Transportation (Maritime)

Details on cargos and itineraries of ships destined for lists of supplies and provisions with estimated amounts and costs based on consumption of (dried) meat and fish, bread, staple items, lard, spices, water and firewood. Most important to California missions, with buying price in San Blas, selling price in San Diego. Ff. 164-193 inventory and specifications of Paquebot el Principe (San Antonio), including; ship dimensions and volume capacity, masts, hull, sails, pantry, cables and rigging, anchors, armor, auxiliary boats. Ff. 148-150 and 155-163 provide many details on the fragata Santiago (Nueva Galicia). (J. M. Johnson, September 1988)

Detailed lists of goods carried by the fragata Santiago (Nueva Galicia) to Monterrey and San Francisco. Ff. 140 and 143 are price lists of food items for buying price in San Blas and selling price at Monterrey and San Francisco, respectively. Regulations in effect add automatic 150 increase to buying price for transportation costs. (J. M. Johnson, September 1988)

Major documents deal with salaries, personnel, appointments, expenses, budgets and pensions for the department; supplies for California presidios and cargos and itineraries for the fragata requirement for monthly reports by Hijosa for personnel in San Blas and California; shipment of carriages for Areche; technical experts in shipbuilding to be sent to San Blas from Spain; ports of Realejo and Sonsonate now belong to district of Guatemala; need to recruit two surgeons for San Blas to fill vacancies. (J. M. Johnson, September 1988)

Primary topics of correspondence are: recruitment of pilots, contramaestros, sailors for arsenal; explanations of vacancies and discussions of qualifications, salaries, illnesses and regulations concerning personnel. Cargos and documents transported to California. Expenses for provisioning ships. Viceroy orders naval equipment stored in Veracruz to be released for use in San Blas. Many details of shipments, itineraries, etc. of Goleta Sonora, paquebot El Principe, fragata Santiago and navio de guerra San Luxan (?). F. 52 Carlos III orders Hijosa to return to Spain to resume marital life after separation of 14 years from wife. (J. M. Johnson, September 1988)

Index chronologically for year; correspondence numbered from #336 to #458. Very detailed summaries with references by numbers to prior exchanges and official Ordenes, decretos, reglamentos. Some responses to individual entries in margins. Assignments, provisions; construction and repair of ships; schedules of departures/arrivals, destinations of ships; shipments and types of cargo. Some biographical information on visitador general of Peru and maritime personnel. Extensive and la Princesa (Nuestra Senora del Rosario); paquebots el Principe, San Carlos, and la Concepcion; Goleta Sonora. (J. M. Johnson, August 1988)

Documents between various military officers, governor and perform duties due to advanced mental illness. Process to appoint another officer in his place for presidio of Monterrey. (A. Dell'acqua, may 1988)

Documents relating to request by Californias gobernador for issuance of flags to presidios along maritime shores to aid ships. Issuance of flags also recommended by comandante of San Blas fleet. Description of materials and design of flags. (A. Dell'acqua, may 1988)

Documents refer to travel from Cadiz to Veracruz of eleven missionaries captured by French pirates, imprisoned on Island of Guadalupe. Liberated by Englishmen who shipped them to puerto Rico where five of these missionaries died; others shipped to Veracruz for missions in California. Documents detail expenses incurred by crown for their support, transportation, cure and burial. Monies paid to officials for same issues. (A. Dell'acqua, may 1988)

Correspondence between Bertodano, Berenguer de Marquina, Revilla, Malaspina and others concerning reimbursement of Cajas de Manila for expenses incurred by Goleta Valdes under command of Bertodano; further documentation includes salaries of crew, detailed list of supplies taken on board and weights; detailed account of hurricane survived by Valdes and subsequent condition of ship and crew; discussion of preferable routes and seasons for Valdes to return to San Blas considering Weather conditions and currents; brief discussion of salaries of crew and Bertodano; economic situation of real Armada during war with English; disarmament of Naval shipyards. (D. J. McClelland, may 1988)

Zeleta offers to supply Memorias of 1789 to Loreto in his Paquebot which sustained damages in storm; later Zeleta arrives in San Blas with shipment of cacao; arrival is acknowledged by comisario and comandante de Marina of San Blas; reference made to free commerce with Peru. Letters not present. (D. J. McClelland, may 1988)