Military Finances

Correspondence concerning payment of troops in Coahuila in 'cigarros'; also regarding collection and use of 'rentas' and 'AlCabalas' from sale of 'cigarros' and other items. (L. Kerr, December 1988)

Correspondence concerning civil and military affairs, such as inability to pay soldiers and collection and use of taxes from sale of tobacco products; suspension of payment of 'renta' to Spanish treasury; table of taxes collected from tobacco products; discussion of whether or not 'caja Principal' should honor 'libramientos' drawn by Ugalde to pay soldiers of 'Provincias Internas' as well as other fiscal matters. (L. Kerr, December 1988)

Correspondence concerning whether or not payments should be made on money drawn by company officers to pay soldiers; virrey orders suspension of 'libranzas' drawn against 'caja Real,' which suffers financial problems; governor of Nuevo Leon requests increase in money payed to military group because Caudales instrumental to tobacco production in province; Ugalde requests that no further cuts be made as company already suffering; further correspondence regarding fiscal matters, 'alcavalas' and 'rentas' collected from sale of tobacco and other commodities. (L. Kerr, December 1988)

Concerns financial problems faced by military, soldiers to receive money only for illness, 'salidas,' therefore requested that 'cigarros' be used as wages and valued as currency; further correspondence discussing details of scheme, reason for 'atraso en remision de situados', concerns over possible introduction of contraband 'cigarros,' risk thought to be small; discussion of financial plans for military, 'extractos generales' from various presidios not remitted for several years making financial assessment difficult, call for elimination of 'libranzas,' other costly military programs, reference to decretos passed by previous virreys concerning financial matters. (L. Kerr, December 1988)

Concerns the contributions of each locality to the general area in the context of items such as Diezmos; orders military communications between Rosario and the fiscal de la real hacienda; traces the transfer of silver between different municipalities in the area because of need; letter from fiscal stating that in his assessment the localities are self sufficient and that in case of need they should establish the proper tax. Examines in particular the finances of Chihuahua and Arispe, describing the distribution of assets among the different municipalities in the province, points to need of better administration of funds in the area of distribution as evidenced by the surplus that Chihuahua experienced in 1793, measures articulated to better administer the drafts being written by ministers and their communication to intendente, details about drafts written and their examination by the junta Superior; long letter by the comandante general of Provincias Internas underscoring the urgent need of the provincias of Arispe and Chihuahua. (O. Velez, November 1989)

Concerns Vidal de Lorca and remittances of income from tobacco; intendente of Potosi asks for clarification of order that would have Leon and Santander send his locality remittances from tobacco and taxes to his treasury, feels this move is unadvised; ff. 0528 is illegible; second ff. Of illegible letter mentions the possible hoarding, shortages and bottlenecks that may result due to order aforementioned, that Parras and Saltillo send remittances to Durango; troops are not paid on monthly Basis but rather the avilitado receives funds for his company 6 months in advance; letter expressing sentiment that revenue will be deposited locally instead of sent to the real hacienda for the sake of efficiency; order to intendente telling him to send sums needed to provinces monthly instead of every six months so that surplus of assets will not build because of the possibilities of these assets being corrupted if they are there in large numbers; mentions the conflict of interests between the troops and the avilitados of the revenue accounts as it relates to a more timely remittance of funds, ff 0533 illedgible. (O. Velez, November 1989)

Concerns questions the intendente from Durango had on assets being transferred from there to Potosi and Arispe, junta Superior de real hacienda asks for his appearance; document that traces the forming of expedientes and what they cover such as leaves with pay, remittance from treasury of annual assets to other areas in the Provincias Internas, questions pertaining to receipt of money at the tribunal; Berrera writing to inform that he is paying his troops with cigarrettes with which they barter for what they need, situation is affecting income from tobacco to be reported, using cigarretes for barter is prohibited but due to circumstances it will be permitted in Monclova, permits Ugalde to mint more money in response to this situation; mentions the delay in collecting synods in the province of Coaguila by Ugalde; order to intendente to not pay interim ? Until avilitados appear before him, document lists 8 measures or articles that must be followed by Ugalde and others in administration of military finances that come from the intendente of Durango. (O. Velez, November 1989)

Concerns a complaint lodged by Serna relating to adulteress behavior of his wife; concerns the new reglamentos de presidio approved by the king and implemented by Bucareli, article related to monies set aside for troops was implemented when Durango and Alamo treasuries could not provide necessary funds, Guadalajara assets would be used, as a result of this the establishment of the paymaster's office in Chihuahua and allowing Esconsa to draw from this institution, mentions the establishment of various pagadurias and other institutions used to provide for troops. Neve attests to fact that his province produces the income enough to provide for troops, asks to be exempt from the charges made upon his area, death of neves followed by an examination of the state of revenues in the pagaduria de Arispe, administrator of revenues states that method of providing revenues to internal provinces must be found, intendent of Sonora recommends a tax to be established to preclude interesados from getting exemptions. Rangel submits two state of accounts, one that refers to consignments from Vizcaya and Mexico, and the other that refers to consignments from Sonora, only treasury from Guadalajara would be remittable. Correspondence of Loyola and the treasurer of Chihuahua follows as they demonstrate the necessity of los productos de rentas for the financial solvency needed to provide for the troops, documents show how funds were taken from different geographic locations to provide for those areas in the most need. In the note accompanying this document mention is made of a military inspection with results of retired and invalid soldiers to be provided so the real tribunal can better budget its sources; decision made to situate the paymaster's office mentioned earlier in Saltillo because of its central location, index of meetings of the junta Superior to discuss location of Pagaduria; letter describing jurisdictional problems as they relate to sending revenues to the capital, revenues coming from tobacco and excise taxes. (O. Velez, November 1989)

(O. Velez, November 1989)

Concerns the annual funding of account gastos de paz established for Coahuila and administered by Ugalde, surplus may be used to pay off scribes and assistants, mentions periodic reporting requirements (letter interrupted by other documents resumes on ff. 0485), traces transmittal of documents related to this account over the years 1788, 1789 in which Indian groups for which it was intended find themselves at war with Spanish, resulting surplus is to be sent to treasury or the Bahia presidio, communication of this information to Loyola; letter in which Ugalde has contended that the annual amount designated for the aforementioned account was not distributed by San Luis Potosi for the year 1788, Yermo who was to distribute funds had previous commitment to fund presidio and resources were used in this manner, Ugalde allowed to request money from Yermo but because each request must be accompanied by explanation and justification, control which Ugalde had expected is missing, one reason for this administrative apparatus is to preclude the duplication of gratificationes by other provinces to the same Indian groups, mentions other costs such as military supplies for horses, surgeons salary, and prisoners, further explanation of methods of making transactions so as to enhance coordination of the intendente of Potosi with Ugalde. (O. Velez, November 1989)