Civil Offices (Comandante General)

Croix defends approach to administering missions in Sonora, arguing that missions and missionaries receive sufficient funds, are not suffering as purported. Contends missionaries should not expect Indians to cultivate land because climate does not support activity, and Indians accustomed to fishing, gathering yerbas y raizes. states that while missionaries have not received everything requested, certainly have not been ignored in manner conveyed by Prestamero (See ff 63-100). Croix cites cedulas, particularly that of 8-5-73, as precedent for present decisions. Criticizes missionaries' punishing of Indians for not attending rosario, Misa y doctrina, for getting drunk, refusing to work en los Bienes de la comunidad que Se llaman temporalidades, and for leaving village sin expresa licencia de Sus padres ministros. fiscal declares Croix has satisfied Prestamero's complaints perfectamente (Oficio summarizes issue, provides some background, folios 121-123.), that law of 8-5-73 not meant to discriminate against Franciscanos, and missionaries should not enforce abovementioned rules so that Indians no imaginen Pesado el suabe yugo de cristianismo. (L. Kerr, April 1989)

(See sequence 14 for first part of expediente) debate over whether Ugalde's appointment of Varela Bermudez as 'capitan a guerra' legal or not dependent upon assignment of Saltillo and Parras to east or west comandancia (i.e. to Nueva Vizcaya or Coahuila), because 'reglamentos' concerning militia different. Virrey decides both belong to east, that no 'capitan a guerra' necessary. Carlos IV appoints Castro and Nava to east and west comandancias, respectively. Castro and virrey fulfill request by officers Pereyta et.al. For funding of additional squadrons to defend 'vecinos,' farmers against Apaches. (L. Kerr, March 1989)

Documents are of military, fiscal and administrative nature Alcabala on tobacco, gunpowder and playing cards. Promotion of Former comandante general Croix. Duties of civil officers, including gobernador, corregidores, etc. Judicial regulations of San Carlos. Assignment of military personnel and relations of officers with civil administration. Collection of old coinage (Antigua Moneda) in provinces.(J. M. Johnson, July 1988)

Documents deal with fiscal, administrative and military matters for the Provincias Internas. Supplies, personnel and salaries for presidios. Ff. 234-238 concern establishment of new diocese for Sonora-Sinaloa; references to 1732 regulations and details civil-military-religious duties with particular attention to role of gobernador. Ff. 247-255 contain financial details to settle claims of widow of Rivera y Moncada for past salary due and Monte Pio. Ff. 264-266 report jailing of Indians in Arispe to prevent further rebellion against Spain. Ff. 274-275 is an index of questions asked by Croix of ex-viceroy Mayorga and at San Carlos and real Casa at Arispe, collection of fees for maritime transport and Alcabala in California, Velasquez to replace ailing Barri as gobernador of California, formation of new compania volante, Croix requested by viceroy for meeting in Mexico. (J. M. Johnson, July 1988)

Documents deal with matters concerning: Salaries and distribution of mercury to miners. Inventory and supply of firearms to military and militia. Requests for transfer due to hardships of frontier duty. Reglamentos dealing with commerce between provinces of Luisiana and Nueva Espana. Eventual responsibility of vecinos to take over financial support of militias, perhaps using alcabala as revenue. Shipment of supplies and weapons from Veracruz to Havana and windward isles. Sending troops to Texas and Coahuila. Ff. 216-217 report removal of cadete Bernal from Fronteras for repeated thefts; because of relationship to de Anza, lesser punishment given by stationing him in Manila. Cibolos (bison) to be sent from Texas to king by Goleta Sonora y Tabe. (J. M. Johnson, July 1988)

Documents discuss effect of land distribution on Sonora after Galvez' inspection, references to past cedulas and viceregal decisions. Difficulties of collection of tribute in areas of Sinaloa due to poor treatment by officials. Needed improvement in operations of mines and collection of Alcabala. After reviewing problems, king and Galindo recommend halting of land distribution until province receives favorable return defensively and economically. Establishment of Casas reales at Arispe and Rosario approved, with suggestions for fiscal economization and duties for personnel. (J. M. Johnson, July 1988)

Series of letters between Castro, Emparan, and Revilla Gigedo concerning Castro's complaints against Emparan. Castro accuses Emparan of hautiness, insubordination, shirking gubernatorial duties, disrespect towards Castro's wife, and lack of pundonor. Castro expresses displeasure at Emparan's being sworn in as governor. Bulk of letters treat Emparan's leaving a town without comandante general Castro's permission. Argument between Emparan and Castro over who's rank is higher is in part resolved by Revilla Gigedo's attempt to end argument by guillambaud's medical evaluation of Emparan's intestinal illness, vague discussion of all-around under-manning of presidial troops, brief reports of Indian theft of animals, and murders near Iguana and Boca de Leones, Emparan's defense of Fueros as a good, honorable soldier who was attacked by Ugalde for some unknown reason. Documents end with bibliographic index of administrative correspondence which is not included in entry. (S. Gibbs, may 1988)

Various documents regarding remission of contents of royal treasuries and taxes to Arispe in response to orders from comandante general. Mention of shortage of muleteers in Guadalajara to convey payment to Arispe. Mention of Nava's succession to comandancy general after Neve's death. Folios 29, 30 are manifests of contents of royal treasuries, payments to civil officials from September 1784. Includes informe notifying viceroy of Neve's death. Folios 38, 45, 46 mention use of tax money for military expeditions; folio 47 refers to formation of new company of presidial dragoons from Saltillo. folio 56 is partial list of payments received in Mexico dated 13 November 1784. folio 58 provides summary of contents of military treasury at Chihuahua and royal treasuries at Durango, Rosario, Guanajuato, and San Luis Potosi in response to orders from Mexico. Several autos from local officials regarding use of royal funds. Much anxiety and debate occurs as to dates and amounts of payments throughout. folio 76 is review of taxes on gunpowder and playing cards from 1781-1784. Mention of Rengel's succession to comandante general in 1784/1785. Mention of great drought and shortage of food for animals to transport money to Mexico. Mention of famine in Sombrerete in June 1785, in which wealthy estates were forced to post guards. folio 118 presents inventory of contents of royal treasury at Durango and payments to troops in Chihuahua dated 15 September 1785.folios 127-130 present tabular summary of annual revenues and payments from royal treasuries to officials, clergy, and military throughout Provincias Internas as of 20 August 1785. (W. Copas, June 1987)