In the first article of this series I described some manuscript materials bearing on the Southwest encountered in an examination of thirty volumes 49 of Sección de Historia of the Archivo General de Mexico. During the past summer I continued the examination, incidentally to another task, through the remainder of the section, with the exception of two groups, one entitled Viages, comprising volumes 63-6, 50 inclusive, and the other entitled Tropa, made up of some twenty volumes. A general examination was also made of the sections relating to Misiones and Provincias Internas, and a description of the materials in the latter section was begun. The attention given to these two sections was sufficient to ascertain the facts that the one on Provincias Internas is very rich in Southwestern history material, while that on Misiones contains less than one would naturally expect to find in it.
My search this time was primarily for materials on Texas rather than on the Southwest in general, and only documents of this class will be mentioned here. The examination was detailed enough only to note the documents dealing specifically and largely with Texas. Therefore it is not improbable that there is in the volumes examined a considerable amount of material on the subject not here noted, included in papers of a general nature, those, for example, relating to all the Provincias Internas, or to a whole group of missions. The materials that I found are indicated here with the hope that the information may facilitate the work of other students in finding desired sources in this vast collection—a task enhanced by the marked lack of a systematic and intelligent arrangement of the manuscripts it contains.
In Sección de Historia fifteen of the additional volumes examined contain extensive materials on Texas, most of these fifteen being devoted largely or entirely to this subject. 51 Sección de Provincias Internas contains some two hundred and forty volumes in all, and a very cursory examination shows that about one-tenth of them are devoted largely to Texas. 52 In Sección de Misiones only one volume, No. 21, seems to contain extensive material on this subject.
Before proceeding with a detailed description of these Texas materials, a comment on two points of more general interest may be in order. The questions have arisen, Where are the originals of such historical documents as are found in the Archivo General only in the form of copies, and, What proportion of the materials preserved there are of this character? To each of these queries a partial answer may be ventured.
What is probably the richest portion of the historical material in the Archivo General, the Colección de Memorias de Nueva España, forming the nucleus of the history section, is entirely made up of copies. The circumstances under which these documents were compiled were such as to establish a probability that the originals, if they exist anywhere, are in Mexico, and have not, as has been suggested (by way of inquiry rather than as the expression of an opinion), been sent to Spain. In 1780 the Spanish government planned to have written in Madrid a general history of its colonial possessions, and, pursuant to that plan, began making efforts to collect in Mexico materials for the purpose. In 1783 the manuscripts of Veytia were sent to Spain. 53 The next year came an order for more documents, and in 1788 one box of papers was sent, but it contained only a small number of important papers. Others were not sent for different reasons—many, because their possessors, private individuals, would not part with them, while to make copies, without special orders to do so, was too expensive; others, as in the case of the larger portion of the Boturini collection, because they needed classification before being sent. In 1790 order was given that a large number of documents, some specified by title, the rest designated by a general provision, 54 should be copied in Mexico, and a set of the compilation be sent to Spain. In obedience to this order the thirty-two volumes known as Colección de Memorias de Nueva España were compiled. A set was sent to Spain in 1792; another was retained in Mexico and is now in the Archivo General.
Plainly, there would have been no occasion to have this compilation made in Mexico if the originals had existed in Spain in 1790. And that they have since that date been sent there on any large scale seems improbable. Many of the documents, being private possessions, could not easily be secured by the government. The disturbed conditions, first in Spain and then in Mexico, subsequent to 1792 were, to say the least, unfavorable to the collection of materials for the literary work that had been planned. No record seems to be known of any important shipment of such papers. And there is evidence that as late as 1805 no considerable portion of the important materials on a large part of Mexican history were in Spain, for when, in that year, the government wished to investigate the history of Texas and Louisiana, and incidentally of all the Provincias Internas, as a means of securing light on the question of the Texas-Louisiana boundary, the inquiry was made in the New World and not in the Old, avowedly because the necessary materials were not to be had in Spain. 55 Finally, it is certain that some of the originals of this portion of Sección de Historia are in the Archivo General itself, for they have been found there. As examples of some that I, personally, while working in only a restricted field, have encountered, I may mention the Derrotero of Domingo Ramón, one of the documents copied in Memorias, volume 27. The original of this, signed by Ramón himself, is in volume 181 of the Sección de Provincias Internas. Bound with this is the original of Espinosa's Diario of the same expedition, and a number of letters signed by the hand of St. Denis. In another volume of this section are contained the originals of a part, at least, of Demeziéres's well-known Cartas, which are copied in Memorias, volume 28. Though it would be vain to guess where any large portion of the originals of the Memorias are, it may safely be said that very probably numbers of them are to be found in the various branches of the Archivo General, while many others are scattered about the Republic in private and public collections.
As bearing upon the second question, I may say that of the Texas materials thus far examined, outside of Memorias, those in volumes 84, 100, 153, 161, 162, 287, and 320 of Sección de Historia are mainly original, while this is true of parts of 72 and 93. And the Texas material in Sección de Provincias Internas is more largely original than that in Historia. This is the character of the major portion of the volumes of this section that I have examined in detail.
A brief description will now be given of the principal materials on Texas found in the fifteen volumes of Sección de Historia. Further consideration of Sección de Provincias Internas will be reserved for another paper. Full titles of individual documents and other data that might be of interest for purposes of reference are given in the list which constitues the second part of this paper. 56
It is difficult to make a comprehensive and helpful classification of the materials these volumes contain, either on the basis of subject-matter or of chronology; hence in the main it will be necessary to describe them volume by volume. A rough grouping, however, may be made as follows: materials on San Antonio de Béjar or on Texas as a whole, in volumes 82, 84, 93, 153, 287; on Pilar de Bucareli, in 93 and 100; on San Saba, in 84; on invasions of Texas (1809-1819), in 161 and 162; on the Texas-Louisiana boundary, in 298, 299, 301, 302, 325; and on Espíritu Santo or Goliad (1821-1835), in 320.
In volume 72 two documents relate to Texas. The first 57 is an extract from the writings of Fray Antonio Pichardo, of the oratorio of the convent of San Felipe Neri, Mexico, treating of the limits of Texas and Louisiana. The other 58 is an interesting historical summary of Texas affairs from the administration of Casafuerte to 1760, written by Don Domingo Valcarcel.
The greater portion of volumes 82, 84, 93, 100, 153, and 287 deal with affairs of Texas as a whole or with those of San Antonio de Béjar. Owing to the importance of San Antonio, for the earlier dates documents relating primarily to this place often touch the interests of the whole province. The materials in these volumes cover a wide range of subjects and dates. Many of the documents are important, while others are apparently of little value.
With a slight exception volume 82, entitled Causa formada al Gobernador de Texas, etc., relates entirely to Texas during the period 1790-1793. The documents contained in it can be put into two groups. One of these, comprising six papers (Nos. 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 12), deals with affairs of the province as a whole. Five of them relate to the appointment of, charges against, inquiry into the conduct of, removal of, and restitution of governor Dn. Manuel Muñoz. The sixth relates to assessing tithes on the province. The other group (Nos. 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, and 11) relates to local and personal matters at San Fernando. They are mainly complaints against the cura, Father Moreno. The documents in volume 82 were all copied in the Secretaría in Mexico, and most of the copies are signed by Bonilla. The one Texas document in volume 153 bears on the same subject. These papers are supplemented also by volume 100 which covers the same period.
Eight of the twelve documents in volume 84 deal with Texas. They occupy some three hundred and twenty folios, cover a wide variety of subjects, and range in date from 1730 to 1774. All except the two earliest are mainly original. Numbers 2 and 4 of this volume, dated in 1730, relate to the journey of the Canary Island colonists from Cuatitlan to Béjar. 59 Number 7 is made up of materials, almost entirely original, relative to the establishment of missions in the neighborhood of the presidio of San Saba. Much of the correspondence is directed from Béjar, Nachitoches. Querétaro, and Mexico to Phelipe de Rabago y Terán, captain of the San Saba presidio. The dates fall mainly within the years 1760-1763. Among the papers are to be found detailed statements of the condition of the San Saba presidio in 1762. 60 Number 8, bearing the date of 1768, deals with the flight of certain Indians from Misión del Rosario. Number 9 contains the request made in 1770 by Barón de Ripperdá and others of the viceroy for an increase of the Texas garrisons for protection against the Indians. Number 10 contains the petition of the former inhabitants of the deserted presidio of Adaes to be allowed to found a settlement at Ais. This document is the original of No. 2 in Volume 51. Number 11 is an expediente made up of Spanish, French, and English papers relative to the English schooner, “Britain,” which became stranded in 1770 near Bahía del Espíritu Santo, where its equipment was confiscated by the Spanish officials.
Volume 93 contains twelve documents relating to Texas, comprising nearly the whole volume. Numbers 1, 2, and 4 seem to be largely duplicates of materials in volume 51, and number 15 supplements that volume. Number 5 supplements the Louisiana-Texas boundary material in volume 43. Numbers 3, 10, and 12 relate to Béjar (1775-1797). The remaining documents are mainly of a private nature.
Twelve documents in volume 100 concern Texas. They deal with a variety of subjects, mainly within the period of 1792-1796. Perhaps the most important papers are numbers 6 and 11, which contain considerable material on affairs at Nacogdoches just before 1794, and number 16, which gives a large amount of information on the administration of Dn. Rafael Martinez Pacheco. The material in this volume is related to that in volume 51.
Volumes 161 and 162 deal with invasions of Texas. The first is made up in general of Mexican relations with the United States and France during the years 1809-1811. One document (number 2) is composed of original correspondence relative to a French invasion of Texas and Florida during this period. The nature of volume 162 is well indicated by its title: Providencias tomadas sobre invasion proyectada por los Anglo-Americanos y faccios. del Norte, contra la Provincia de Texas, Año de 1819. The correspondence mentions Americans on the Rio Grande and an American fortification on the Sabine. It contains original papers concerning the Champ d' Asile affair, and others on Long's expedition. Among the latter are letters signed by Long himself.
In volume 287 there is a document of more than one hundred folios of original material on the removal of the mission Santa Dorothea to San Antonio. The papers are dated from 1751 to 1756.
The largest single group of documents encountered is that forming the Talamantes Papers. Some of the documents of this collection—those contained in volume 43—were described before. 61 Further examination shows that this volume comprises only a small portion of Talamantes's papers on the boundaries of Texas and Louisiana, for at least four, and, apparently five, other volumes belong to it. 62
A word here explaining the circumstances of the collection of these papers seems to be in point. By a royal order of May 20, 1805, the king requested of the viceroy of New Spain documents relative to the province of Texas, with the purpose of determining, through history, the true western boundary of Louisiana. 63 The order refers to the fact that, in the first Vias Reservadas in Spain, documents of this sort could not be found for the period anterior to 1734, when those archives were burned. It required that the archives of New Spain be searched and that authentic copies of documents found be sent to the Primera Secretaría del Estado, to the Marqués de Casa-Calvo, for use by the commissioners on the Louisiana boundary question, and to the comandante general of the Provincias Internas, whose headquarters were then at Chihuahua. Pursuant to this order the viceroy, Yturrigaray, appointed on January 27, 1807, Padre Dr. Fr. Melchor Talamantes, of the military order of Merced, as chief commissioner to undertake the task. 64 All the important archives of New Spain were ordered freely opened to him.
To fulfill his commission, Talamantes planned an elaborate work which he described in a paper entitled Plan de limites de la Provincia de Texas, y demas Dominios de S. Magestad en la America Septentrional Española. This work was to consist of five parts, as follows: 1. A collection of the most authentic original documents relative to the general history of Texas from 1630 to 1770. 2. A collection of original documents concerning special points in the history of Texas and Louisiana of interest in the discussion in hand. 3. A collection of documents relative to past disputes concerning the boundary line between these provinces. 4. A collection of royal cédulas and orders, and of reports made by the viceroys of New Spain to the court containing evidence of the rights of Spain to Texas and to points further west and north. 5. A philosophical discussion of the rights of Spain to different points in North America, setting forth the principles that should be observed in drawing the boundary line between Texas and Louisiana, and, incidentally, that between Texas and New Mexico. 65
Talamantes's notes show that he planned a far-reaching search for material. He leaves extensive bibliographies and a long list of public and private libraries to be consulted. So far as I have been able to ascertain, however, this elaborately planned work was never completed, but was left in the condition in which it is now to be found in the Archivo General. I have found no evidence that Talamantes ever made a report to the government. As some of the papers here described are in his own hand, as others bear his annotations, and as still others bear the signatures of the persons called upon to assist him, it seems probable that this collection comprises the papers left by Talamantes, rather than copies made from them. The essays in volume 43 seem to embody such organized results as he reached, while the remaining volumes contain the materials that he used. They are poorly arranged, and the five divisions planned were not kept distinct. 66 Many of the documents are copies of well-known papers found in volumes 27 and 28 of Historia. The most important parts of the collection are the lists of materials, the collection of royal cédulas, and that of vice-regal reports.
Volume 320 relates entirely to the presidio of Bahía del Espírítu Santo, or, as it was called after 1829, the villa of Goliad. The first three hundred folios give a continuous, original record of the proceedings of the ayuntamiento of this place for the period between 1821 and 1835, except that records for 1829 are missing. For the first six years the minutes occupy an average of about twelve folios per year. During the later years the meetings of the ayuntamiento were more frequent and the reports fuller, making the average about thirty-five folios per year. The minutes for 1831 cover fifty-six closely written folios. 67
More detailed bibliographical data concerning the materials here described in general are given below:
In this list copies of documents contained in Historia 27 and 28, or of documents described in my former article, are not named unless there is some special reason for calling attention to them. In case the original or a better copy of a document previously noted is found, it is mentioned here. In some volumes the documents are numbered. In these cases the numbering is reproduced here. In other cases where no number is given to documents in the volumes it has been possible to assign numbers to them. Such numbers as I have assigned myself are put in brackets [ ]. In other cases, where the make-up of a volume is fragmentary, it has been impossible to give numbers to the documents.
Volume 72.
18.Extracto laconico y substancial de la Prima. parte de la obra del Pe. Dr. Dn. José Antonio Pichardo sre. averiguár los verdaderos limites Occidentales de las Provincias de Luisiana y Texas. Contiene las pruevas del unico y absoluto dominio de la España de todo el territorio en que fundaron los Franceses la Luisiana. Folios 33. The indice of the volume calls this the second part of Pichardo's work. Another extract from Pichardo is found in Historia, 311.
19.Expediente formado sobre las variaciones, y mutaciones qe han tenido los Presidios internos, esquadras, y demas Tropas, desde qe. los arregló el Exmo. Sor Marques de Casafuerte. Signed by Domingo Valcarcel, and dated August 7, 1760. Folios 20-28 are on Texas. Original.
Volume 82.
1.Provision interina de los Goviernos de Texas y Colonia del Nuevo Santandér en el tente. Coronel Dn. Manl. Muñoz, y en el Conde de Sierra Gorda. Se dio esta á S. M. con Carta reservda. No. 531 de 1° de Mayo. Dated April 21, 1790. Folios 9.
4.Denuncias contra el Gobernador Dn. Manuel Muñoz [governor of Texas] y comision conferida al de la Colonia del Nuevo Santander, Conde Sierra gorda para averiguarlas. Dated 1791. Folios 88. This is a copy made by Bonilla in Mexico, in 1793, taken from the original representation sent by Dn. Ramón de Castro to the comandante general of the Provincias de Oriente in Nov., 1790.
5.Copia integra del Expedte. formado á representacion del cabildo, Justicia, y regimiento de la villa de S. Fernando sobre discordias introducidas en ella por su Parroco D. Franco. Gomez Moreno, 1792. Folios 40. Copied in 1793 at Mexico by Bonilla.
6.Copia Integra del Expediente sobre la pesquiza á cerca de la conducta del Tente. Coronel Don Manl. Muñoz Govor. de la Prova. de Texas, y á nombre de aql. vecindario, 1792. Folios 150. Copied in 1793 at Mexico by Bonilla.
7.Expediente promovido por D. Franco. Xavier Galan Vecino de la Villa de Sn. Fernando contra D. Gabriel Gutierrez sobre concubinato, 1792. Folios 69. Copy.
8.Copia integra de la Carta del Padre Cura Br. D. Franco. Gomes Moreno, sobre malos tratam[i]entos que dá á los Comanches el Tente. Coronl. D. Manuel Muñoz. March 20, 1793. Folios 2.
9.Copia integra del expediente promovido por el Vecindario de Sn. Antonio de Bejar, sobre agravios hechos por el Cura D. Franco. Gomes Moreno, 1792. Folios 17. Copied in 1793 at Mexico by Bonilla.
10.Copia del Expediente promovido por Dn. Gabriel Gutierrez, contra Dn. Franco Xavier Galan. Concluido por el Tente. Coronel conde de Sierra gorda, 1793. Folios 11.
11.Copia integra, sobre haver recebido Ynformacion á Dn. Ygnacio de los Santos Coy vecino de la Villa de San Fernando, 1792-1793. Folios 48. Copied in 1793 at Mexico by Bonilla. This contains complaints about financial matters at San Antonio.
12.Copia de Cartas escritas de la Corte y de la Rl. orn. de Contextasn. The indice contains the following summary of the document: Restitucion al Gobierno de Texas del Teniente Coronel D. Manuel Muñoz. El Exmo. Señor Virey, da cuenta al Señor Ministro de la Guerra en España, con la secuela que se ha seguido, en la sumaria que se formó al Teniente Coronel Don Manuel Muñoz, Gobernador de la Provincia de Texas, y las formadas por incidencia al Cura Br. Don Francisco Gomez Moreno y al Capitan Rafael Martinez Pacheco, ex-Gobernador de la misma Provincia, 1793. Folios 7. Copied in 1794 at Mexico by Bonilla.
Volume 84.
2.[Title in the indice.] Colonos para Texas. Expediente formado, conlas disposiciones dadas por el Exmo. Señor Virey, para que sean trasportados al Saltillo, y de alli á Bexar, las diez familias, procedentes de las Yslas Canarias, que se hallan en Cuatitlan, 1730. Folios 8. Original.
4.[Title in the indice.] Colonos para Texas. Expediente que forma las providencias dictadas, por el Exmo. Señor Virey, para el trasporte y establecimiento, de las quinze familias, procedentes de las Yslas Canarias, que marchan á poblar la Provincia de Texas, 1730. Folios 10. Original.
7.Sn. Sabá. Govor. Dn. Phe. Ravago. No. 2. Dup[lica]do. Expediente, sobre establecimiento de Misiones en la inmediacion del Presidio de Sn. Savas, 1763 [with documents of earlier dates]. Folios 122. The indice gives the following description of the document: Establecimiento de Misiones. Expediente formado con los documentos relativos al establecimiento de Misiones, en las inmediaciones del Presidio de San Sabas y otros puntos, con otros incidentes relativos á las mismas Misiones. There is a large amount of material on the San Saba mission in Sección de Misiones, volume 21.
8.Diligencias secretas sobre varios asumptos echas por Dn. Melchor Afan de Rivera, Capitan Ynterino del Rl. Presidio del Orcoquizá apeticion de Dn. Franco. de Thovar. que lo es en propriedad de la Bahia del Espiritu Santo Emviadas por el mismo Thovár en 17 de Abril [1768]. Contextado en 9 de Mayo. Folios 50. This document deals with the flight of certain Indians from the mission Rosario to Bahia del Espiritu Santo.
9.Consulta del Varon de Rippardá, sobre aumento de Tropa. para contener los Enemigos, 1770. Folios 23. Duplicate. The indice describes this document thus: Provincia de Texas. El Gobernador de la Provincia de Texas, Baron de Riperda, solicita del Exmo. Señor Virey, aumento de tropa, para poder contener la invasion que hacen los Bárvaros, en aquella demarcacion, uniendo otras solicitudes de varias otras personas, con el mismo objeto.
10.Testimonio del expediente formado á representacion de los vecinos del real Precidio de los Adaes, sobre qe. se les deve avecindar en la Micion que era de los Yndios Aix, 1774. Principal. Srio. Dn. Josef de Gorraez. Folios 15. This is the original of No. 2 in Historia, volume 51.
11.Documentos sobre recursos de Guerra acerca de la Goleta Ynglesa que baxó en la Bahia del Espiritu Sto., 1770. Folios 69. Part original. The indice gives the following description of the document: Buques de Guerra Yngleses en el Puerto de Vera Cruz. Expediente formado con los documentos en Yngles, frances y español, relativos á la reclamacion que hace, el sobre cargo y pasageros á borde de una Goleta Ynglesa, que arribó á la Bahia del Espiritu Santo, por perdidas y ultrages personales, que les hizo el Comandante de la Fortaleza de dicha Bahia, Don Francisco Dovár.
12.Expediente sobre la quexa que diò el Baron de Riperdá de que los vecinos de la Colonia del Nuevo-Santander quitaban á los Indios sus hijos para venderlos por esclavos, 1773. Folios 25.
Volume 93.
3.Sobre desavenencs. y disputs. del ayuntamto. de Vexar con el Baron de Riperdá cuio expedte. gral. se pasó al comte. Ynsptor. Dn. Hugo Oconor, segn. la nota puesta al qe. se acompa. No. 45 de los entregado al Comte. gl. Cavro. de Croix, 1775. Folios 24. Copy. This is a representation of the ayuntamiento of San Fernando to the inspector general describing Indian depredations.
4.Otro sobre que al vecindario del Nuevo Pueblo de N. S. de [l] Pilar de Bucareli se les destine Parroco pr. cuenta de la Rl. Hazda., 1775. Folios 8. Mainly original letters signed by Ripperdá, Bucareli, and O'Conor. This supplements the material in Historia, volume 51.
5.Expediente formado á fin de conseguir del virrey la habilitacion de un puerto en la Bahia de San Fernando [Bernardo ?] á fin de abrir un comercio reciproco y ampl[i]ar los limites de la Provincia de Texas hasta el Rio Sabinas. Dated 1794, but containing documents of earlier dates. Folios 41. Partly original. These papers seem to belong with No. 8, vol. 43. They contain a list of papers on the subject treated, among them being a map of the province of Texas made in 1788 by Don Mariano Angel Anglino, and plans of Bahía de San Bernardo and other coast places.
7.Expediente Formado á consecuencia de Rl. orn. de 7. Febo. de 1784 sobre qe. se soliciten en la Prova. de Texas los Officiales Deudores del Baron Dauterribe, 1787. Folios 9. Mainly originals signed by Cordova, Renzel, and Mendinueta.
8.Sueldos de Capitan de Ynfanteria del Sor. Coronel graduado Dn. Bernardo Bonavia. definado por commision al Govierno de Texas, 1787-1792. Folios 15. Mainly original.
9.Ynstancia de Dn. Nicolas Lamathe natl. de la Luisiana, para que en atencion a sus atrasos y buenos servicios contraidos en el Presido. de Bejar, se le permita regresar á su Patria con los auxilios y gracias que refiere, 1787. Folios 5. Original.
10.Representacion del Comandante Gral. Dn. Juan Anto. de Ugalde sobre la necessidad de Poblar la Villa de Sn. Antonio de Bejar, 1788. Folios 3.
12.Expediente promovido á representazon. del Ayuntamto. de la villa de Sn. Ferdando, acusando al Coronel Dn. Domo. Cavello, Governador qe. fude la Prova. de texas de malversacion con el fondo de Me[s]teñas, 1793, 1797. Mainly copies.
14.Expediente formado del Coronel Varon de Riperda, provisto Govr. de Comayagua, sobre qe. se declare el sueldo que debe gozar qdo. lo fué de Texas Srio. Dn. José Gorraez, 1787. Mainly original.
15.Consulta del Sor. Comandante Gral. de las Provas. de Oriente sobre solicitud que han hecho los Yndios Orcoquisac, Atacapazes, Vidais y Cocos pidiendo se establesca la Mision del Orcoquisac; sobre que se separe del Ingles de tene de Governador á Don Antonio Gil Ybarbo, subsista Dn Rafael Martinez Pacheco de Governador de texas, y tomen varias providencias á beneficio de la Provincia, 1788-1792. Largely original. This material is supplemented by that in Historia, 100, No. 6.
Volume 100.
The descriptions here given of documents in this volume are those of the indice.
3.Cartas de las que se deduce, que con anterioridad, habia remitido informe el Gobernador de Tejas, manifestando lo perjudicial que era, dar á la tropa que estaba de guarnicion en los precidios, los dos reales en plata, los que invertian en vicios solamente, 1788. Folios 2.
6.Registro formado con motivo de los transites que signio la acusacion que se le hizo á Dn Antonio Gil Ybarbo, Teniente de Gobernador en Nacogdoches. Hay en este espediente varios ordenes, con el fin de que se practicara una averiguacion sobre los hechos que se habian denunciado y habia cometido Ybarbo. Informan al Virrey que este individuo, era de un caracter feroz y obligaba á los vecinos del punto, á que le hicieran regalos, teniendo ya de estos varios manadas de yeguas, que tambien tenia muchas reces, pero que debia á un Comerciante de Orleans, mas de ps. 20,000; que convenia quitar lo de Nacogdoches, por ser sumamente perjudial en su gobierno. El Virrey comisiona á Dn Ramon de Castro, para que forme la su maria respectiva y de esta resulta, que Ybarbo, tenia grandes relaciones con las contrabandistas y que tenia parte con ellos en todas las introducciones que hacian clandestinamente, y que ámas se manejaba mal con todos los vecinos. En virtud de este informe se decretó el arresto de Ybarbo, 1794. Folios 55.
7.Registro sobre las providencias que se tomaron en la representacion que hizo el Capitan de la Bahia del Espiritu-Santo, manifestando que no habia ornamentos en aquella Mision, los cuales fueron remitidos. 1792. Folios 1.
8.Comunicacion del Gobernador de Tejas, manifestando al Virrey, que habia hecho construir dos baluartes, con el fin de encerrar ahi la polvora, pues estaba espuesta á incendiarse, 1792. Folios 1.
9.Registro seguido con motivo de los medidos que se pusieron en practica á fin de restituir á la Mision del Rosario en la Provincia de Tejas, á los indios Carancaguaces, 1792. Folios 15.
10.Registro de un espediente que se formó, con motivo de una queja, que interpusieron unos esclavos de Dn Macario Sambrano ante el Virrey, por los malos tratamientos que recibian. El Virrey remite el espediente al Gobernador de Tejas, para que proceda á lo que haya lugár, 1792. Folios 3.
11.Registro que se formó con motivo de las diligencias que se siguieron en el espediente relativo á los efectos que condujo de Nacogdoches á Tejas, Dn Toribio Duran con licencia del Teniente Gobernador de aquel punto, 1793. Folios 6.
13.Registro formado con motivo de las diligencias que se practicaron contra el Cura de Sn Antonio de Bejar, acusado de infinidad de excesos, hasta haber sido separado dicho eclesiastico (separado) del Curato, 1792. Folios 10.
14.Ynforme. El Gobernador de Tejas manifiesta al Virrey que ya habia hecho volver á la Micion del Espiritu Santo á los indios taranguaces, dando al Padre Garza una escolta, para lográr este fin, asi como de los medios que habia puesto en planta para lográr la buena armonia en dicho punto, 1793. Folios 7.
15.Registro de varias acusaciones, asi como de representaciones hechas por algunas corporaciones y autoridades, contra el Gobernador de Tejas Dn Manuel Muñoz, el Cura del mismo lugar y contra algunos otros vecinos, 1794. Folios 4.
16.Noticia sobre los exesos y asesinatos que habia cometido el Gobernador de Tejas Dn Rafael Martinez Pacheco, el cual fue relevado del cargo y sumariado. El Sr. Muños nombrado Gobernador de aquella provincia y encargado de instruir la sumaria, informa al Virrey, que Pacheco habia sido arrestado y que de la averiguacion resultaba, que este era un hombre perjudicial, pues no solo habia cometido asesinatos, sino Ara [?] infinidad de delitos, entre ellos el de haber malversado los fundos del Rey, 1796. Folios 121.
17.Representacion que hace ante el Virrey el Sr Dn Juan Barrera, manifestandole, que el Gobernador de Tejas, no le quiere permitir, paso á vivir á Coahuila. Este funcionario informa: no ser cierto esto, pues que ni licencia tenia pedida para ello, 1793. Folios 1.
Volume 153.
[7] Acusacion que se hace al Cura de San Antonic de Bejar Dn. Franco. Gomez Moreno, de inducir á los Comanches á robár y matár. Manda el Virrey al Obispo del nuevo Reino de Leon, lo haga comparecer á su presencia y le mande instruir causa; este no tiene efecto porque estando tan distante Bejar del lugar del Obispado. etc., 1794. Folios 34. Original.
Volume 161.
2. Correspondencia con el Mtro. Plenipotencia de S. M. C. cerca de los Estados Unidos de America, D. Luis de Oniz, 1810. Folios 62. In this the minister informs the viceroy that an expedition of 1200 men is about to embark from Aix with the intention of seizing Florida and creating disturbances in Texas. Original.
Volume 162.
[Title of the volume.] Providencias tomadas sobre invasion proyectada por los Anglo-Americanos y faccios. del Norte, contra la Provincia de Texas. Año de 1819. Folios 243. The volume is not divided into distinct groups of documents. Original.
Volume 287.
Autos fhos. apedimentto .... Frai Benitto de Santa An[na] ... que se le manden restitu[ir] ... de Sn Antonio que es á cargo de la Sta. Cruz de Querettaro, los [con] bersos Yndios de la nacion [Cujanes] que se hallan agregados á [la mision] de Santa Dorothea, 1751-1758. Folios 108. This material is all original and covers many subjects.
Volume 298.
Reales Cédulas y Ordenes. These are a continuation of the collection begun in the back of volume 299. In this volume they cover the period from 1692 to 1799. Folios 239, in eight cuadernos.
Traduccion del mensage del Precedente de los Estados Unidos al Congreso, 2 de Deziembre, 1806.
Real Cedula Del Señor Don Carlos II. Dirigida al Virrey de Nueva España para que informe sobre las conveniencias que traen é este Reyno y al Nuevo Mexico la poblacion proyectada desde el año de 1630 en la Bahia nombrada del Espiritu Santo. Taken from Reales Cédulas y Ordenes, volume 16, of the Archivo de la Secretaria de Cámara y Guerra. Folios 3.
Expediciones Maritimas Hechas a la Costa del Seno Mexicano Desde el Año de 1684 hasta el de 1689 Para embarazar las poblaciones qe. intentan en ella los Franceses. From the relation made by D. Gabriel de Cardenas in his Ensayo Cronologico de la Florida. Folios 6. Found also in Historia, Vol. 302.
Viage Que A solicitud de los Naturales de la Prova. de Texas y Otras Naciones circunvecinas, y de orden del Gobernador del Nuevo-Mexico D. Domingo Gironza Petris de Cruzate Hizo el Maestro de Campo Juan Dominguez de Mendoza, en fines del año de 1683, y principios de 1684. Copiado Del Original que existe en el oficio mas antiguo del Virreynato de Nuevo-España, en los Autos sobre la sublevacion del Nuevo-Mexico. Quaderno 1°. . Folios 59. This contains Mendoza's Derrotero.
Beside the above there are in this volume bibliographical notes and copies of several documents that are found in Historia 27, 28, and 43.
Volume 299.
Adaes, Año de 1755. Diligencias practicadas por el Govr. de la Prova. de Texas, en cumplimiento de lo que se le previno por el Excmo. Sor. Virey Conde de Revilla Gigedo á cerca de que examinase si su antecesor, D. Pedro del Barrio, tenia ó no comercio ilicito con los Franceses de aquella Colonia, y juntamte. el destino que han traido quarenta Embarcaciones Franceses. This is related to, and in part the same as, document No. 2. Vol. 181. Provincias Internas.
Constancias sobre la traslacion del Presidio Frances, y diligs, hechas en ello. Año de 1737.
Diario y Derrotero que hizo el Sargto. Mayor Juan de Ulibari de la Jornada que ejecutó de orden del S. Govr....y descubrimiento de la Nueva Prova. de San Luis, 1706. Folios 12. This mentions the Thaos Indians.
Residencia de Sandoval, 1733-1736. Copy.
Autos hechos por el Brigadier D. Pedro de Rivera en razon de la Pesquiza contra D. Antonio de Valverde, 1726. Folios 3.
Representaciones á la corte por el Virreynato de Mexico. About 250 folios. Copied from original correspondence. This gives notices of Texas from 1756 to 1789. It is evidently a part of the fourth division of the work planned by Talamantes.
Reales Cédulas y Ordenes, 1638 to 1692. Folios 77. This is the beginning of the collection continued in volume 298. See above.
Volume 301.
Volume 301 is made up largely of Talamantes's notes and of lists and copies of documents made for him in Chihuahua and other places. These lists prove that at various times a vast number of documents relating to Texas were sent to Chihuahua from different places in Mexico. Among the documents contained in this volume, other than notes and lists and papers mentioned elsewhere, are:
2. Noticias Sacadas de los expedientes que en ellas mismas [Documentos que á consequencia de oficio de 8 de Abril de 1777 se pasan al Señor Don Theodoro de Croix, Comandante General de Provincias Ynternas] se citan. Folios 5. Extracts made by Rojas at Chihuahua in 1807.
6. Extracto de las noticias qe. se han podido adquirir en el proligo examen que se há echo del Archivo del Govierno de la Provincia de Coahuila, á el que se han añadido las Hestoricas [sic] y Geograficas que se me ministrado por un buen Patriota Español, conducentes á la fixacion de limites entre la Provincia de la Luiciana y la de Texas, unas y Otros, con citacion y referencia á sus originales, etc. Signed by Juan Ygnacio de Arispe, Monclova, 1806. Folios 5.
Copia de la Junta de Guerra, y Hacienda [of Jan. 21-22, 1754] remitida á esta Comandancia del Govierno de Coahuila. Copied in San Antonio de Béjar, August 10, 1806.
Copia de Real Cédula dirigida al Governador de Texas para que Ynforme sobre la construccion de un Fuerte de la Naccion Francesa en el Lugar de Nachitoches. July 24, 1774.
Extractos de los Expedientes y demas documentos que se hán registrado, relativos á la Provincia de Texas Ministrados por la Secretaria de Camara del Virreynato. Signed by Talamantes.
Quadernos trabajados por el Pe. Dn. José Antonio Pichardo de la Congregacion de Sn. Felipe Neri; sobre la linea Divisoria entre las Provincias de los Texas, y Luisiana. Folios 58. Another extract from Pichardo is found in Historia, volume 72.
Memoria Acerca de los limites de la Luisiana, sacada de varias Autores y Mapas, y Cartas Geograficas por el Padre Doctor Don José Peredo, Presvitero del Oratorio de San Felipe Neri de Mexico, 1770. Folios 5.
Certificacion de los Secretarios del Secreto del Sto. Oficio de la Inq[uisici]on. These folios contain a list of the cases in which the holy office exercised jurisdiction over individuals within the territory in dispute, from 1661 to 1807. The collection was made by Dn. Mathias Lopez Torrecilla and Mathias José de Nagera. Original.
The volume closes with a long extract made by Pichardo from Abbé Raynal.
Volume 302.
1.Real Cédula Del Señor Don Carlos II de 2 de Agosto de 1685, Dirigida al Virey de Nueva España Ynformandole Haber concedido S. M. al Capitan D. Martin de Echagaray el permiso de reconocer of demarcar el terreno que corre desde la Bahia del Espiritu Santo hasta el interior del Nuevo-Mexico. Copied from Reales Cédulas y Ordenes, Vol. 20, folio 274ff.
3.Carta de Damian Manzanet. Copied “del Original que existe en la Coleccion de Cartas que formó el referido Don Carlos de Sigüenza, y se halla en la Biblioteca del R. P. D. José Pichardo, del Oratorio de San Felipe Neri Segun acreditan los Documentos ministrados por el Santo Tribunal de la Inquisicion de Mexico.” Other copies are contained in Historia, volumes 299 and 301.
6.Derrotero De la Expedicion En la Provincia de los Texas Nuevo Reyno de Philipinas que de orden del Excmo. Sor. Marques de Valero, Vi-Rey y Capitan General de esta Nueva-España pasa á executar él Muy Yllustre Señor D. Joseph De Azlor, caballero Mesnadero del Reyno de Aragon, Marques de S. Miguel de Aguayo, Governador, y Capitan General de dichas Provincias de Texas, Nuevas Philipinas, y de esta de Coaguila, Nuevo Reyno de Estramaduro ... Que escribi El Br. Dn. Juan Antonio de la Peña. Copied from a Mexican print of 1722. This copy contains plans of the presidios of Nuestra Señora de Loreto en la Bahia del Espiritu Santto, San Antonio de Bejar, Nuestra Señora del Pilar de los Adaes, and Nuestra Señora de los Dolores. Copies of the document are also found in Historia 28 and 299, but neither of these contains the diagrams.
Evia Papers:
11.Explicacion para el reconocimiento de la Costa de Sotavento desde la pasa del S. O. del Rio Misisipi hasta la Bahia de San Bernardo. Folios 4.
12.Diario de la Navegacion executada por Dn. Joseph de Evia desde la pasa del S. O. hasta la Bahia de San Bernardo. Folios 11. Apparently signed by Evia himself.
13.A communication from Evia, Mar. 17, 1786. Folios 7.
14.Expliacion de los Rios Borras y Lagunas que hay en la Costa del Nuevo Reyno de Leon ... desde el Rio de Tampico hasta la Bahia de San Bernardo. Folios 12.
15.Diario de la Navegacion hecha por el Alferez de Fragata de la Rl. Armada, Don José de Evia ... desde el Rio de Tampico hasta la de Bahia de San Bernardo. Folios 37.
Part of these papers are found in Historia, volume 43.
In addition to the above named documents this volume contains about two hundred folios of lists of documents on Provincias Internas. The lists were signed by Maria Rojas in Chihuahua. There are in this volume also copies of several documents found in Historia, 27 and 28. Among these is a copy of Bonilla's Breve Compendio.
Volume 320.
The title page of volume 320 reads: Libro formado por el Capitan de Milicias y primera Alcalde Constitucional de la Bahia del Espiritu Santo en que Constan las Actas que Semanalmente Celebra este Ayuntamiento Comensando desde el 22 de Marzo del presente año [1821]. The record continues to 1835, but there is no record for 1829. About 300 folios.
Volume 325.
This volume, which has no title, is made up of a continuous set of papers' also unlabeled, on Provincias Internas, with special reference to Texas. Most of them seem to be royal orders and viceregal reports. They are apparently a portion of the Talamantes collection, although this can not be affirmed with certainty.
49. Volumes 33 to 62, inclusive. Volume 100 was referred to in a general way, but it will be described more in detail here.
50. These were examined carefully enough only to discover that they contain sufficient Southwestern material to warrant further attention.
51. They are Nos. 72, 82, 84, 93, 100, 153, 161, 162, 287, 298, 299, 301, 302, 320, and 325. Five volumes of this section formerly described also deal largely with Texas. These are Nos. 27, 28, 43, 51, and 100. See The Quarterly, VI 104-109; The Nation, May 30, 1901.
52. The twenty-three volumes of this section in which I encountered Texas material are Nos. 20, 24, 25, 29, 32, 73, 79, 99, 100, 135, 136, 137, 159, 163, 170, 175, 177, 181, 182, 183, 188, 200, 201.
53. The Nation, May 30, 1901, page 430.
54. Royal order of Feb. 21, 1790. Reales Cédulas y Órdenes. Archivo General. This order explains why a larger number of documents were not sent to Spain in 1788.
55. See below, page 202, a paragraph on the Talamantes Papers.
56. See page 204.
57. [No. 18].
58. [No. 19].
59. These papers have been used. See The Quarterly, II 217-226. They are supplemented by materials in Provincias Internas, volume 32.
60. Among the signatures to the papers are those of Fr. Diego Ximénez, Jacinto Barrios y Jaurigue, Diego Ortiz Parrilla, Marqués de Cruillas and Antonio de Rivas.
61. The Quarterly, VI, 106-107.
62. Numbers 298, 299, 301, 302, and probably 325.
63. The order is contained in Reales Cédulas y Órdenes, Vol. 195, folios 175-176 (1805). Archivo General.
64. Historia, Vol. 43, Opusculo II, f. 24. To assist him the viceroy appointed Dn. Gonzalo Lopez de Haro.
65. Historia, Vol. 301. As the pages of this volume are unnumbered, exact page reference can not be made.
66. But several general groups can be distinguished, among them: 1. Talamantes's notes on his plan and on materials to be used. 2. Extensive lists furnished Talamantes of documents in various archives, principally of those in the Archivo de la Comandancia General de Provincias Internas, at Chihuahua. 3. Extracts made for and by Talamantes from various documents and older authorities. 4. Critical notes on these extracts. 5. A large collection of royal cédulas and orders concerning the subject in hand. 6. A large collection of viceregal reports to the court of Spain, touching the subject. 7. Essays by Talamantes embodying some of his conclusions.
67. Among the alcaldes who signed these reports are: José Guadalupe de los Santos, 1821; Juan José Hernandez, 1822, 1825, 1826, 1832; José Miguel Aldrete, 1823, 1824, 1830, 1833; Thomas Buentello, 1827; Antonio de los Santos, 1828; Rafael Antonio Vasquez, 1834; José Maria Valdez, 1835.
How to cite:
Burton, Herbert Eugene, "SOME MATERIALS FOR SOUTHWESTERN HISTORY IN THE ARCHIVO GENERAL DE MEXICO, II ", Volume 007, Number 3, Southwestern Historical Quarterly Online, Page 196 - 213. http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/publications/journals/shq/online/v007/n3/article_2.html
[Accessed Tue Dec 2 0:10:06 CST 2008]
