Taxes

Acknowledgement of virrey's orders concerning: commanders of regiments or presidios granting of repartimientos to their soldiers; jurisdiction over San Andres mission; general pardon in honor birth of royal twins Carlos and Felipe;juezes receptores and escribanos submission of documentation re: legal transactions incurring alcabala; repatriation of old gold and silver currency; the use of sealed paper and its control; Posada y Soto's appointment as fiscal real; virrey's illness and use of his official stamp in correspondence; Rengel as interim comandante general due to Neve's death. Requests by primera clase, exemption from media anata. (J. Higgins February 1989)

Letters: welcoming virrey Galbez; re: consultation with Lorca concerning his experience in controlling Indian depredations in province; alcabala levied on merchandise bound for Vera Cruz under Canaberal. Military rolls-payroll for compania presidaria and compania de caballeria for May 1783 includes dates of service, duty station, promotions, vacancies, leaves, infractions, deaths. (J. Higgins February 1989)

Letters concerning: March 19, 1782 Apache attack, camino real, Saltillo--Indians escaped after killing 6; schools in Indian pueblos, teachers' salaries, community funds, number of children; resettlement of four fugitive Indian rancherias at Concepcion; poor harvests, assistance needed at missions; subversion of licensing fees for branding irons, milling machinery and similar equipment and fines for evasion of taxes. Military rolls-payroll compania presidaria, compania de caballeria for January and February 1782 include dates of service, duty station, promotions, vacancies, leaves, infractions, deaths.

Acknowledges royal orders re: change Indians' tribute status at age 18; governor's control over estate (inheritance) tax and sail cloth sales tax; promoting hemp, flax cultivation. Discussion of new converts at misiones: Concepcion, Purificacion, and San Chrystoval, San Miguel--latter having few neophytes and low subsistence thus relieved of tribute. San Miguel defended against depredations by Tlaxcalteco cavalry and archers. Discussion of nitrate mine reestablishment in valle de Guaxuco (no other in province), royal orders concerning benefits and nitrate valuation as per assayed and costs of extraction-transport. Correspondence concerning officers posted to Santianez's command: Echeagaray (teniente), Cayetano de Tixerina (alferez al capitan), Urresti (segundo alferez). (J. Higgins, January 1989)

Correspondence between Gonzalez de Santianez, miel Noriega and Mayorga discusses Indian mission desertion, unspecified hostilities at Punta de Lampasos and cost/necessity of reestablishing garrison there. Confirmation of royal orders concerning use of sealed paper in Indian grievance petitions; general and military pardons in honor of royal birth; deregulation of mercury trade; sales tax collection. Letters Infanteria, arrival in Monterrey to assume governorship, reestablishment of abandoned nitrate works at Punta de Lampasos. (J. Higgins, January 1989)

3 indexes of letters sent to virrey the first numbered 1-4, and includes the first and second letter. The last involving Alvarado and his case before the fiscal prosecutor and the delays in expediting it. Second index covers letters 7-10, includes letters 7 and 9, the Former concerns a royal decree on exemptions from tax and the latter concerns the seizure of goods belonging to busamante. Third index covers letters 20-21 none included. (O. Velez, November 1988)

A Series of letters written by Vaamonde and virrey concerning a promotion sought by Vaamonde and a dispute over a tax (Media with the way his petition for promotion was subverted by rumors and innuendos, his feeling that the dishonor caused to him and his family by his continuation in his current post may be the cause of his resignation, virrey's response that no action can be taken until the legal proceedings related to the case are concluded, Vaamonde's procurement of inspector Nava to conduct thorough investigation of their allegations of impropriety and thus clear his name, the impossibility of his being able to provide for family and other obligations if he is not exempted from the, media annata tax imposed on his salary, cites his predecessors exemption from tax and seeks the Same, virrey's response that his request is reasonable but that the matter is not within his domain, Vaamonde's contention that the area under his control is unproductive and does not provide a supplement to finances of Nuevo Leon. (O. Velez, November 1988)

Letter recommending Barcia for merit for stopping illicit trade. Concerns regulations on sale of frontier land. Taxes on tobacco. Distribution of arms to towns most prone to Indian attacks. Describes events of Indian war. Two reports describing firsthand, in great detail, events of two small battles between Indians and soldiers. (A. Dean, January 1989)

Correspondence concerning: proposed and actual 'visitas' by Ossorio, accounts of 'alcavalas' collected, how much, from whom; arrest of five captains for unnamed crimes, pursuit of suspect in murder case; mention of receipt of testimony concerning commerce between Spain and Luisiana; antiguo and moderno squadrons of Nuevo Santander listed, including number of captains, sergeants, subalternos and soldiers, where stationed; brief mention of mining in various towns; several letters concerning Palacio's impending departure, 'grave accidente' he experienced in Aguayo, how Indians carrying him, updates on health; letters from Rubio stating that information on troops, salaries en route, also concerning structuring of squadrons, that was satisfied with Palacio's work, itinerary of Palacio's departure route. (L. Kerr, October 1988)

Correspondence includes letters concerning: 'visitas' to various towns, amount of 'alcavala' collected and from whom, that agricultural towns excused since little currency available; strategies of how to stabilize relations with Indians and facilitate 'reduccion' near missions and towns, specific discussion of 'reduccion' of Xanambres in Llera, also how to isolate 'bravos' in sierra; need at new missions for more 'ornamentos' and 'vasos sagrados' in order to continue 'reduccion'; mariscal de campo criticism of system of 'reduccion' and conversion, finding it inadequate method of controlling Indians (folio 467); details of escape by 'capitan reformado', mention that his 'concubina' questioned; issues discussed at junta between officials of 'batallon de Tampico y Panuco' as recounted by Alarcon; Indian who converted but continued to rob and murder; military finances and salaries, including 'promptuarios de oficiales y soldados' of squadrons stationed in Nuevo Santander, listing salaries, wages 'vencido,' 'recivido,' and 'refulta.' (L. Kerr, October 1988)