Transportation (Maritime)

Correspondence between Corbalan, virrey concerning issues shipments to California; mandate that all gold, silver be taxed (quintado). Attached is index of viceregal orders received by Corbalan from 7 September through September 29, 1773. (J. H. Ochs, January 1988)

Calleja points out that because of the war the european powers have let fall the practice of trading with their colonies only and therefore America sees increase in foreign trade that is prohibited in, for example, Panama, and in addition the loss of gold and silver reserves in America, Calleja lists the points that have been agreed upon by various institutions to remedy this problem (the page copied is split by separation of folios and full sentences are not decipherable); instructions for the charging of duty fees on expeditions from Jamaica to Panama that continue on to either Acapulco, San Blas, or other southern port that involve both Spanish and foreign goods, documents inventorying the contents of shipments and their prices, tax lists for goods going to Spain, tax lists for goods being exported out of Spain, tax lists for goods entering the ports of America, tax lists for war funding, admiral's dues and others. (O. Velez, September 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)

Letter advising of decision by tribunal de mineria that bulk gold and silver shipments will not be permitted from the southern ports; index of letters in this sequence; letter partially explaining the decision as one motivated by the problems being encountered in ships reaching Spain; copy of testimony given to fiscal on this matter questioning the prudence of this prohibition, mentions effects on the royal fifth, understands the order to be directed at ports in Peru and Guatemala, in addition thinks that the prohibition is directed at shipments leaving said ports and headed not for Spain but for Veracruz; further reservations expressed concerning prohibition on matters such as; having miners barter a third of their holdings in metal for coin currency with the metals being given to the establishment of a provisional mint being established in Durango the shipping prohibition mentioned earlier, and an objection to royal fifth being Charged in places other than Mexico when the destination of metals in question is Mexico; letter describing instance where a shipment of metals from Peru to Mexico was turn back in accordance with new law; copies of permits related to above are requested, permission was given by presidente de Guadalaxara to Olasagarre, Parrani, and Boet. (O. Velez, September 1989)

Index of letters corresponding to this sequence; mentions a roya announcement and decree involving last wills and testaments; instituted a manda forzosa from last will and testaments that has produced income that will be sent to Spain; sums in question collected by Cabildo de la Santa Iglesia de Monterrey advises against sending them through Tampico, also that intendente of Veracruz should register their shipment on first war ship in order to avoid freight charges; letter from virrey acknowledging the above information; Arredondo used the sums mentioned for his troops instead of sending them to Spain. He justifies this by citing high port and shipping costs, virrey has made arrangements to have sum from another source sent instead. (O. Velez, September 1989)

Three detachments in field against rebels. First, under Gallo, encounters no rebels. Second, under Bergosa, encounters group of Seris killing one warrior while other escapes to Tiburon in a Balsa. 5 women, 4 children taken prisoner. Third, under Anza, attacks Rancheria of capitan Vipisy, killing 17 women, children, capturing 10. Only 3 warriors there, who escape. Rest out hunting or rustling cattle. Elizondo reiterates efficacy of new military tactic of keeping 2-3 detachments of 50 soldiers each infield all the time. (T. Sheridan) (1980)

Concerns payment by Siniaga and Puchal of goods which were missing after transport to supply presidios and missions in Loreto and Monterrey with food, clothing, etc.; they were found guilty of having misappropriated them en route to destinations; contains many detailed lists of cargos carried in ships by these men with prices and quantities listed. (K. Hubin, may, 1990)

Concerns provisions for presidios and missions of Californias; contains lists of military living at presidio de Santa Barbara, amount of grain harvested and number of animals owned by each; expediente is lengthy, but repetitious; similar in subject matter to previous two expedientes. (K. Hubin, may, 1990)

Concerns provisions for presidios of Baja California; contains lists of provisions going out of San Blas to different destinations including daily rations for individuals measured in ounces for each item listed; also includes list of food stuffs leaving San Blas over course of one year; expediente formulated in attempt to reduce delays of arrival of provisions to presidios mentioned. (K. Hubin, April, 1990)

Concerns provision shortages in Californias and Loreto and supply of these through port of San Blas; contains lists of provisions needed and those allocated; included in contract for provisions are rations for seamen aboard transport ships and discussion of best times of year to sail from San Blas up western coast. (K. Hubin, April, 1990)