after separation of 14 years from wife. (J. M. Johnson, September 1988)