The opening statement of this interesting document as translated is as follows: "Historical proof of the right of the Catholic King to the territory held today by the British King under the name of New Georgia in the provinces and Continent of Florida, by which is proved the unquestionable title of the King of Spain as far as north latitude 32° 30', inclusive, where lies the harbor of the island of Santa Elena, the point by which the limits of the respective possessions in this part of the world, between Florida and Carolina, should be marked. Havana, March 20, 1742."
The English translation of this document including one hundred and eight pages is followed by the Spanish text embracing one hundred and four pages of this volume. Arredondo showed that from the discovery of America Spain had preceded all other nations in taking possession of the new world. He maintained therefore that the French and the English should have recognized the prior claim of Spain which was based upon discovery, exploration and occupation. He devoted considerable attention to the conflicts between France and Spain and between England and Spain on account of the disputed possession of the territory which afterwards became South Carolina and Georgia.
Professor Bolton points out that this document "makes clearer than any other work hitherto published the nature of the long contest between Spain and England over the coast region of South Carolina and Georgia. It was written by a trained man who saw service on the disputed frontier as diplomat and soldier. In 1736 Engineer Antonio de Arredondo was sent from Havana to Frederica to protest to Oglethorpe against the establishment of the Georgia colony. In succeeding years he served at intervals in Florida, drawing maps, writing reports, and perfecting the fortifications for the forthcoming struggle with England. In 1742 he was chief-of-staff in the Spanish campaign against Georgia." The document was written at the "request of Guemes y Horcasitas, captain-general of Havana, who directed the Georgia expedition."
Professor Bolton is eminently qualified to edit this document which is concerned with Spanish-American history, since for several years he has devoted so much attention to research in this field. In the preface, in the introduction and in the editorial notes he has furnished sufficient information to enable one to understand and to appreciate the significance of this document and the relation which it sustained to the international struggle which was in progress at that time. In the introduction covering one hundred and ten pages under the topic of "The Debatable Land," he discusses the struggle which went on over the possession of Georgia. He devotes attention to the "Spanish Pioneers in Georgia and South Carolina," the "Anglo-Spanish Contest for Georgia," the "Contest for Western Georgia," the "Diplomatic Controversies over Fort King George and Oglethorpe's Colony," the "War of Jenkins's Ear," the "Neutral Ground and the Final Struggle." The footnotes, the editorial notes, and the bibliography show conclusively the thoroughness with which Professor Bolton has investigated every phase of the struggle with which this document is concerned. In addition to all that is included in the volume to amplify, to interpret, and to make more intelligible the document and its significance, there are several maps and other illustrations and an index.
The Colonization of North America, The Spanish Borderlands and other books and publications by Professor Bolton are sufficient to convince one that his "interest in the early history of the Caribbean area and the 'Old Southeast' is one of long standing." He has done much to stimulate the interest of other scholars in Spanish-American history.
Professor Bolton's literary style is so well known that it is unnecessary to call attention to it. Possessing the rare gift of combining accurate detailed research with a pleasing narrative style, it should be a source of satisfaction to him to know that his books will undoubtedly command the interest of the reading public. He has undoubtedly made a decided contribution to American history by publishing such a book in which he has presented, not only, a most interesting document, but also given the results of his own scholarly research extending over a period of several years.
PERCY SCOTT FLIPPEN .
How to cite:
"Arredondo's Historical Proof of Spain's Title to Georgia", Volume 029, Number 2, Southwestern Historical Quarterly Online, Page 157 - 158. http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/publications/journals/shq/online/v029/n2/review_14.html
[Accessed Thu Dec 4 13:00:48 CST 2008]
