Exploration (Maritime)

Correspondence between Hijosa and viceroy regarding various Tepic with problems about requisition of foodstuffs, weapons, horses, payment of salaries, advances of salaries, preparation of maritime transport to Guaymas from San Blas and other details about personnel involved. Reference about indios marineros used as crew. Hijosa also questions naming of Capellan Cienfuegos to expedition prefering priest for port of San Blas to be permanent there. Accuses new missionaries of being negligent and mercenary toward commercialization and not caring for people. Viceroy orders necessary help for Jesuits being transported to Guadalaxara including 15 from California under care of Alferez Fernandez and 50 from Sonora and Sinaloa under care of Cabeza de Vaca. Hijosa accuses pilot Solorzano and officers of inexperience, punishing one using stocks. Disputes with comandante Rivero about breadmaker accusing Rivero of despotism. Other letter from viceroy about appointment by king of Abarca as standard bearer ordering him to be treated as an officer. (A. Dell'acqua, November 1987)

Instructions to comandante Estorgo from viceroy about details of expedition to Sonora and fronteras of Nueva Vizcaya; entails his taking command of ships made in Astillero Santiago to conduct troops of expedition by sea routes under command of Elizondo. Viceroy details chain of command, while in Sonora governor should be commander outside of province Elizondo would take over as commander followed by comandante Estorgo. (A. Dell'acqua, November 1987)

Documents pertaining to naming of engineers and instructions on how to achieve goals of expeditions to Nueva Vizcaya and Sonora. Planning and settlement of port of Guaymas and Rio Yaqui as Principal areas for commerce and trade. Conquest thru war and pacification of Seris and Pimas Altos; detailed ethnography. After achieving these goals expedition to resume exploration up Rio Gila establishing town on banks preferably near Colorado River to serve as capital of Gila province; study natural resources in detail; find mines and other natural riches to attract settlers; wage war against Apaches to secure lands and make possible fluvial navigation. Area should serve as protection to other settlements to east and south of province. Letters about arrival of visitador general Galvez to Sonora on his way to California. (A. Dell'acqua, November 1987)

Mission bred cattle cibolo sent to Texas and successfully adapted there. Manufacture and transport of weapons and canons to presidios and delivery acknowledged. Peaceful indians in frontier areas. Barrios assumes his former position as gobernador. Discovery of islands and keys. Manufacture of canoes for transporting indios gentiles and movement of soldiers. (J. M. Johnson, June 1987)

Information of Californias invasion by russia and U.S. And aid given them by Spain. (A. Dell'aqua, 1/87)

Concerns provisions for soldiers and families. Also includes references to russian settlements to the north. (A. Dell'aqua, 1/87)

Describes establishment of russian settlement north of San Francisco desertion of a russian sailor. (A. Dell'aqua, 1/87)

Two deserters from russian fragata juno first taken to San Francisco mission, then sent to Veracruz via San Blas, Guadalaxara and Mexico. from Veracruz, the two sent on to la Havana to be turned over to russian authorities. They are joined by 4 Anglo-Americanos and 2 indios gentiles from non-Spanish territory who will be sent as far as Mexico to determine how to turn them over to officials from their countries. These 6 deserted from fragata imperial. Lists of daily expenses are kept for all eight deserters, so that Spanish government can be recompensed by their respective governments. These documents are followed by ones which are advised in 1806 that three russian fragatas, juno, nedeyda and Neva request permission to stop in San Francisco for provisions and repairs. An exception is made and three will be allowed to land (they do not have a pasaporte from Spain). A copy of an original French pasaporte is attached, as well as a translation from russian of an official document from tsar Alejandro I, stating that ships are on official exploration and trade missions with russian-american company. This document requests that foreign governments provide diplomatic safety to russian ships while in foreign territories. (J. M. Johnson, November 1986).

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)