Communications

Letter to the contadores mayores which explains the document found in the previous Series which dealt with the paz y guerra account for Coahuila (ff. 0186-0202), the only additional information here is that the 6.000 peso sum is being cancelled in 1790 because hostilities with the Indians has resumed; mentions permission of Nava to spend amount on mules and other items related to this matter; sending of quadernos concerning costs incurred by Cortes in Bahia and the liquidation of the Same, adjust this account in relation to the real hacienda; remittance of materials related to aforementioned account to various officials; relacion that gives information on the gratificaciones given between 1787 and 1789, list of soldiers and cadets that were employed as scribes is given with corresponding salaries (1790 document); document containing correcting entries to paz y guerra account, the corrections made by real tribunal de Cuentas de Mexico and then sent to current governor Munoz. (O. Velez, 9ct. 1989)

A Series of letters addressing the situation of the 6.000 pesos approved by real hacienda to be given to the Asentista of the presidio of Coahuila, problem arises in this regard because Fermo refuses to take charge of the comission given to him by Ugalde; the solution to this problem is that the 6.000 will be handed over to the avilitado of the presidio San Antonio Bucareli de la Bahia who will use it for the same purposes originally intended, the pacification of the Indian groups mentioned; in a later letter it becomes evident that the real hacienda is going to suspend the 6.000 pesos because Ugalde has not submitted the necessary paperwork for the year 1787 as requested by the junta Superior in 1788 on the spending of sums in previous years; next letter in Series sees Ugalde asking that personnel funds that he spent in the employment of Pena during 1788 be reimbursed to him in 1789 budget; letter mentions relacion sent by Ugalde of employment of Dependiente and two cadetes during 1787-1788 and that the Dependiente disputes the salary proposal of 1.000 pesos a year as too little because of the extent of his work in the Provincias Internas, asked for 1.200 pesos a year, document also shows the salaries of the cadetes mentioned; Ugalde states that the sums not spent in 1788 on pacification cannot cover the costs of the Dependiente and the two cadetes; letter from signatories of the junta Superior of the real hacienda telling Ugalde that his salary of 6.000 pesos is enough to cover the costs of the employees mentioned. (O. Velez, October 1989)

Letter listing those people who made up the junta provincial that dealt with the fever, need information from governors on the status of the epidemic in their respective areas; a Series of letters aknowledging the orders to communicate information on epidemic; letter that discusses possible funding (aside from public) that can be used for the epidemic; invoices for medical supplies are in San Carlos; letter informing that epidemic has abated in Santander. (O. Velez, October 1989)

Order allows exception for Bonavia in that he is allowed to ship metals out of southern ports if and when he makes sure that shipments reach Spain directly; letter advising the virrey the deleterious effect that some of Bonavia's measures are having on the fiscal condition of the real hacienda, real tribunal de Mineria, and miners in the Provincias Internas de Occidente, petition that virrey order Bonavia to terminate measures described, measures in question have been discussed in detail in the preceeding folios of this volume starting with ff.147 and in general terms include donations of metals to mint, allowing unlimited entry to metals into the area from other areas and the related trade in contraband, allowing of gold and silver to come into ports in Provincias Internas de Occidente from Peru, Guatemala etc. Instead of being shipped directly to Spain, charging of duties on metals going to Mexico City instead of the duty being Charged there; sagaxruxieta advises virrey on how to proceed with petition of the administrative bodies cited above I terms of transmittal of communications; a summary of the provisions adopted by the junta provisional, the provisions adopted by the real tribunal general de Mineria in response as well as those by the real hacienda; letter from virrey making decision to decide in favor of the request of the real tribunal general de Mineria to terminate the contributions of metals to the mint established in Durango. (O. Velez, September 1989)

Due to illness the regimiento de Extremadura is left without a leader as well as the Provincia de Texas being without a governor. Lopez was sent to Texas to take over military and political functions, receives notice later to leave his post as governor of Texas feels his reputation injured but stays on. Arredondo had troops of area moved to Monclova despite the fact that rebels were expected to arrive by ship, action was taken because Lopez had intimated that he would not mobilize troops in the face of rebel attack, also is accused of impeding shipment of goods to troops, Lopez also given order to retire all captains who were not properly equipped to their homes and that they should not be receiving salaries because without the necessary arms and horses they were useless as soldiers. Lopez did not comply; barely legible letter by bacallo saying that Lopez is justifiably upset over being removed from post; mentions the effects of the scarcity of tobacco mentioned earlier, Echandia proposed as new Head of the Provincia de Texas, advisor suggests that the military conflict that would ensue the dismissal of Lopez and the replacement by Echandia is not worth it, Lopez was an interim governor because of illness of the governor and teniente Coronel, he however was not aware of this and therein lies the problem; final decision being that Lopez should reintegrate himself back into the regimiento de Extremadura. (O. Velez, September 1989)

Correspondence in which de Croix attempts to establish weekly postal route from Bahia to Arispe; includes very detailed outlines of routes, listing haciendas, Reales, Ranchos, misiones and presidios up to time of day mail will arrive; in-depth discussion of reasons to establish route. (D. J. McClelland February 1988)

Concerns hindrances in establishment of postal services between Monterrey and San Luis Potosi due to lack of protection from Indians attacks along the route, bad communications and employees not being payed. (K. Hubin, August 1989)

Letters from Ramirez referring to unaccompanying documents of desertion, wages due to a serviceman's widow, troop inspection, and travel destined for Aguayo. (E. Wilson, July 1989)

Ugalde acknowledges nomination as inspector of eastern provinces; requests reports on the state of troops, ammunition, livestock, tack, and other supplies needed for war;requests correspondence and reports be numbered properly;grants permission for Santianes to go away to regain his health; primera compania is to join the segunda and the tercera in Punta de Lampazos and be provisioned with supplies for 4 months; mention of putting command of all provinces under one man; sentence passed on de la Mata; brief campaigns sent out from Punta de Lampazos to quiet Indian attacks on soldiers. (E. Wilson, July 1989)

Documents consist of providencias for government and new institutions in California, correspondence between viceroy and of San Diego mission; improved communication system between Mexico and frontier regions; deployment of troops from Sonora for maximum defense of Californias and eastern provinces; purposes for pacification of Indians. Ff. 419-432 detail recruitment, transportation, settlement and protection of 70 families of colonists from Sonora for Alta California, of alleviating poverty and idleness by recruitment in Mexico; safety and choices of routes in combination of maritime and land means for transportation of settlers; desirable areas for colonization in new territories regarding protection, agricultural production, provisioning, recreation, water supply yet to extend Spanish occupation, defense and pacification plans; formation of companias volantes and militia to combat Indian hostilities and need for new regulations to do so; improvement of agricultural techniques and manufacture of domestic industries; long sections on required rations of food and other necessities, allotments of cash, markets for purchasing, selling regional commerce, supply and production of cattle, horses and mules. Other folios refer to maritime transportation of mission and presidio supplies and schedules of Goleta la Sonora (Senora de Guadalupe) and Paquebot el Principe between Guaymas or San Blas. Acknowledgements of arrivals of vessels along Sonoran and California coasts. (j.m.johnson, February 1989)