56

Charges made against

Captain d[o]n Luis Cazorla

and his Responses to them

57

[cross]

Charges compiled by d[oln Domingo Cabello, Colonel of the

Royal Armies, Governor and Commander of Arms of the Province

of Los Texas, its Missions, Conquests, and Frontiers,

Captain of the Cavalry Company of the Presidio of S[a]n

Antonio de Bexar, Inspector General of the Militia Corps

and Presidial Troops of the said Province by Commission

Conferred by s[en or Field Marshal in the Royal Armies,

d[o]n Teodoro de Croix, Commandant General of the Interior

Provinces of this Kingdom of New Spain; against d[oln

Luis Cazorla, Captain of the Cavalry Company of the

Presidio of La-Bahia del [E]sp[iri]tu Santo, as a result

of the inspection review passed on the said company in

the month of January, 1780, so that [Cazorla] may proceed

to make the appropriate repayment and satisfaction.

lst Charge ... Made against the captain for the excessive

prices at which he dispensed and charged to

the troops of his company the goods and products supplied

to them while he was making the provisions before the

establishment of the new regulations. [The prices were]

such that, upon review of the libretas of the adjustments

of the said troops, [their payments] amount to one hundred

and two hundred percent higher than the prices at which

[goods and products] are supplied today under the method

58

of the afore-mentioned royal regulations of presidios.

[These facts] are evidenced in detail in the proceedings

conducted for this investigation, which the Lord Commandantlv

General has ordered sent to him„ //

2nd ... The charge accrues against him of having supplied

to the troops several products which were costly

and not appropriate to their rank, such as lustrines, satins,

pekins, and ribbons. He delivered a portion of them while

making the delivery at the time when he was discharged and

removed from his duties of procuring the provisions for

the said company, by virtue of that which was provided in

the new royal regulations. It was necessary, in order to

better facilitate the sale of some of them, that they be

disposed of by lottery among the same soldiers of the

company, considering how improper it was to charge them

to the troops, who could not afford such quality or cost.

3rd ... That there was not found in any of the documents of

the paymaster's office of his company, even in such pro-

ceedings as were conducted, the list and note of the

effects which were transferred to the said paymaster's

office at the time when, by provision of the new regulations

of presidios, [Cazorla] was enjoined from carrying the

supply of provisions; thus he does not know what goods

he delivered, or their quality or price, or whether they

were appropriate for the use and service of the said

59

troops. Yet their cause has remained unsettled because of

the absence of the said document, which is considered

indispensable to the fulfillment of the said captain's

4th ... duties. Likewise the [following] charge is made, upon

review of the guaderno which, according to a deposition of

Lieutenant don Josse Santoja, paymaster of the cavalry2

company of the Presidio of La Bahia de el [E]sp[iri]tu

Santo, belongs to d[o]n Luis Cazorla, captain of the said

company. In that (cuaderno) the detailed record and account

of receipts, issuances, consumption, and remaining supplies

of powder belonging to the stores of the above-mentioned

company and presidio by provision of articles 1 to 5 of

title 7 of the royal regulations of presidios, call atten-

tion to the inappropriate method of its formation., Besides

the fact that all the entries were illegal and unsubstantiated,

[Cazorla] has failed in the indispensable requirement of

making each year the formal adjustment and liquidation of

the consumption and remainder thereof, closing out the

account of the said guaderno. [This was to have been done]

so that, after [Cazorla's record] had been compared with

that of the paymaster, both might be signed and approved,

consequent to the spirit of article 5 of the said tractate.

This ought to have been done, had greater care been exer-

cised, at the end of July, 1778. For [Cazorla] was to

travel--as he did in fact travel on the 6th day of the

60

following August--to the Province of Coahuila to exercise

the duties which he was assigned by the Lord Commandant

General. In view of all this the said gguaderno has been

rejected and nullified, because, from its formation, the

entries for receipts, issuances, consumption, and remaining

supplies do not agree with the quaderno and account

presented by the paymaster of the said presidio. Thus

[Cazoria] was ordered to form a new one, taking into account2v

the method and order by which the said // account is to

be kept, and adding to the rejected [copy] the notes compiled

5th ... on his mismanagement.=.,Likewise the said Captain d[o]n

Luis Cazorla is charged to replace in the powder stores

of his company the 48 1[ibras , 1 o[nza and 6 adarmes [of

powder], since he ordered the undue expenditure of 33 libras

and 4 onzas in the salvos which he ordered on the eve and

day of Corpus [Christi], June 18, 1778; 9 1[ibra s, 2 onzas

and 6 adarmes more in the salvo which he also ordered on

June 20 of the same year in connection with the Te Deum

and mass celebrating the felicitous delivery of Our Lady

the Princess of Asturias; and still another 4 1[ibra s

and 12 onzas in the salvo which he likewise ordered on

August 3 of the same year to celebrate the return and

reestablishment at their mission, El [E]sp[iri]tu Santo,

of the Indians of the Jaraname nation. This is evidenced

in the entries for expenditures in the quaderno pertaining

to the powder division. And since the said Captain

[Cazorla] proceeded to expend the 48 libr[a]s, 1 onza,

and 6 adarmes of powder, as above stated, without any order

to do so and without the royal regulations' prescribing

such uses of powder, he is charged to replace it. The

paymaster of his company is therefore advised to addthis

amount to that which corresponds to remaining supplies

as of the end of December of the preceding year 17793

and to claim it against his captain, // so that he may

6th ... proceed with its appropriate repayment,- Another charge

against the afore-mentioned Captain don Luis Cazorla is

that when the book containing the account of money belonging

to the gratificacion for the cavalry company under his

command was reviewed and examined from the time of the

establishment of the new royal regulations of presidios,

which were put into effect on February 18, 1774, as is to

be noted in the first entry--from that time until the end

of December, 1779, when the said account expired, it is

known that the afore-named captain has not adjusted it or

liquidated it annually as he was to have done, not even up

to the end of July 1778. Yet on August 6 of the same year

he was to travel to the Province of Cohahuila to exercise

the function of deputy inspector, which was conferred

upon him by the Lord Commandant General. Thus he has ignored

in every way that which is advised in article 6 of title 5

62

of the above-cited royal regulations. The accounts in

this book have not been adjusted or liquidated throughout

the entire period mentioned. Entries are placed one after

another, with expenditures of one kind mixed with those

of another, showing a mounting conglomeration of entries--

receipts, withdrawals, supplements, replacements, and

projections. This chaos serves only to pile up confusions--3v

contrary to the intentions of article 5 of the // afore-

cited title 5. [The captain) ought to have heeded that

which is advised in article 7 of the said title. Then the

account in this book might have been clearly examined,

without the confusion occasioned by a method as strange

as the one by which it was formed. This [method],

according to a disclosure made by the paymaster of the

said company, was followed at the direction of the afore-

mentioned Captain d[,oln Luis Cazorla. In view of its

indescribable confusion and his wishing to conglomerate and

pile together such an assortment of entries of every kind,

it has been ordered that such a manner of keeping accounts

be abolished and refuted. For methodical, clear, distinct,

and legal rules have been given, and in the future the

said book is to follow them. In this way whoever reviews

[the book] can avoid the moral dilemma which confronts his

understanding under the system which was followed, and which

resulted in the duties which the paymaster had to assume and

63

in the charges afore-'stated which were made against the

... captain. The particular charge is made against the

<captain that there was not so much as one eha•rge invoice

found in the possession of the paymaster of his company

for goods and products purchased at the City of S[a]n

Luis [Potosi] or at the villa of E1 Saltillo for the

supplying and provisioning of the troops of his company

which shows their cost and prices before they were trans-

ferred to this presidio. But this [record of cost and price]

ought necessarily to have been made, so as to determine

from an enquiry and examination thereof the legitimate4

price to be charged for them. // Document no. 3,

relating to the account presented by the paymaster of this

company, notes that 463 p[ eso s, 7 rr[eale s, and 4 g,[ rano] s

was charged in excess prices and costs for products supposedly

bought at the said locations. This wrong was begotten

by the captain's not having performed the adjustment, on

all invoices presented by the paymaster for purchases

made for the provisioning of this company, of the costs

and prices of the said products, settling the acc'ounts

in accordance with the quality [of the goods]. This was

[instead] done by Lieutenant d[o]n Eugenio Fernandez,

interim commander of this presidio. [The procedure

should have been properly followed], so that the soldier

64

would not be charged more than [the price which] legiti-

mately [ought to be charged], at the prices at which the

said goods and products are brought. But such has not

been the case during the time Captain d[oln Luis Cazorla

was at this presidio, from the establishment of the new

regulations until his transfer to the Province of Cohahuila.

[This charge] is supported by the fact that no document

was found which might have showed that the said captain

had performed this indispensable requirement. [This failure]

allowed him to charge the soldiers higher prices for goods

received than those which would have been proper, had

Captain d[o]n Luis Cazorla closed out the account at its

legitimate cost and price as he should have. It is most

noteworthy that, although he did not follow this procedure4v

in the adjustments of accounts intervening during all

this time, he has placed his visto bueno on the master

book and the libretas of the troops. (This is not his

prerogative; but rather [he is to place] on the libreta

his rubric and on the master book his half signature,

authorising by these means the adjustment which the pay-;

master forms for each soldier.) But thus he shows that

account to be legal. Thus in case the excessive prices

which the troops were charged for what goods they received

from those brought from San Luis [Potosl] and El Saltillo

are considered an injury against the troops, the

65

463 s[eso s, 7 rr[eale s, and 4 g,[rano s reckoned against

the paymaster--as more individually and accurately reckoned

in document no. 3--are to be applied as an apportionment

in their favor. But in case he does not make payments

to recompense the soldiers for the mismanagement which

they suffered in being charged higher prices than the

goods could have cost, then Captain d[o]n Luis Cazorla

should be made to pay another such amount, either to be

counted [as payment] on the undue charges paid by the troops

or else designated for whatever purpose the Lord Commandant

General wishes, as a punitive fine for the captain's non-

compliance with the obligation which he undertook, with

8th ... respect to the reasons above givenk---wThe charge is made

against the captain that he obligated his company as

shown on the report of increases and debits sent to the5

commandery general as a result of the // adjustments

formed for the troops thereof as of the end of December,

1778, by which they still owed 523 feso s. From this

debt they now have been discharged. Within the short

period of time expiring at the end of December of the

following year, [the debt] had risen to 788 s[eso s, 7

rr[eale s, and 10 4/8 rganos. This is evidenced by

the record of increases and debits proceeding from the

adjustment formed as of the end- of the afore-mentioned

year and submitted to the commandery general in document

66

no. 1. This fortunate progress [in forming the adjust-

ments] is due to the admirable procedures under which this

company is directed by Lieutenant d[pjn Eugenio Fernandez,

the interim commander of this presidio, who is exercising

all the functions of the captain of it. The obligation

aforegoing, which these troops have borne under the

contrary system pursued by Captain d[o]n Luis Cazorla

in everything connected with his payrnaster's office has

given impetus to that [new system] under which [the

paymastership] has been conducted since the promulgation

and reestablishment of the royal regulations of presidios.

[These new regulations] do not permit the paymaster to

bring from S[a]n Luis [Potosi] or El Saltillo more goods

than are necessary for the soldier to clothe himself, in

addition to those [goods] which are indispensable for his

maintenance--not counting any of the other goods and

effects which the soldier needs for his sustenance and

for the maintenance of his wife and family as clearly

evidenced on the purchase invoices presented by the

paymaster of this company. They are included in document

no. 3. The paymaster's office was lacking in many goods

indispensable to the use and service of the soldier, his5v

wife, // and his family. Thus they have had to avail

themselves of the small stores which are wont to exist in

this presidio, where, to relieve the vexation of their

67

necessity, they have had to pay two hundred and three

hundred [percent] more for goods and effects which they

needed than if they had procured them from the paymaster's

office at the regular price which ought to be assigned

them. All this has resulted in injury to the troops through

the restricted system observed by the said Captain don

Luis Cazorla. He did not see fit to refer to the order of

August 16, 1777, communicated by the commandant inspector,

d[o]n Jose Rubio, because it was not well understood and

because it was issued after the practice observed by the

afore-mentioned Captain d[oln Luis Cazorla, which caused

and occasioned the obligation as related in the charge

9th ... which has been made against him, The charge ought to be

made against him so that he would have to repay to the

paymaster of his company from his own account the 50 p[eso s

which by [Cazorla's] orders [the paymaster] paid the

master gunsmith for extra lance heads which the said

captain ordered made for the troops of [the company].

But they were poorly constructed. And the first ones,

which by the said captain's disposition were ordered

fabricated and allotted to the troops at a cost of twelve

rreales each, are not allowed by the provisions of article

1 of title 4 of the royal regulations of presidios.

Nor should the troops suffer for the irresponsibility of

the said captain, who, himself, ought to absorb this

68

expense from his own account, since he ordered payment

of the paymaster, as is evidenced in greater detail in

the proceedings which, as suggested, are to be sent to6

10 ... the Lord Commandant General in document // no. 21 . The-------

charge is also made against the captain that he be made

to replace at the Lord Commandant General's disposition

the amount of 718 pessos 2 rr[eale s, 3 5/8 gr[a,no s

belonging to a fund which he set up in connection with the

royal treasury, by the distribution of which the paymaster

of his company is owed 97 p[eso s, 1 rreal, 14/8 a[ran o[s],

as is more extensively and individually evidenced in the

proceedings reported in quaderno no. 23, which is to be

submitted to the Lord Commandant General. It is noticed

that in the establishment of this fund some of the entries

pertain to the royal treasury, others to the santta cruzada

and others to the penas de camara, all of them together

being in receipt of money with the same status as the

royal revenues. This proves the wrong management whereby

this money has been utilised. But this was done without

the requisites and formalities prescribed in the royal

municipal laws of these kingdoms. Thus [the captain]

ought to be required to pay three times [what he owes],

as prescribed by the afore-mentioned royal determinations

and from the said amount to pay the paymaster of his company

the 97 p[ eso s, 1 rreal and 14/8 grano„[s] of the debt

69

which he owes on the account of debits and credits which he

has presented and which are in the above-cited cuaderno

11 ... no. 23. Likewise the charge is made against the afore-

said Captain d[oln Luis Cazorla that he is to repay to

the gratificacion fund of the men of his company 191 s[eso]s

and 2 rr[ealels, which were put forth for expenses and

costs occasioned by the construction of 10 canoes, or

troughs, which on his decision were made at this presidio6v

for the expedition planned against the Indians of the

Carancaguaz Nation who inhabit certain islands along the

northern seacoast. The captain ought to repay the said

sum because of the inferior construction of the said. canoes,

since they are nothing but troughs made of the most useless

wood available, namely poplar, especially since it was

cut in April, the most inappropriate month of the whole

year for such purposes. Besides this it was to be used

on a sea as forceful and furious as that of the said coast,

which use would have exposed to complete shipwreck the

unfortunate men who embarked on [the canoes]. This is

especially true since even before completion of construction,

they were all warped and cracked. They were of such a

strange and irregular making that they were constantly

capsized simply by attempting to cross the river at this

presidio in any one of them. All this Captain d[o]n

Luis Cazorla ought to have considered, so that he might

70

report to his superior the obstacles being examined in

the fabrication and construction of the said canoes and

the impossibility of pursuing the contemplated objective.

He should have remembered that other greater undertakings

have been considered easy to plan, while it was subsequently

seen how difficult it would be to carry them out. And

since the captain did not follow this principle which is

so necessary and indispensable to his duties, the gratifica-

cion fund has for this reason had to absorb the cost of7

191 s[eso s and 2 rr[eale s, as is evidenced // more

explicitly in the proceedings recorded in order to reject

and prove worthless the above-mentioned canoes, or troughs.

The originals of these documents] were sent to the Lord

Commandant General in guaderno no. 24. Therefore the

afore-mentioned Captain d[o]n Luis Cazorla is charged

to repay from his own money the sum of the 191 P[eso s

and 2 rr[eale s of costs unduly occasioned in the mis-

management of materials and construction of all parts of

the afore-mentioned canoes, or troughs. For if he was

unable to remedy and complete the task and duty to which

he was assigned, he ought legally to have stated to his

superiors that he did not profess to have knowledge of

that matter. Then he would not have caused expenses which

could not be absorbed except by making the said captain

replace them. For the fund which has absorbed them ought

71

12 ... not to have had to do so.._.= The charge is made against

Captain d[o]s. Luis Cazorla to repay Antonio Maria de la

Garza, resident of the Presidio of La Bahia del [E]sp[iri]tu

Santto, 134 p[eso s, 6 r[eale s, and 4 g,[rano s to which

he is creditor. [De la Garza] delivered 150 p.[ eso] s to

the alferez, d[o)n Faustino Lazo, who was paymaster of

the cavalry company of the said presidio when he was

going to San Luis [Potosf] and El Saltillo for the supplies

for the said company. Making use of the faculty granted

in the royal regulations of presidios in articles 1, 2,

and 3 of title 6, the afore-said Antonio Maria de la

Garza delivered the afore-mentioned 150 p.[eso s to the7v

afore-said paymaster, d[ojn Faustino // Lazo, who was

to exchange it for goods specified on a memorandum. All

of this occurred with the full knowledge and consent of

the above-mentioned Captain d[o]n Luis Cazorla and with

a receipt which Lazo issued to [de la] Garza acknowledging

his payment. After the defalcation of the above-said

jn Faustino Lazo, Captain d[o]n Luis Cazorlapaymaster, d[o

did not include the appropriate credit on the account and

proration of the said defalcation for the afore-mentioned

Antonio Maria de la Garza so that he might receive his

share of the liquidated assets, subtracting from the

principal the portion remaining in the afore-mentioned

defalcation, which should be 15 P[eso s, 1 rreal, and 8

72

gr[a.no s. Thus the sum remaining in favor of the said

Antonio Maria de la Garza is the above-cited 134 n[eso s,

6 rr [ eale s, and 4 g,[ rano s. [This amount ] Capta in d[ o] n

Luis Cazorla is obligated to repay for his neglecting to

include this creditor in the afore-cited defalcation and

also for the misrepresentation in informing the commandant

inspector, d[oln Hugo Oconor. He completely misrepresented

the incontrovertible right which the above-mentioned Antonio

Maria de la Garza had to reimbursement from the liquid

amount to which he is entitled. With respect to all this

and by law as well, this individual is creditor according

to the merit redounding to him in the proceedings conducted

on this matter in quaderno no. 26, which are to be remitted

to the Lord Commandant General. The said Captain d[oln

Luis Cazorla must repay the aforesaid amount of 134 p[eso s

6 rr[eale s and 4 ranos for the8cogent reasons stated in

my auto issued on the 28th of // April of the present

year, which I cite. And since the aforegoing twelve

charges are fully verified by all the documents required

for the legality thereof, Captain d[oln Luis Cazorla shall

proceed towards the due satisfaction [of his debt], to

the working of those ends most in accordance with the

wishes of the Lord Commandant General of the Interior

Provinces of this Kingdom of New Spain, as chief and sole

leader in these causes, Royal Presidio of La Bahia del

73

[E]sp[iri]tu Santto, August 21, 1780 Domingo Cabello

[C., 1-8 pp., in E. 8/21/1780-8/1/1781]

Satisfaction or response given by me, don Luis Cazorla,

Captain of the Company of the Royal Presidio of La Bahia

del [E]sp[iri]tu S[an]to by [the will of] His Majesty--

God save him--and interim inspector of the Province of

Coahuila by commission of senor Cavallero de Croix, Governor

and Commandant General of the Seven Interior [Provinces],

in answer to the twelve charges which Colonel don Domingo

Cavello, commissioned for the inspection of the presidios

of Texas, has found to accrue against me in the review

which he passed on the company of the above-named [presidio]

of La Bahfa del [E] sp[ iri] tu Santo during the time I

served there as captain thereof; answering each charge--

in due respect and judicious modesty--with the respective

response therefor, as follows:

1... It is obvious that the matter considered in the first

[charge] would be disgraceful and denigrating to my

illustrious repute, since it is a matter of profit and gain

entirely beneath my dignity. But my pure motives and the

disinterest with which I have handled similar matters are

apparent in this Province of Coahuila and in that of Texas,

where I held office, and have resounded in the other

74

[provinces]. The said charge therefore has not impressed

me, and I shall answer it only to prove it to be unfounded,

In the month of June in the year [17]73 Brigadier Baron

de Ripperda went to my presidio by order of the Most Excel-

lent Lord Viceroy of New Spain and by commission of the

commandant inspector, don Hugo Oconor, to pass-inspection

review on that company and to place it on the new basis

detailed in the royal regulations. For this reason he

examined all the troops in order to ascertain whether there

was any wrongdoing. Likewise [he examined] the libretas,

and master books, and at the end of the latter he placed

his certification, of which I enclose a copy as no. l.8v

And since [the inspection and certification] had

already been done, it seems not to have been incumbent

upon the deputy inspector at that time to do it.again;

his inspection review ought only to have been understood

to be [that of the time] following July 1 of the above-

stated year [17]73, when the afore-cited royal regulations

went into effect. When, at the request of complainants

(though I doubt there would have been any) or for some

other reason, it might be deemed appropriate [to review the

books], it would have been necessary to have the afore-

cited master books at hand (though they should be requested

from me in advance for this purpose) in order to compare

them with the libretas and to see whether in any item I

75

had exceeded the prices on the price list promulgated by

the Most Excellent s[en or Marquez de Casafuerte or whether

the goods and effects were of good or poor quality, since

that is the only matter whereby I might be charged. The

one hundred percent and more [in excess prices] expressed

in the charges against me could never have taken place.

Since the invoice of the memorias of supplies which I

brought was not found, as stated in the third charge, and

since there was no notice of legitimate costs, I do not

know how the [amount of] actual profit was ascertained,

I consider the afore-mentioned commissioned inspector a

true military man who, like myself, is hardly familiar

with such techniques as are not the proper domain of our

profession. For this reason it would have been expected

that he would have availed himself of someone with the

characteristics of a shopkeeper whom it behooves to do

and to know of such things. But it is surprising that

the said cavallero inspector did not refuse the slight

basis on which [the deputy inspector] made his verification.

[For it was made] without the evidence of original invoices

and a true list of costs at which [goods] were to be exchanged

in addition to freightage at seven hundred pesos annually

paid to the agent, who was don Eliceo Llanos de Vergara,

a merchant from [the city of] Mexico; the four percent paid

to the same on all acquisitions; and five hundred pessos

76

plus meals for the cash-keeper d[o n Fern[an]do Beramendi,

who managed such mechanical matters. For me it is neither

pleasant nor proper. Nor was I able to spend thereupon

the time which was necessary in order to punish and put

down the pride of the treacherous enemy and [attend to]

other military and civil matters of my employ. I was

exceedingly cautious only to order the said Beramendi,

as he can verify, to conform to the price list in each9

item. // On all items he was to reduce"[prices], for

the benefit of the troops as well as to avoid whatever

might be opposed to my conscience and my honor. It is

known that this was done, in view of the above-cited

certification of the senor Baron de Ripperda. And though

one might have said that [the prices of] many items varied

greatly from the price list, I have not done so, in order

not to take issue. This fact will be made known by the

following example: One head [of cattle] was, by the

said list, given to the soldier at twelve pessos. To

him the captain gave a ticket for one of the adjacent mis-

sions. The interested party carried it on his account.

[Each head of cattle] cost the captain four pesos. I

bought them at the San Francisco Ranch, which belonged to

don Luis Ant[oni]o Menchaca, about eighteen or twenty

leguas from La Bahia, at the rate of five pessos. I

placed them in the corral at my presidio, bearing the

77

expense of paying three or four cowherds one pesso a

day. [The cost of cowherds] brought them afterwards to

from seven to ten [pesos . The troops obtained most of

them at six pessos and some others at four rr[eale s

more. Thus it seems that there is a substantial reduction

from the list price of twelve [ esos , which was charged

even before [the cattle] were brought, rather than the

different price which I[charged], doing so without

incurring in my time the above-mentioned cost of transpor-

tation, In spite of the afore-cited decreases and those

which I made on other items when the royal regulations

were established and the company began to be on the pay-

master's account, with the result that, by the report of

debits and credits at the time I left, the troops owed

me nine hundred seventy-four p essos and one r[ea h I

graciously granted that they might pay me half, so that

they might have this relief. This is proven by the copy

of the receipt from the first paymaster named, which

[receipt] I include under no. 2. 2 continued even after-

wards in showing favor to the said troops in the goods

which. I delivered by order of the appointed senor commandant

inspector, don Hugo Oconor, which [goods] were valued at

twelve thousand four pessos, four r[eale s, and eleven9v

rg anos. Yet_,// in all the presidios [goods] were dispensed

at a twenty-five or thirty percent [markup]. Even at that

78

of San Sabas, where the said senor Oconor was captain,

[they were dispensed] at a forty [percent markup]. But

I charged for them the small amount of six [percent].

All this may be seen on the copy of the invoice which I

include under no. 3 and again in no. 4, which was worth

eight hundred forty-three . essos, five reales and nine

ranos. Yet I only had five [percent] imposed. From these

procedures it can be deduced that such a matter of interest

was quite despicable to me. And I thus conclude this

vindication. Since what I have said is true, there is

no need to bother the superior whose prerogative it is

to decide the matter. This is especially true since he

has been informed by an official letter which I sent to

the Lord Commandant General, dated January 30 of the past

year 1779, relating to him the good state in which I

left the company and the presidio at my departure. I

stated therein that I was guiltless before the King and

the world, and that if I had in any way offended God, to

whom I especially pledged and committed myself, then I

protest that it must necessarily have been by the defect

of my limited understanding and not by sinister design.

2 ... There is no question that lustrines, satins, pekins,

r_ibbons, and other goods which were not (after that time)

appropriate to their rank were dispensed to the troops

on my account, as expressed in the second charge.. But

79

the baselessness thereof permits me to state in my defense

that besides the fact that this point is not peculiar to

the review performed by the cavallero deputy inspector,

asJI have previously stated, the afore-cited goods came

from [the city of] Mexico without my having ordered them,

as was previously the wont of agents or suppliers. I

did not recognize such things and had never used them

(having since an early age labored only at the glorious10

// career which I have pursued). Consequently, since I.

had only recently taken command of my presidio, I found

myself ignorant of such mechanisms. I thus received the

said goods with the intention that the troops' families

would use them as they usually did (and even others finer

and more costly). [This occurred] before the presidial

companies were placed on the new army basis, but at prices

which were much more equitable than those at which [such

goods] were dispensed at that time.-I distributed a por-

tion of the said goods and effects cited when I ceased to

carry the provisions of my company because of the new

establishment [of regulations]. I did so by a superior

order to that effect, which I obtained from the afore-

mentioned senor commandant inspector, don Hugo. The

result was the common benefit to my company which was well

known in the Province of Texas, since it was noised about

that the prices at which I delivered my surplus stores to

the paymaster were lower than the primary cost at San Luis

80

Potozi. This is verified by the invoice for [those supplies],

as shown on the afore-cited enclosed-copy no. 3, as is the

decision to hold the lottery mentioned. The value of the

goods, or effects, which were raffled, was quite small.

The decision was not improper; in fact it was appropriate

in order to avoid among the individuals disputes which

might arise because [the goods] were not of one kind

[which could be dispensed] fairly to all. [The decision

was made] so as not-to provoke grievances, which were

foreseen in consultation with all the troops, who of their

free will agreed [to the lottery). Several of the adorn-

ments which they had obtained by luck they later exchanged

with each other with my permission, paying each other

the difference resulting from greater or lesser value. I

immediately related everything to the afore-mentioned

senor commandant inspector and received in reply his

superior approbation for having proceeded in this matter

with full compliance with his orders, as shown by copy

no. 5. [That document] accompanied the official letter

which I wrote concerning this particular matter. It is

alleged that I [held the lottery] to unload some of the

goods. But the good intentions and just purposes to which

my thoughts were directed were denied. It is for this

reason that I am completely vindicated of the afore -

mentioned second charge. It was made against me insincerely

81

lOvand without any basis by the expert // who examined

my interests and of whom the s[en or deputy [inspector]

will therefore no doubt avail himself will therefore no

doubt avail himself [sic . For [the deputy inspector]

was not concerned with the fact that only some of the goods

which I supplied to the troops of my presidio and which I

delivered to the first paymaster were inappropriate to

their rank. [I delivered thern] after the establishment

of the method advised in the royal regulations and not

before. It was then permitted that the troops of Texas

should be supplied with desk covers from Seville, lustrines,

ribbed silks, taffetas, and other fine and elegant goods

mentioned on the old price-list.

3... Among the documents of the paymaster's office the list and

note of the effects which I delivered to the same [troops],

as related in the third charge, were not found. This is not

my fault. A letter written by d[ol n Fernando Beramendi, past

cash-keeper, remains in my possession and is signed by the

paymaster. If it seems appropriate to the s[en or deputy

inspector, he may inform himself thereof. According to it

I delivered an exact copy, signed by me, to the afore-

mentioned paymaster. I am not responsible for its having

been misplaced. If that is what occurred, if it is thus

not known what effects were received by -that officer who

was paymaster from the remainder of my stores, [if] their

82

quality and prices [are not known], nor whether or not they

were appropriate to the use and service of the troops, [this]

might prove the baselessness of the first charge. It would

indeed be deplorable were it justly verified that a profit of

one hundred percent was made (an assumption which denigrates

my way of thinking), when lack of the said document has cast

doubts upon the judgement expressed in this charge. I thus

consider myself entirely vindicated by all I have related.

^... For the fourth charge made against me because the afore-

said s[en or deputy inspector did not find at my presidio

the guaderno of powder [records] in the methodical form

advised by the royal regulations in articles 1 to 5 of

title 7. I shall offer the following vindication in

my accustomed sincerity. Immediately after the

establishment of the above-cited regulations at my presidio,

I. in my usual zeal for all matters of service, asked the

s[en or commandant inspector, don Hugo Oconor, for the

respective formats for the powder accounts, general11

[accounts] of // -debits and credits,the withholding fund

and that of the gratificacion of the men (not because I

was unable to make these documents, but so that they would

be consistent with those of the other presidios, which I

assumed were in compliance). I was unable to obtain [the

information] in spite of repeated [requests] and [the deputy

inspector's] having offered to make it available. Perhaps

83

His Lordship [Oconor] was quite busy, or [there were]

other just causes for [his failure to reply]. For this

reason I carried my clearly kept notes temporarily, though

not illegally or without substantiation, in a guaderno which

must be the one reviewed by the cav alle ro deputy [inspec-

tor], continuing.thus until my departure from that presidio.

But shortly before that time I (prompted by the careful

attention with which I serve) arranged for an account of

powder, with verification of [quantities] receiv.ed..and issued

for use. (This was in accordance with the method which

I formalised when I conducted inspection reviews of the

presidial companies of this province of Coahuila, and which

the Lord Commandant General has deigned'to approve.) I

sent it-to the senor commandant inspector don Jose Rubio.

But his superior resolution did not come until.,around the

time of my departure afore-mentioned, when I was in no

position to form anew that [record] which was in my cuaderno.

The said senor Rubio, besides accepting as legitimate

that which I recently provided for, advised me to put it

into practice. I was able only to entrust its execution to

d[o]n Jose Santoja, the commander whom I left [in charge],

when he came to me. If [the record] had been verified as

usual by the latter or by those who were [commanders]

of that company after him, in conformity with that which

is shown on the copy of the account which, it is said, I

84

sent to the inspectorate and which was approved, then

there is no doubt that it would be declared legal by the

cav[alle ro deputy [inspector] in the process of his review.

My quad[ern o then would be nothing but a rough draft of

notes, and consequently the charges made against me would

not have been made. For I was constantly vigilant,as always,

only to keep in perfect conformity to the greatest extent

possible, whatever was my responsibility, with the same

observance as at the present time--to which I testifyllv

publicly // before these companies--and in consideration

of what I owe my superiors.

5... The fifth charge made agains.t me is for forty-eight livras,

one onza, and six adarmes of powder expended, on my orders.,

during the solemnities mentioned by the cav[alle ro

deputy inspector. But since I am therein accused of nothing

less than non-conformity and undue mismanagement, I cannot

fail to make satisfaction with such care as is necessary to

restore my honor, even though in doing so I might overstate

my case. When by royal order my company was placed

upon the new basis prescribed by the regulations, the stores

of that [company] were without one grano of powder. It

was essential to me that there be reserves to supply

ammunition of that kind to the troops on the terms ordered

by His Majesty, so that in this region the service might

not be hindered. I therefore promptly borrowed one case

85

from the senor governor of the Province of Texas, who at

that time was the Baron de Ripperda. When [the powder]

specified under the new basis was brought to my presidio,

I was able to return it to him. But he implored me to

dispense it among the citizenry and the rest of the

public at the price of two pessos a libra. I obeyed and

it was easily dispensed to the public. Immediately there

was powder available for sale at my presidio. - [The

sale] took place, and in one particular account, which the

said senor Baron and I were keeping, there is at least

evidence that the value of the [number of] libras sold

was paid. [The account also states] what persons received

it and how much I spent. But I have always greatly disdained

the matter of my own interests and held in indescribable

devotion [my duty] to celebrate the days requiring solemnity

in the service of both Majesties. And thus there is in

the afore-mentioned account only the expression of what

persons were buying and no statement of the purposes for

which I used that which I had acquired.- During the

years [17174, [17]75, [17]76, and [17]77 a sizeable amount

of powder from my account was burnt in celebration of

Corpus [Christi] and in the festivities of Our Lady of

Loreto, patroness of that presidio. Together the cost12

was borne by some of the men, because I considered //

a majordomo of the feast and several other things to be

86

indispensable to the honor and glory of God and the service

of the King, as is well known. But I never had [such uses

of powder] put down in the quaderno of the [powder] store as

issuances for consumption. In the [year] of [17]78

there were only the three festive occasions mentioned by

the cavallero commissioned inspector. Is it possible that

what I had not done in those previous years I was to commit

during the last year of my command? Let us see, by way of

some observations which I make, whether the wrongdoing could

by any means be mine. The first is that I do not know how

I came to be involved in such an absurd situation. Since

my younger years, when I had the honor of beginning this

career, I have been well acquainted and familiar with what

legitimate expenditures of powder are. Hence I never gave

consent at my presidio to put down as an entry anything which

was not or which failed to be a justifiable [expenditure].

The second [observation] is the doubt arising as to whether

or not the powder burnt during the three festive occasions

named by the said cav[alle ro deputy inspector has been paid

from my account to the senor Baron. In the one which I

kept with the said senor [Baron de Ripperda], in one of the

entries evidenced from March of [17]78 to August of the

same, when I departed for this province, I was charged--

though no date is given--fifty-four and one-half libras,

with the statement only that it was taken for various purposes.

87

Here is the uncertainty whereby the lieutenant and paymaster,

don Jose Santoja, was caused some natural misgivings, if he

was aware [of the facts], about taking from the powder keg

of the above-named s[en or Baron an amount equivalent to that

which was burnt during the said three festive occasions,

in order to place it in the stores of the company as was

wont to be done in previous years-, because it might have

been necessitated by some emergency. This obstacle might

be avoided if both [supplies of powder]were of the same

quality. Or I could have been informed that that officer

had been notified in spite of the fact that it was chargedl2v

to me. For I do not know how I could // have expended

two arrovas, four libras and.eight onz[a]s, within such a

short time as from March to August (when I departed, as I

have stated) when no festivities were held other than those

mentioned. This point is in need of the precise verification

which is appropriate. The third_.[observation] is that the

said expenditure of powder is not inappropriate as the s[en]or

deputy inspector says [it is]. For the purposes for which

the three functions were held are appropriate--most appropriate

in fact. What must indeed be considered inappropriate is

recording such an entry as an issuance from the King's

stores. I swear I would not give such an order, nor did

I ask permission to do so from a higher authority. From the

same act which I did not disclose it is inferred that I was

88

charged for [the powder] on the senor Baron's account with

a view towards taking from that officer's powder what was

expended during those occasions, in order to replace it in

[the stores] of the troops, and forgetting afterwards (as

is conceivable) to advise d[o]n Jose Santoja, who perhaps

who perhaps [sic , without my order, recorded it as an issuance

from the stores, since he did not find any other source for

it. This accounts for the fact that [Santoja] was notably

insistent that during the previous years I had not repaid

in equal or greater [amounts] the expenditures I was caused

to make ( du.e to the zeal with which I observe deference to

both Majesties), and that I had done so only in the year

[17]78. But so that it may be forever known that this failing

was not intentional and that it was by natural forgetfulness

and blameless error, and so that my intentions will in no

way be suspect in this particular matter, I am at once prepared

to replace the forty-eight libras, one onza and six adarmes

of powder charged against me by the afore-named s[en]or

deputy inspector. I shall do so with such pleasure as invokes

my pride, since [the decision] has resulted from the just,

due, and laudable objectives manifested in the service of

God, the King, and the Most Serene Princes of Asturias. But13

it would be // shameful for me to have done this only

because of the biased flattery customarily made with improper

salvos for unworthy persons by indirect means. (Such a case

89

would be an undue usage, as the aforesaid cavallero deputy

[inspector] suggests). But I protest that not only have I

made no repentance for what I did, and certainly not in

the form of indemnity, but that I must always do as I did,

whenever feasible, even though it be, as it has been, at

the cost of my own interests, which I despise in my blind

love for attention to the service of my Sovereign. To this

I have daily sacrificed my well-being and all I have.

6... The sixth charge (as related by the above-named s[en or

deputy inspector) is essentially that the method of keeping,

by my decision, the account of money in the gratificacion fund

of the men, belongingto the companY under m.y, command, from

the time of the establishment of the new royal regulations

until the end of the year r 17179= is perceived as having

entries made later, reversed in order, and conglomerated,

such chaos serving no purpose but to pile up confusion, as

is inconsistent with the spirit of what is advised in article

5 of title 5 of the a.bove=cited regulations; and that in

my time it has not been adjusted or liquidated annuall.y

as it ought to have been. [This charge] I satisfy by saying

that the afore-cited method, which the said cav[alle ro

inspector has declared to be punishable or which he considers

confusing, is the one which from the beginning I understood

[to be correct] from the afore-cited article 5 of title 5.

It is the same one which I have established in the five

9o

presidial companies subject to the inspectorate under my

command, with the approval of the Lord Commandant General

and with His Lordship's just and wise understanding. The

previously cited account cannot be kept methodically, clearly

distinctly, and leZally, whatever rules be given, unless it

is kept in accordance with the four [rules] which the afore-

said deputy [inspector] has refuted--those concerning

receipts, withdrawals, supplements, and repayments. Thel3v

first ones [ought to be followed] // in order to show

evidence of the total which is annually acquired by the fund

and of that amount--or amounts--which superior authority

orders expended for whatever reason. The second [rules are

necessary] to state what are the general expenditures of the

company. The third [exist] to specify projections whereby

the fund must supply recruits at the time of their enlistment

in the company and to anticipate the cost of rations to be

allotted to Indians who are imprisoned or who are present to

negotiate truces. The final [rules are designed] so that

it may be known what payments the said recruits have been

making, according to the prudent deductions advised in the

same article 5, until they have repaid what was supplied to

them, as well as rations made for the benefit of the above-

mentioned Indians, in view of the term to anticipate the

cost, as implied by the same article. The reason for which

the said account has not been adjusted and liquidated annually

91

(a practice followed in these presidios on my advice and

because it should be so) is that the above-mentioned regula-

tions only prescribe [annual adjustment and liquidation]

for the general account of debits and credits. Article

5 of the same title 5 specifies that the most exact and

verified account of the said fund be kept, so that the

inspector may examine its good and legal management and may

annually report its holdings and expenditures to the viceroy.

Yet even so this [account] is to be remitted to the inspectorate

in a separate report, without the settlement or liquidation

of that which is kept in the book. [The account submitted]

under the first item and entry [should state] what holdings

remain as of December 31 of the previous year and those

acquired during the year in question. [It is to include]

under issuances the general expenditures which occurred

during the year and likewise supplements and repayments.

And so that the holdings and present state of the account

may be known, reckonings are to be made in the said report

and not in the book, as is stated: receipts against issuances,

supplements against repayments. And that which remains of

the said residual amount is surplus capital. The first

[amount] is the actual money which ought to remain in the14

coffer, and the second is money which the // fund lent in

the advancements made and is thus due [in the fund].

This is the method which I understood, imposed at my presidio,

92

and established in the inspection reviews which I have

performed at those of this Province of Coah[uil]a because

I perceive it to be the usage of the army rather than the

accustomed commercial style which I have seen in the said

reviews. It is by this [method] that I have merited superior

approval, and it is this [method] which ought to be followed

by every true military man. I certainly regret that the

said s[en or deputy [inspector] treats it with such disdain

as to say that the chaos thereof serves no purpose but to

add to confusion. For besides the fact that this practice

is legitimate, it has merited the approval of a leader as

wise and competent in the art of war as he who directs us.

7... To satisfy the seventh charge I must first mention its incon-

sistency. The person of whom the s[en or deputy inspector

availed himself could hardly have a legitimate and true

investigation into the additional charges imposed on the

troops during the time of my command. For such an enquiry

it would be essential to have at hand the invoices which he

says were not found, in addition to the corresponding verified

lists or receipts from the muleteers who were paid the

freightage on all the loads in which the goods brought back

were transported. I am certain that the said documents

were not found. Thus the verification of additional charges

will never be substantiated. Thus the latter refutes the

former. I consider quite an imaginative conclusion what

93

is alluded to in the terms at a higher price than what [the

goods] could have cost. For these words are quite different

from at a higher price than what [the goods] cost. Thus

it can be seen what an injustice it would be to compel

me to pa.y again the amount collected from the paymaster,

d[on Jose Santoja, either to be counted a.s payment] on

the due charges paid--as he assumes--by the troops, or else

designated for whatever Purp ose.the Lord Commandant General

wishes, as a punitive fine for non-compliance with my oblipa-

tion. All this is stated by the said cav[alle ro deputy

inspector, not being mindful that to punish in such a case

(assuming that I am guilty) a military man of rank, the King

has castles or other appropriate prisons. It likewise

ought to be considered, in view of the afore-mentioned

inconsistency and dubious indagation, that-it seems unjust

to have caused the said Santoja to pay the amount mentioned in1 4v

this charge (unless the offense was committed after I

had been separated from this presidio). In order to condemn

an officer in the army to such an ugly stigma, it is necessary

that the investigation be legitimate, true, and not imaginary,

since on such an abominable crime and condemnation nothing

less depends than the penalty of depriving the paymaster of

his post, precluding his obtainment of another in the King's

service, as advised in article 7, title 14 of the new royal

regulations. But for the said Santoja to satisfy that which

94

is noted on him in document no. 3, which is cited, and at the

same time to deserve the penalty designated by His Majesty,

there is a lack of consistency which on the terms expressed

is indispensable. I find that that officer and myself as well

are free from the respective punishable offense involved in

the additional prices. It remains for me, then, only to

refute that which is imputed to me in my not having done

during my term what was done (as the deputy inspector says)

by the interim lieutenant commander of that presidio, don

Eugenio Fernandez in ordering a proration of the costs of

goods and an examination of their qualities, so that the

soldier would not have carried the burden for any length

of time. I therefore state that the same right and reason

which aids me in determining the contrary also permits me

to disclose that along the entire line of presidios--as I

have known from those under my inspectorate and as I have

heard--this matter is known not to have been handled so

carefully and delicately as I have handled it. Since it

was to such an extent my duty, I always took upon myself

with pleasure the pains of first making a sober investigation

of whether or not the goods were of the proper quality for

the benefit of the soldier. For this I availed myself of

persons well qualified and impartial, in spite of the

knowledge which I have in matters pertaining to items necessary

for the habiliment of the troops. I then ordered the paymas-

95

ter to form the appropriate price schedule and proceeded

to confirm it by comparison with the first price and the

costs incurred in freightage. And I did this quite pro-

ficiently, in addition to other matters incompassed in the

inspectorate of a company captain, as prescribed by article

2, title 1 of the above-cited regulations. This can be

supported by the officers who were paymasters and by their

carriers during my term. And if they altered the documents

preserving the procedures which I was following so that

the troops'interests would not be burdened, which objective

I always attained, as the same [troops] will say, [then

their actions] seem to have been overlooked in making such

charges against me. This is especially true since one of15

my principal // duties has been to see to the good,

economical, and unencumbered management peculiar to the

troops' interest and its legal undertaking. This must have

been noticed by the Lord Commandant General, in his wise

comprehension, during the almost thirty months in which I

exercised the inspectorate which he deigned to place in

my care. This is implied in the adjoining copy, no. 6, of

one of the official letters which he sent to my paymasters

for that purpose, and is proof of the existence of the honest

procedures in my zealous command.

... The baselessness of the previous charge sheds some light on

the eighth. In order to satisfy it by way of a defense,

96

1

since_it is raised by [charges] sufficient to be damaging

to my honor, I state [the following]. It can only be

erroneously stated that a debt of five hundred twent,y

three pessos accruinE against the troops of my presidio by

the end of 1778 was provoked by the offensive system by

which I kept vigil over their allowances, as opposed to

the good conduct whereby they were afterwards managed by

the interim commander, don Eugenio Fernandez. For it is

evidenced that when I came [here], I left them with only

the due cost of 45 p[eso s and a few fractions, as shown on

the report of debits and credits of the end of August of

the same year, which was the month in which I departed thence

for this province. If, during the four months [from then]

until the end of December, the above-mentioned troops became

indebted in [the amount of] 487 p[eso s--or as they will

say, even the 523--it will not have been my fault. One of

my principal goals was the best and most economical pro-

visioning of them.. Even since [I have been] here, I have

accomplished this, as shown in the enclosed copy no..7 of

a paragraph of a letter written by me on November 12, [17]79,

to the alferez of my company, don Jose Aguilar. At the

end of December, 1778, the troops still owed 523 ep sos, and

on the same day they were credited with 718 [pesos , 7

rr[eale]s, and 10 1/2 .r.anos, this fortunate advancement

being due to the good manMement of don Eugenio Fernandez.

0

97

Since he was then at the Presidio of [E1] Rio Grande, he

had not yet taken command of the troops at La Bahia. These

actions either ought not to be understood, because of their

inconclusiveness, or else it is necessary to take them as

unsubstantiated and done for no other reason than to impugn

my honor. But leaving this aside, I proceed only to disclose

the errors which, in addition to the above-mentioned, the

s[en or deputy inspector has committed in this eighth

charge. The first is that he has considered opposed to

the correct procedures of the interim lieutenant commander,

d[o]n Eugenio Fernandez, my provision not to permit the

paymaster to bring from San Luis [Potosi] and El Saltillol5v

more goods than are necessary to clothe the soldier--

excepting, as he says, some additional ones for the sustenance

of his wife and his family. For in no article of the royal

regulations does His Majesty advise doing what I have not

permitted. Indeed the spirit thereof provides that there

not be kept in store those goods prohibited by the s[en or

commandant inspector, don Jose Rubio. For in order that the

troops' families use those [materials] of which uniforms are

made, whether costly or not, the afore-cited regulations

order, in article 1 of title 6, that annually each soldier

shall give to his captain (or to whomever in his absence

is in command) a signed list of the clothing and other

effects needed or wanted by him, his wife, his children,

98

and the rest of his family. From this it is inferred that a

company's store is only to be comprised of those things

pertaining to arms, mounts, uniforms, and military provisions.

As for the exclusion of all other things needed for maintenance,

as stated, the exact opposite is evidenced by the master

books and the libretas. Each soldier was given a sufficient

ration and proportionate allotments for his family. With

all this let it be known that either the said cav[alle ro

deputy [inspector] is opposed to my having performed my duty

or else he has erred. The second error is his statement

that the troops suffered inJury in the restrictive system

observed by me, which he mentions, and his saying that for

this reason they had to pay 200 or 300 [percent] more for the

goods than if they had procured them from the paymaster's

office. The first [is in error] because there was no such

injury in view of the fact that I always took care that

merchants extended to any individual from among my troops

only the most minimal amount of credit, except on occasions

when I was slightly more liberal with my permission in some

extreme necessity which befell some soldiers' wives. The

other [is in error] because if, by chance, they had money on

hand and went to the shops, as mentioned, they would do so

with the two r[eale s allowed in aid for daily expenses.

This I could, not curtail, since article 1, title 5 of the

royal regulations advises that the said aid shall be so that

99

the soldier may attend to his particular expenses and those

of his family. And in the [company's] stores there were

not--nor did I permit--those prohibited goods which the

soldiers' wives usually needed in addition to things which

came to them on their annual memorias. Third and finally

he says that I do not trouble myself to refer to the order

of August 16, 1777 , communicated by the commandant inspector

dfonl Jose Rubio because it has been ill understood and was

issued after [the occurrence of] the practice observed by me.

That which I established before [the issuance of] the said

order, in the matter of the proper direction an^6appropriate

provisions of the paymastership, is the same // as that

which [the order itself] advises. For I had just come from

a place where these interests were conducted by the method

which military expertise dictates, rather than by commercial

greed. The latter will never be appropriate in a [military]

store, and would never be sanctioned if there were a suffi-

ciency of the goods which I prohibited, even though [such a

service] did no more than recover the daily aid of the troops

at a loss to the merchants who for that purpose gather around

the presidios, as was occuring at some, I have heard. And

since I have here done what I must, I have taken the effort--

which is no trouble--to restore my honor and vindicate myself

of this charge, conforming totally and literally to that which

His Majesty prescribes.

100

9... The ninth charge made against me is for 50 pesos which, it

is said, I am to repay the paymaster for the amount which he

paid the gunsmith, on my orders, to remake the same number

of lance heads. I satisfy [the charge] by stating [the

following:] The royal regulations were established at my

presidio in the year [17]73 by the past cav[alle]ro governor

of Texas, Baron de Ripperda on orders from the Most Excellent

Lord Viceroy and by commission of the senor commandant

inspector d[o]n Hugo Oconor. For I wished to place the

company (with my accustomed haste in all service matters)

on the new basis as soon as possible and in every part.

Thereupon I ordered 50 lances made in the sizes prescribed

by article 1, title 5 of the afore-mentioned regulations,

and not with the negligence attributed to me. They were

delivered to the soldiers at 12 rr[eale]s, it seems. Although

no model for them was sent to me, I believed them to be of

the same form as those of the other presidios of the line.

And they, I thought, had conformed to the proper size. But

after a while I learned that they were ordered made according

to present-day usage (to my way of thinking they are not

lances, but hardly different from pikes), and that the

above-named cav[alle ro governor had done the same in his

company. As soon as I saw those and one from [the Presidio

of El] Rio Grande, and after [the governor] wrote to me to

do as all [the presidios] had done, I ordered that those of

101

my troops conform in size to them. The cost of remaking them

was one esso each. Since the s[en]or commandant inspector

advised me repeatedly that he was ready to go to my presidio

afore-mentioned to pass inspection, I decided that the

soldiers would not bear the cost then, but that the paymaster

would make a note of it to see whether that officer [Oconor],

at his arrival, would for the relief of the troops permit

it to be paid by the gratif icacion fund, considering it a

general expenditure. Thus I did not charge them on their16v

respective accounts. But since // the above-mentioned

inspection did not take place and I was never accorded such

[an inspection] afterwards, nor yet been informed [on what

to do], I made no provisions whatever. And since I have

given an account to the Lord Commandant General on this

matter on the same [terms] I have expressed [herein], I

have nothing more to say to satisfy this charge except that

I am awaiting his superior resolution, so as to see whether

it is just that I absorb the said cost as the cav[alle]ro

deputy [inspector] has ordered with such force and without

having required it of me previously.

10 ... The tenth charge made is that I have committed (it would be

a punishable offense) the crime of misappropriating the

King's money and therefore am responsible for 3 times the

718 P[eso] s, 2 rr[eale s, and 3 5/8 granos said to belong to

a fund which I established corresponding to the royal

102

treasury. I satisfy [the charge] by stating that the amount

could never be so large, because at^the first es-tablishment

[of the fund] it had only 201 pesos and 3 rr eale s, the

value of a number of libras of powder and bullets left to

the King's credit by my predecessor, Captain d[o)n Fran[cis]co

de Tobar, and sold by me on orders from the s[en or commandant

inspector, d[on Hugo Oconor, to the troops and residents at

12 rr[eale s for each [libra of powder and 4 for each [libra

of bullets. Afterwards there was the addition of the value

of several libras of steel which Tobar also left, that of

two or three head [of cattle] and [other] animals (if my

memory serves me), and two fines of 10 pessos. [This I say]

so that it may be known for all time that my pure motives

were never tainted, even in such slight matters. The above-

cited fund could never have amounted to 718 ep ssos, or even

300, unless it be by some error of pen or reckoning or by

some other mistake. Although throughout my life I have

studied no other laws than the military ones, I would not

have hesitated to ask superior authority what portion of

the above-named fund might belong to the royal revenues,

the s[an]ta cruzada, and other branches. But many divisions

enjoy the status of the royal treasury, as the same cav[alle]ro

deputy [inspector] admits in the very charge. Yet I could

not all at once have made them one corpus in the King's

favor so as not to bother my superiors with such trivia.

103

This is especially true since this account was formed on

my decision, without any orders, there being no knowledge

of such matters. Had this area been different from what

I thought it was, it would have retained everything, and

nothing could have been verified, as there would have been

no evidence. But it is my wish to record [all such evidence]

so that my pure motives may be known, designating even this

small amount for the benefit of the presidio, as was done17

in the // manner which I shall reiterate. When I took

command of the Presidio of La Bahia del [ E] sp [ iri] tu Santo

it had no fortification or wall other than the beginnings

of a mud wall, which it was necessary for me to complete

by constructing two bastions on opposite corners, so as to

mount thereon ten pieces of artillery, which could be drawn,

and thus also their various carriages. Two wooden gates

[were constructed] for the openings in the wall and two for

those of the bastions, in addition to a stone guardhouse

with its cell and lookout, and all kinds of restraining

devices. No item occasioned the slightest cost to the

royal treasury, since that presidio was not included in

those receiving the payment of 4 thousand p[eso s for

material works, mentioned in the royal regulations. All

[works] mentioned were paid out of my own purse. Included

in the amount is 100 s[eso s left by the above-mentioned

Captain Tobar for the said purpose and the voluntary labor

104

1

1

of residents and soldiers. Yet with the passage of time

the bastions, gun-carriages, gates in the wall and wooden

doors fell into ruin. I decided that repairs would be at

the expense of that fund, as would other expenses necessary

in matters of the service. I ordered the paymaster, d[on

Jose Santoja, to keep an exact account of what was spent,

with the intention of showing them at the first inspection

review passed at that presid.io. In this particular I hope

that the Lord Commandant General, in his wise and Christian

understanding, will deign to recognize the sincerity with

which I therein proceeded. Yet it is not necessary for me

to justify the least [expenditure] which I myself utilised

in this undertaking. I shall indeed make known the disburse-

ment which I made of more than 400 s[eso s to see to construc-

tion on the house which serves as a residence for the captains,

and which I found totally in ruins. Besides this [I shall

disclose] how much I spent--unreckoned and unrecorded--

from my own funds in the completion of the wall and words

I have mentioned. [I shall state] how drawing upon the said

fund was not undue, as supposed, but just and quite appropriate,

since it was used in fortifications of a plaza de armas and

other purposes related to the royal service. If the afore-

named d[on Jose Santoja spent an excess of 97 P[eso]s,

1 rr[ea 1, and 1 1/2 r ano[sas disclosed by the cav[alle ro

deputy [inspector], he can make it known, so that the said

105

superior officer may decide that it be borne either by the

gratificacion fund or else jointly by the troops and residents

of that presidio, who benefit from its use. For I received

nothing from it other than the great amount of work which

I took upon myself in this matter.17v

11 ... In the response given the eleventh charge // there was

much to plead. But since I have already taken action with

superior authority on the point which initiates [the charge]

in an official letter of April 7 of the past year 1779, I

shall only disclose that my decision to charge the gratificaeidn

fund the 191 p,[eso s and 2 rr[eale s in costs incurred by

the construction.of 10 canoes was made because it is thus

prescribed in article 6 of the confidential instructions

which were issued by the Lord Commandant General for the

cav[alle]ro governor of Texas, Baron de Riperda, and which

I sent to the present [governor] with the documents for the

inspection review. [These documents are] included in the

index which I remitted under date of January 29 of the said

year [17]79. The afore-mentioned canoes were not fabricated

for any expedition on the islands of the northern sea coast.

They were, in fact, for an expedition to the east and south,

inhabited by the Carancahuaz Indians. The construction was

not in the form of troughs, as stated, but in that of canoes

of much greater capacity, more than that of several in which

I have navigated the bay surrounding the island of El Tobozo,

106

with 37 armed men, even though [we were] travelling in most

places in water deeper than a pike's length, being guided

for five days by heathen Indians who had just attacked,

and with such ease as can be told by b[achille]r d[on

Jose Felis Ramos, chaplain of my presidio. The land offers

no other wood more suitable or light enough for canoes except

poplar--unless walnut, which is quite heavy for the water,

be brought to the Guadalupe River at a cost much greater

than that of making [the canoes] there originally. To cut

[poplar] in the month of April was the decision of the s[en]or

governor, Baron de Ripperda, to whom the action was committed

by superior order. For even though it was conferred upon

me earlier, it was [later] considered best to do otherwise.

[The canoes] were not to be used on any turbulent and violent

sea, as is supposed. For this would require regular ships

and not canoes, especially for bays of [a depth greater thari

the length of] a pike or an oar. The said cav[alle ro

deputy [inspector] would not call [the Guadalupe River]

a turbulent and violent sea if he had navigated the afore -

mentioned [area] of El Toboso, as I have, while pulling

twenty-two horses floating and half walking, to examine the

island, [the expedition] being commanded and watched from

that which forms what is called [the Island] of La Culebra.

In crossing those bays, those who embarked on the canoes

were never shipwrecked. For since I served the King not

107

only in my private office, the same experience taught me to

realise that with [canoes], even of poplar, it is possible

to pass through those waters as do the heathen who dwell

there, who are less spirited than we. The cav[alle ro

deputy [inspector] has been misinformed that before completion18

of construction of the canoes they were all warped and

cracked. The contrary is evidenced, one having been sent

back to the canoe maker at first. He then had only begun

to bring out one more, which I had him construct to my entire

satisfaction. If they capsized afterwards, when they were

taken to the river, it must have been because with the passage

of time they warped and cracked. For no care was taken

that they should always be in water; thus the sun dried them

out. This would not have happened if the expedition for

which they were needed had been carried out that year. I

am not responsible for this misfortune. But I could hardly

have considered what was to occur, so as to report on it--

that is, that the said afore-mentioned expedition was not

to succeed. The fabrication of canoes and the pursuit of

the planned objective I never found inconvenient or impos-

sible. And finally, although my profession is not [concerned

with] knowledge of this nature, since I have never been

concerned with ship-building, but rather with the King's

armies, I undertook the task treated [herein]. I did so

because of my zeal and desire impelling me to implement what

108

is proposed, and not only because I found myself capable

of lending resources to its completion. There was no

necessity for large canoes, shallops, or launches. This

would not now be easy for me. My departure from that

presidio ended the fear which the Carancahuaz Indians had

for the troops under my command, [which was maintained]

by the incessant firmness and force by which I instilled

it. But afterwards they took upon themselves a terrible

boldness, as was experienced in the deplorable acts committed.

Besides this there was the entry of and alliance with

the heathen Lipanes and their chief, Josecillo, which

continues to this day, I understand. They are saying that

they will sell them firearms and ammunition acquired from

sailors who put in at those shores and die at their hands

and from some savage nations from the east who land at the

same [shores]. They are left to infer from the foresaid

that when they sell firearms which are so valuable to them

because they know how to use them, they will be among those

who survive their use. This would be pardonable if it had

been I who instigated the end for which the canoes were

built, as I have repeatedly attempted [to explain] to the

s[en or Baron de Ripperda. But forgetting this, the name of

the Carancahuazes still would remain. The notorious betrayal

of both Majesties, now difficult to remedy, and the perdition

of them was through no fault of mine. And thus for this I

log

do not consider myself responsible to God or the King, not

even with respect to the slightest [charge] which, without

motive, the s[en]or deputy [inspector] attempts to make

against me.

12 ... To the twelfth and final charge I respond by saying that'it18v

is true that I did not // permit payment to d[o n Antonio

Maria de la Garza, resident of the Presidio of La Bahia,

of the 134 p,[eso]s, 6 rr[eale s and 4 granos which he delivered

to the alferez and paymaster of my company, d[o,ln Faustino

Lazo to bring him the goods listed on a memorandum also

written by the former; and thus the said amount was added to

the defalcation and was partially included in the proration

made to cover it. But this was because, although the

royal regulations in article 3, title 6 gives authority to

paymasters in such cases and does not state what the s[en or

deputy inspector says I ought to have done, I had no other

alternative than to give an account to the s[en]or deputy

inspector, don Hugo Oconor, in the proper terms shown on

the adjoining copy of the official letter which I include

under number 8, and not with the evasiveness stated by the

above-mentioned cav[alle ro deputy [inspector], who did not

have access to the rough draft thereof so as to examine its

content. The said party's reply is evidenced in the official

letter which that superior officer wrote to me-and which I

left in the archives of my presidio. Thus His Lordship

110

resolved--if my memory serves me--that the troops were

not bound to assume the debts of individuals in case of

the defalcation of paymasters, and that [the troops]

should solicit [the money] from him who had deserted my

presidio and should present themselves against him after

he was detained in jail. The reason for this was that

the troops would not assume the debt, which it was claimed

I should pay [de la] Garza. This person, with my knowl-

edge, presented himself in January of [17]78 to the Lord

Commandant General at S[an] Ant[oni]o de Bexar requesting

his money. When His Lordship had sent the petition to

me for_my information, I put down exactly what I considered

just and conscionable. I do not know what was resolved

thereupon. So that it may be seen how superfluous it is

to make such a charge against me and how unfounded it is,

I shall state the following one final time: First, the

said [de la] Garza told me at the Presidio of [El] Rio

Grande during the proximate past month of June, among

various other statements on the matter, that if it were

determined that I should pay him what he was owed by Lazo,

he would thereupon receive nothing, as he can declare.

Also, one could hardly obligate me or the troops to repay

this money when the legitimate debtor, who is the afore-

mentioned Lazo, is at the presidio. But even though he

has qualified for the exemptions under the royal amnesty

111

occasioned by the felicitous delivery of the Most Serene

Princess Our Lady, [his pardon] will be commensurate with

the punishment which he deserves for the crime of his

desertion, but not so as to exempt him from making

satisfaction for the amount he owes. For the said amnesty

declares its concession in terms such that there be no

plea of plaintiffs. And on the understanding that there

is [a plaintiff]--namely [de la] Garza--against the above-

named Lazo, upon whom it is incumbent to satisfy the debt,

I do not see how it can be just that I repay it. I thus19

ask: If Lazo is at present found with some // principal

of three or four thousand pesos, would that not be reason

for him to repay the company what it lost through his

defalcation? Certainly it would, and he is morally

obligated, since he is able. Why, then, should appropriate

action not be taken in [de la] Garza's case, rather than

my necessarily having to make the reimbursement? Perhaps

it is with a view towards having more to add to the

prolific quaderno--most destructive to my honor--of ten

pages containing the twelve charges which I in this have

answered. If they were not [prolific and damaging], as

one can believe [they were], they would only have filled

one pliego, as I did [sic with the inspection reviews

which I have conducted. I can attest that though there are

ten papers containing charges which I have sent to the

112

commandery general, several with eighteen or twenty

articles, none will be found which exceeds two sheets,

the same being true for the Lord Commandant General. One

which he sent to an officer under my inspectorate, being

of utmost seriousness (as these are not), had 20 [articles],

yet it comprised only three and one-half sheets. All the

rest are 3, 4, 5, and 6 lines, and only 2 have 8 or 10

[lines], since it was thus that he required explanations

of such material to be. But in none is it seen that His

Lordship put down more than the substance, awaiting the

responses. For with the latter, provisions are to be made

within appropriate limits if, by chance, [the replies] are

not convincing. But that wise superior officer would

not denigrate the honor of an officer. Yet the s[en]or

deputy [inspector] has done so to mine, when it is known

by public speech and reputation how spotless I have always

kept it.

I could have elaborated much on the replies aforegoing. But

I have not done this, so as not to infringe any more on

the attention of the superior officer who alone can decide

the matter, especially since he is so fully informed as to

my integrity, purity, and spirit of justice. For this

reason I still resent the tedious efforts I have put forth

in reply to such futile charges (even though they are

seemingly grave ones). I have been distracted from the

113

serious attention demanded of me by the service of God

and the King. I therefore conclude with two points. The

first is to state that, whatever I have done and disposed

concerning the duties of my office, I not only do not

repent of it, but I moreover affirm and ratify it as having

been done with the most sincere intentions. If by chance

I have failed in this by my limited understanding, I

have committed no offense, the moral consumation of which

requires consent, deliberation, and knowledge of the

matter. The second point is that I am able to say that

while some of those who have the honor of serving the King19v

may exceed me // in my ability, none surpass my

conscientious effort to discharge [the duties] entrusted

to my care and in professing love for His Majesty. The

superior officer who governs us is well satisfied with it,

as have always been the others under whose orders I have

had the honor of serving. For they are all masters of the

art of war and of the military school. This was the only

thing remaining for me to say to satisfy senor d[on

Domingo Cavello, who no doubt--considering his discretion--

is [satisfied] with these truths. Valley of Santa Rosa,

December 18, 1780 Luis Cazorla

8-19v pp., in E. 8/21/1780-8/1/1781]

114

[cross]

Eight Documents Cited

in the Aforegoing Responses

Given to the Preceding

Charges by Captain don

Luis Cazorla

20v// [Blank] [D., 20 p., in E. 8/21/1780-8/1/1781]

115

[cross]

Co2.y Being commissioned by order of the Most Excel-No. 1

lent Lord Viceroy, governor and captain general

of this kingdom, and by virtue thereof [given] authority

and instructions by Colonel d[oln Hugo Oconor, commandant

inspector of the interior presidios, to inspect the companies

of this province under my care, having the two which must

exist in conformity with provisions of the new royal regula-

tions, I certify [the following:] I have reviewed all the

accounts of the soldiers of this company and examined

most closely each soldier therein. Each and every one

on his own accord declares that whatever entries have been

charged to him up to this last day of June are legitimate;

and they await, for the satisfaction of their balances,

only the provisions which their captain expects shortly

and which are made, as realised in the said accounts,2Zv

with // a considerable reduction of prices on the price

list. [La] Bahia del Esp[iri]tu S[an]to, June 30,

1773 J[uan] M[arfa] el Varon de Riparda.

[C.C., 21-21v pp., in E. 8/21/1780-8/1/1781]

[The foregoing] is a copy of the original, which is in

the master book at the end of June, [17]73. This I certify.

Valley of Santa Rosa, January 8, 1781.

116

Luis Cazorla[Rubric]

[D.S., 21v p., in E. 8/21/1780-8/1/1781]

I

117

22// [cross]

Copy I shall make good to my captain, d[pjn LuisNo. 2

Cazorla, the amount of four hundred eighty-

two pessos and six gr[ano s from the debts caused by some

individuals of this company in the settlements formed

as of the end of June of the present year--that is, up

to the time he took over the paymastership thereof. Even

though the said debts amount to nine hundred sixty-four

essos and one rreal, he has imposed only half this sum.

This amount I shall pay as soon as I recover the allowances

of the above-mentioned company. [La] Bahia del Espiritu

Santo, November twenty-fifth, in the year seventeen

hundred seventy-three Faustino de Lazo

[Amount due] is

482 n[eso s, 1/2 rr[ea 1

[C.C., 22 p., in E. 8/21/1780-8/1/1781]

[The foregoing] is a copy of the original, which is in my

possession. This I certify. Valley of S[an]ta Rossa,

January 8, 1781.

Luis Cazorla[ Rubric ]

22v// [Blank] [D.S., 22 p., in E. 8/21/1780-8/1/1781]

118

23// Invoice of goods which I, the captain and director of

the company and presidio of La Bahia del Espiritu S[an]to,

don Luis Cazorla, delivered to don Faustino Lazo, a.lferez

of the said company and paymaster thereof, by virtue of

an order communicated to me by the senor commandant

inspector, don Hugo Oconor. In it I am advised of the

said delivery at more equitable prices. These chattels

are the result of funds which, in order to provision the

afore-mentioned company adequately, were sent to me from

[the city of] Mexico by don Eliseo Llanos de Vergara,

who was my agent during the time I held office. The prices

at which the goods mentioned were delivered are in agreement

with the same ones evidenced in the invoice, with which

the said Eliseo de Vergara remitted them to me. And in

doing what is most equitable, I have added only six

percent besides the expenses connected with the above-

mentioned effects, by reason of the risks which I have

taken in the long journey,as well as the trouble of caring

for them during the time I had them at this presidio,

having no order enabling me to expend them, especially

where there is not the slightest safe place to keep them

due to the poor buildings and bad climate. The goods

are as follows:

119

Packs nos. 1 & 2 Prices at Mexico:

2 packs of Queretarocloth in five boltsand one piece, com-prising 176 1/3var[a]s ................... at 10 r[eale s.....220..3..4

12 varas of coarsecloth in whichthey are wrapped.......... at 2 rr[eale]s..... 003..0..0

Pack no. 3, actually a chest

22,very specialCatalonian musketswhich came expresslyfrom Barz [ elon] awith their ironramrods...................at 14 esos........308..0..0

Chest no. 4

9 muskets like theabove.....................at 14 p[eso s......124..0..0

9 pairs of shortcarbines correspon-ding to musketswithout iron ramrods...... at 10 s[eso]s...... 090..0..0

Chest no.

2 pairs of short carbineslike the above............at 10 s[eso s......020..0..0

1 matched pair ofsuperior pistols.......... at 13 p[eso s......013..0..0

8 hardened swords,ornamented inCatal[oni]a ............... at 5 p[eso s,

4 r[eale s.........044..0..0

Carried forward: 822..3..4

120

b ^ (Dto

^ ^o N ^

23v znJ .

cn o

// [Prices at Mexico:] Im Im

Brought forward: 822..3..4

Chest no. 6

14 swords like those

6 sabers of slightlyless than a vara,embellished with

overleaf ..................at 5 p.[eso s,4 r[eale s.........077..0..0

metal in Catal[oni]a...... at 4 s[eso s.......024..0..01 pair of pistols like

the previous ones........ .a.t 13 s[eso s......013..0..0

Chest no. 7

16 swords like the above.....at 5 s[eso s,4 rr[eale s........088..0..0

10 pairs of pistols likethe above................. at 13 s[eso s......130..0..0

12 sabers like theabove .....................at 4 esos.........048..0..0

Chest no. 8

7 sabers like the above.....at ^} p[eso s 028..o..o3 swords as above...........at 5 s[eso s,

-4 r[eale s.. .......016..4..06 pairs of pistols as

a..bove.....................at 13 s[eso s......078..0..07 dozen and 10 strong

belt knives of superiormaking, with inwroughtblades ....................at 22 rr[eale s....021..4..4

8 dozen cutlasses...........at 3 ep soS.........024..0..016 gross of plain tin

buttons for jackets....... at 2 es sos.........032..0..010 [gross] of the same

for coats .................at 18 rr[eale s....022..4..08 shepherd's blankets....... at 6 rr[^eale s.....006..0..0

For 6 chests in which armsare transported...........a.t 6 rr[eale] s.....004..4..0

Boxes nos. to 11

3 boxes of superior

121

Boxno. 13

3 shepherd's blankets....... at 6 rr[eale s.....002..2..053 pairs of women's shoes

with low heels............at 5 s[eso]s, 4rr[eale s a dozen..024..2..4

29 first-rate black hats.....at 14 s[eso s adozen ..............029..1..4

2 good bed blankets......... at 23 rr[eale s....005..6..0

Box no. 14

51 pairs of women's shoeswith high heels...........at 5 P[eso s, 4

rr[eale s a dozen..023.0..026 pairs of cordovan

men's [shoes] .............at 5 p[eso s, 4

[Prices at Mexico:]

chocolate, two of 150libras and the otherweighing 144 libras,comprising a.. total of444 libras ................at 2 1/2 rr[eale]s.l38..6..0

11 shepherdTs blankets inthe said boxes............ at 6 rr[eale s.....008..2..0

3 painted boxes for thesaid chocolate............at 2 ep sos.........006..0.,0

rr[eale s a dozen..011..7..4

quality ...................at 11 s[eso s adozen..............022..0..0

12 hats de uno entarea.......at 14 esos........0l^}..0..01 bed blanket ...............at 23 rr eale s....002..7.,0

T^eale s.....001..4..02 shepherd's [blankets].....at 6 rT

24 black hats of moderate

Carried forward24

//

Brought forward 1,725..4..8

122

[Prices at Mexico:]

rn

L

ro^0m

Two chests for the hats...... at 1 Peso.......... 002..0..0

Box no. 15

55 pairs of women's high-heel shoes ......... ....... at 5 s[eso]s, 4

rr[eale s.a dozen..025..1..85 1/2 dozen mancuern[]s

of piedras de Boemia...... a.t 22 rr[eale s....015..1..02 gross of black rosaries...at 26 rr[eale s....006..4..04 dozen and if bone needlecases.....................at 14 rr[eale s....007..4..8

1 dozen more of the sa-me.... at 14 rr[eale s....001..6..01 arroba of lavender........at 3 s'[eso s, TF

r[eale-s........... 003..4..O1 arroba of rosema.ry........at 2 s[eso]s, 6

rr[ele s..........002..6..0if dozen and 9 small brushes.at 3 rr[eale]s..... 001..6..3if dozen less one small

grinders...... ............ at 3 rr[eale]s.....001..3..98 dozen and 9 [pairs] of

scissors..................at 6 rr[eale s, 3Zr[anoTs...... .....006..6..8

5 dozen and 9 pairs ofwhite metal buckleswith their straps......... at 5 p[eso s.......028..6..0

one large box ................1 ^_e _s. o... .............001..0..02 shepherd's blankets....... at 6 rr[eale s.....001..4..O1 bed blanket....... ........ at 23 rr eale s....002..7..0

Box no. 16

3 dozen strings of pearls...at 28 rr[eale s....010..4..05 dozen and 10 pairs of

fine similar mancuern als.at 9 rr[eale s.....006..4..61000 needles .................at 1 p[es)o, 6

r[eale.s............ 001.-.6..029 bolts and 6 1/2 var[a]s

of Lorraine lace.......... at 3 E[eso s and3 &r[ano s.........089..1..0

if 1[ibra]s, 3 o[nza]s offine corals............... at 22 p[eso]s.... ..092..1..0

1 gross of yellow thimbles..at 18 rr eale]s....002..2..0

123

b Wrn rnM 00 NM rn

[Prices at Mexico:] D

0^

0

8 dozen and 7 handker-chiefs de grana...........a;t 12 elp sos........103..0..0

4 dozen and 1 large silknets of all kinds.........at 21 ep sos........08g..6..0

2 dozen and 8 white threadnets......................at 19 [eso]s, 4

r[eale^s........... 052..0..0

buttons ...................at 2 rr[eale]s.....003..0..046 wrought silver crosses....at 9 rr[eale s.....051..6..09 pairs of plain silver

shoe buckles weighing5 marc[o]s, 2 o[nza s.....at 10 p[eso s a

m[ar co............052..^}..02 1[ibra s and 3 onzas of

fine gold and silverlame ......................at 24 p[eso s......052..4..0

3 libras, 1 o[nza and 6sic of gold spangles....at 13 rr[eale]s an

onza...............080..1.104 1[ibra s and 11 adarmes

of silver bra.id..... ......at 22 pesos......®.088..7..7

12 dozen silver thread

Carried forward 2,606..l..7

//24v

[Przces at Mexico]

LCY ^^

[(HD [_O

im Im

Brought forward 2,606..1..7

97 1/2 onzas of gold andsilver point lace fromFrance....................at 18 r[eale s an

o[nza .-............219..3..03 1[ ibra] s and 14 1/2

o[nza s of silver visoand cord ......... ...... ...at 22 s[eso]s...... 08g..7..6

4 bundles of Genoeseribbon--scarlet, nacre,and blue nos. 20 and 40...at 21 p[eso s......084..0..0

124

^- nbm^

Wcu

0 N^ m 0[Prices at Mexico:] m W

1/2 gross of threadbuttons...................at 1 r[ea 1, 9

gr[ano s...........000..1..92 1[ibra s, 1/2 o[nza of

silk revesillo............ at 12 s[eso s......028..1..024 bolts of wide tissue-like

ribbon of China silk......at 10 1/2 r[eale s.031..4..045 bolts and 6 var[a) s of

the same, narrow..........at 7 rr[eale s.....039..6..61 bolt and 10 1/3 var[als

of the same in pieces.....at 7 rr[eale s.....001..5..01 bolt, 13 1/2 var[a.]s of

scarlet and blue Genoeseribbon, no. 40, in pieces.at 28 rr[eale]s_:;

a bolt.............005..0..774 pairs of women's

Genoese stockings,scarlet and blue..........at 29 s[eso]s a

dozen..............178..6..813 pairs of stockings em-

broidered with gold andsilver ....................at 4 ep sos a pair..052..0..0

^- superior china knobs...... at 20 ^e sos........080..0..01 libra of Mixtecan silk.... at 9 esos......... 009..0..02 shepherd's blankets.... ...at 6 rr eale s.....001..4..0

The box for the above,painted ....... ...... ...... at 2 essos........ 002..0..0

Box no. 17

1 bolt of blue lustrine of84 var[a•)s ................at 22 rr[eale s....231..0..0

1 of the same, gold-colored,of 50 var[a]s..............at 28 rr[eale s....175..0..0

1 bolt of pla,i.n scarletsatin, 92 varas....... ....at 10 rr[eale s....115..0..0

1 bolt of green Sevillecorded silk, 75 3/4var[a]s ...................at 14 rr[eale]s.... 132..4..6

4 liv[ra. s, 15 o[nzas ofmelcochilla silk........ ..9 esos............044..3.p6

14 libras, 11 onzas oftwisted silk in colors....at 12 p[eso s......176..2..0

125

[Prices at Mexico:]

Three bolts and 3 3/4 varascoarse wool coarse wool[sic., scarlet............ a.t 8 e sos.........026..6..0

2 bolts of ribbon, Creolegreen no. 40, totaling225 varas .............®...at 11 [varas to a

peso..®............ 020..3..7

Carried forward 43347..3..2

rn ^0CO m0 ^ sv^n N ^

m to

[Prices at Mexico]

Brought forward 4,347..3..2

1 dozen bolts of lariatrope.........a............at [sic ...........005..0..0

4 bolts of flowered duroy,136 yards or 146 3varas.....................at 5 rr[eale]s..... 091..6..0

6 bolts of bombazine........ a.t 28 rr ea.le s.... 021..0.®01 bed blanket ...... ......... at 23 r^eale s.....002..7..01 shepherd's bla.nket....... .at 6 rr[eale]s..... 000..6..01 painted box ...............at 2^['eso s.......002..0..0

Pack no. 18

18 bolts and 29 varas ofyellow glazed linen fromPuebla, redyed............ at 9p[eso s, 4

rr[eale s..........177..7..12 bolts of wide cambaye,

flesh-colored and blue,from Puebla ...............at 13 p[eso]s, 8

r[eale s...........027..0..018 panos medio mantones

-

de la sierra ..............at 20 rr[eale s.... 0^i-5..0..04 of the aforesaid, all ofthem silk of 40 onzas.....at 19 p[eso]s.®....076..0..0

126

[Prices at Mexico:]

"'drnW0M

3 dozen and 9 pieces ofsquare fabric from thecutting board at Pu.ebla...:a.t 21 s[eso]s.::....078:.6:.0

3 shepherd's bla.nkets....... at 6 rr[ea1e7s.....,002..0..0

Pack no. 19

1 bolt of rough brabant,36 45/z [36.45] varas.....at 4 rr[eale]s..... 018.:2..0

2 bolts and 30 var a sof shaloon, enc^. . . . . . . . . .at 26 feso s a

bolt...........::.:076:.3..02 bolts, 12 var[a]s of

crimson wool .............at 26 s[esoIs...:.:..061..6..04 dozen and 9 pairs of

Genoese foot stockings....at 7p[eso s.:_.:.:.033:.:2..038 pairs of cotton hose

de la ca•rcel ..............at 14 1/2rr[eale s..........068..7..0

3 dozen nose handkerchiefsfrom La. Puebla............ at 4 s[esos .......0l2..0..0

19 bolts, 4 3/4 va.r[a]s ofblue bombazine.... ........at 28 rr[eale s....068..0..1

5 livras of soft agavethread ....................at 2 1/2 rr[eale]s.001..4..6

15 1/3 libras of salothread ....................at 10 rr[eale]s.... 01g..1...4

2 bed. blankets........ ......at 23 rr[eale s.... 005..6..03 shepherd's blankets....... at 6 rr^eale s,..-...002..2..0

Pack no. 20

3 dozen dark cordovan skins.at 14 p[eso]s...... 042..0..05 tanned cow-hides, black...at 30 rr eale s....0l8..6..09 bed blankets ..............at 23 rr[eale s....025..7..03 shepherd's [blankets].....at 6 rreale s. ..... 002..2.,0

Carried forward 5,333..6..2

127

^ ^ ^0^n rn o25v

[Prices at_Mexico^ ^

Brought forward 5,333..6..2

2 bolts of fine cotenze110 ells, or 89 10 z[89.10] var[a]s.......... .at 4 rr[eale s.....044..4..6

8 bed blankets............. .at 23-r[eale s.....023..0..03 shepherd's [blankets].....at 6 rr[eale]s..... 002..2..0

479 var[al s of ribbondel Galapito: blue, green,scarlet, and nacre........ at 2 rr[eale s.....119..6..0

Pack no. 37

14 bolts and 18 1/2 varasof blue serge .............at 17 essos....... 150..1..6

16 var[^ s of rough brabantfor overcoats.............at 21/2 rr[eale]s.005..0..0

Pack no. 38

99 Villalta woolblankets of 5 var[a.]s..... at 11 rr[eale s....136..1..0

Pack no. 3

2 bolts of second-rateEnglish cloth, crimson,54 3/4 yards, or 59 13/z[59131 var[a]s........... at 28 rr[eale s....206..7..8

1 entire bolt and partof another of thesame [as above], blue,50 40/z [50.40] varas.....at 22 rr[eale s....138..4.10

2 shepherd's blankets....... at 6 rr[eale s.....001..4.00

Pack no. 40

68 bolts of narrow trueBrittany cloth, 355 1/2or 568 80/z [568.80]var[al s. . . . ..... . .. . . . . . . .at 4 P-[ eso] s, 5

rr[eale;s a bolt...328..6..9

128

Fd0^0^

[Prices at Mexico:]

r-,^dc^wrn

1 bed blanket ...............23 rr[eale]s....... 002..7.,02 shepherd's blankets.......at 6-rr eale s.....001..4..0

Box no. 41, r ^.^.. ^.

r-,

52 2/3 v[ara]s of stripedmuslin ....................at 28 .[eso]s a

bolt ...............073..6..01 libra, 2 o[nzas of

thread de nus..,......,,..at 5 s[esos , 4

12 bolts of Sevillianribbon, number thirty,

rr[eale s..........006..1..6

904 1/3 varas .............a.t 11 [varas] toa peso .............082..1..9

3 bolts of ribbon de latierra, blue, crimson,and nacre, 292 var[a]s.... at 1 1/4 r[eale s..045..5..0

12 silver epaulets forofficers ....... ..... ...... at 12 rr[eale]s.... 018..0..0

6 of the aforesaid, ofsilk, for sergeants.......at 4 1/2

rr[eale]s..........003..3..0163 1/2 var[a]s of French

printed cotton............ at 12 rr[eale]s.... 245..2..079 blue and white silk cords.at 6 rrTeale s.....059..2..061 shirts of narrow

Brittany cloth....,.......at 16 rr[eale s....122..0..0One painted box for them..... at 2 essos........ 002..0..0Two shepherd's blankets...... at 6 rr eale]s.....001..4..0

Carried forward

26//

Brought forward

129

[Prices at Mexico:]

Pack no. 42

^ J ^drn ^

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20 bolts of true Brittanycloth, wide, of fiveanas ......................a,t 8 p[eso s,

4 r[eale s.........170..0..06 bolts of wide crea, 72

varas to each [bolt],totaling 432 v[ara, s......at 4 1/2 r[eale s..243..0..0

2 shepherd's blankets....... at 6 rr[e ...001..4..0

Pack no. 4

3 entire bolts and onepiece of blue Frenchshag totaling 240 45/z[240.45] [varas ..........at 13 rr[eale]s.... 390..5.10

3 bed blankets ..............at 23 rreale s.....008..5..04 shepherd's blankets....... a,t 6 r^r[eal s.....003..0..02 bolts of flannel with

blancas, 71 3/4e or100 45 z[100.45] var[ajs.at 5 rr[eale s.....062..6..3

30 bolts of fine wideimitation Brittany cloth..at 6 p[eso]s, 4

rr[eale s..........195..0..0

Pack no. 44

3 bolts and one piece oftrue Rouen linen, 302 31/z[302.31] varas............ at 4 7/8 rr[eale]s.184..l..g

6 1/4 var[a s of yellowglazed linen ..............at 1 r[ea l, 8 1/3

g.[rano]s...........001..2..62 shepherd's blankets....... at7-riTea.le s.....001..4..0

Pack no

2 bolts of true Rouenlinen, 118 e, or185 26/z [185.26] varas...at 4 7/8 rr[ea.le]s.112,.5.10

130

[Prices at Mexico:]

m ^ Q^ VD SDo N ::;u^ rn 0u W U]

u u

7 bolts and one piece offine white brabant,245 66/z [245.661var[a]s ...... ............ at 6 3/^I- rr[eale]s.207..2..3

3 shepherd's blankets....... at 6 rr[eale s.....002..0..0

Pack no. 49

10 plush bed quilts.......... at 5,s[eso s, 2rr[eale s..........052..4..0

8 strong leather harnesses..at 25 rr^eale]s.... 025..0..012 fine pack-saddle covers...at [si7...........001..3..0

Pack no. 50

11 superior plush quilts.....at 5 s[eso s 2rr[eale s..........057..6..0...........

36 embellished buckskin ^sword belts ...............at 22 rr[eale]s.... 099..0..0

36 sets of silver bucklesof legal fineness[weighing] 10 m[arc]os,2 o[nzas], 10 l-adj'arm es .................at 9 s[eso]s, 4

r[eale s...........098..1..27 leather harnesses.........at 25 rr[eales.... 021..7..0

Carried forward 9,093.•5.•3

26v// [Prices.at Mexico

Brought forward

Chest no. 46

14 musket cases, embellished,de timbre .................at 2

^ IW 1^W m

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9,093..5..3

rr [ eale s . . . . 045 . . 4. . 0

131

b ^ ^(D ro 1-1M W 00 N ^M cn,. ^

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[Prices at Mexico:] u u

26 pairs of high-heelshoes, in colors..........at 8 s[eso s a

dozen ..............017..2..82 shepherd's blankets...... .at 6 rr[eale]s.....001..4..02 sword sheaths de timbre...at 5 -172r eale s..001..3..08 bundles of thread

de arrea ..................at 2 rr[eale s.....002..0..01 large chest ...............at 1 peso.......... 001..0..0

Chest no. 47

18 [gun] cases similarto the above ..... .........at 26 rr[eale]s.... 058..4..0

35 pairs of high-heelshoes, in colors.......... at 8,p[eso s a

dozen ..............023..2..86 libras of soft agave...... at 2 3/4 r[eale s..002,.0..6

23 tinned copper jars........at 4 1/2 rr eale^s.012..7.A63 skeins of thread de arrea.at 2 rr[eales.....000..6..047 sword sheaths de timbre,

with all the embellishmentin metal ........ .......... at 5 1/2 r[eale s..032..2..6

2 shepherd's blankets.... ...at 6 rr[eale s.....001..4..040 libras wax from the

north, yielding 4 candles[to a libra] ..............at 10 r[eale s.....050..0..0

4 bed blankets, or rathershepherd's [blankets].....at 6 rr[eale s.....003..0..0

3 chests, two containingthe wax and one the above-cited [gun] cases.........at 1 P[es o........003..0..0

This entry 176 esos 4is found at 1rr[eale s'the end, worth ofwhich is its cigarettes, in[proper] 2,824 smallplace boxes

Chests numbered 29 to 28

50 copper pots of regular

132

[Prices at Mexico:]

bDm0

size, with [a totalweight of] 428 libras.....at 4 rr[eale s.....214..0..0

44 small pots of all sizes...at 6 rr[eale]s..... 033..0..048 frying pans, likewise

of all sizes, with [atotal weight of] 161 14/z[161.14] libras........... at 4 rr[eale s.....080..4..6

24 tinned jars ...............at 4 7Mrr[eale s..........013..4..0

4 boxes containing them...... at l peso..........004..0..0

Carried forward 9,694..6..7

rncn m

FOo

m[ Prices at Mexico] I^,

Brought forward 9,694..6..7

15 large iron griddles.......at 6ep sos.........090..0..025 large copper saucepans with

[a total weight of]321 1/2 1[ibra]s..........at 3 3/4 rr[eale s.150..5..7

48 iron saddie cinch rings...at 12 p[eso.s adozen ..............048..0..0

12 arrobas, 6 1[ibra]s ofsheet iron ................at 13 [eso s, 4

r[ea.le^s agg uint]1.........041..2..6

64 pairs of custom spurs.....at l5 s^eso s, 0[reales] a dozen...080..0..0

54 custom bridle bits formules, or rather horses...at 15 s[eso]s...... 067..4..0

2 chests containing thebits and spurs..... ....... at 1 s[es o........002..0..0

Pack no. 51

15 mantas frias de jatear.... at 6 rr[eale s.....011..2..0

133

[Prices at Mexico:]

18 excellent cinches......... at 10 r[eale s a

xcn^(Du

^

0C!]u

dozen..............001..7..06 pack-saddle covers........at 5 1/2 rr[eale]s.000..5..6

15 leather cruppers.......... at 6 1/2 rr[ea.le s.012..l..62 pantles and 11 chacuales..at 10 1/2 r[eale s.002,.7..02 reams of good superfine

[sic paper ..........,..at 7 pesos.,,,,,2 of the same, of^lesser

quality ...................at 4 s[eso]s, 6rr[eale s..........009..4..0

2 libras of cloves..........at -67--p7eso s, 6rr[eale s..........013..4..0

6 libras of pepper.......... at.7-172 r[eale s..004..7..01 1 2 libras of cinnamon....at 11 feso s... ..0l6..4..0

10,261..4..8

1,743 [eso s, 0 [reales], 3Er[ano^s corresponding to thisamount for transportation,commissions, bags and-pack.-cloths, stipend, cash-keeper,etc .................... .......... ............. 1,743..0.0

12,004..4.11The six percent .................................720..2..1For one hundred seventy-six epsos, fourr[eale s` worth of cigarettes which Idelivered to him at the rate of 16boxes for a peso................................176..4..0Twenty pesos for a large steelyard, a largescale with its weight, and another smallone for silver and silk--which [amount]is what they cost me here .......................020..0..0

12,921..3..0

Barring any error, this invoice amounts to twelve thousand

nine hundred twenty-one ;e.:sos, three r[eale]s, the goods

' 13?+

for which have been received by me, don Faustino Lazo,27v

// alferez.of this company [acting] as paymaster thereof,

to my full satisfaction, at retail, exactly as seen on

,this invoice. [They are] in good condition, of good

quality, and undamaged. The prices placed on them are

equal to those on the price list which I saw and which

was shown to me by senor Captain d[oln Luis Cazorla,

sent from Mexico by don Eliseo Llanos de Vergara, supplier

to the said senor. It is evident to me also that the

cost of the said goods was certainly the amount charged

for thern [as shown] on the preceding page. All this I

present to the lieutenant of this company and he has

signed [this] with me as evidence thereof at the afore-

named Royal Presidio of La Bahia [del Espiritu Santo]

on November twentieth, in the year seventeen hundred

seventy-three.

Faustino de Lazo[Rubric]

Xavier Venites[Rubric]

[D.S., 23-27v pp., in E. 8/21/1780-8/1/1781]

135

28//

Invoice of goods which I, don Luis Cazorla, captain and

director of the company and presidio of La Bahia del

Espiritu S[an]to, deliver to don Faustino Lazo, alferez

and paymaster of the same [company]. [The goods] consist

of riding gear and other items supplied to these troops.

I specified that they be charged against my account at

the villa of El Saltillo. For the s[eno r commandant

inspector's decision had not yet been made. [This I

do] so that the said troops under my command may not be

totally lacking in the necessities of their sustenance, and

may render service. I now make the said transfer, by

virtue of the order communicated to me by the said s[eno r

inspector and so that [the troops] may perform [their

duties], delivering at equitable prices such goods and

products as I have. In consideration of this and of my

propensity and desire to be as fair as possible to the

troops in all things, I only charge for the said effects

five percent above their cost to justify the risks taken

on the journey and the losses I might have had therein.

[The priced are as follows:

Prices at Saltillo !M

22 pairs of caxinillas demedia mochilla........ ....at 12 r[eale s.....033..0..0

136

[Prices at Saltillo]

brn^0znL^

^d(D^N^J

25 complete sets ofclothing ..................at 5 p[eso s.....,.125..0..0

10 loose timbers .............at 4 rr eals.....005..0..016 pairs of armas de

baqu.eta ...................at 12 rr[eale]s.... 024..0..012 dozen superior quality

leather zajpa,tos cruzados..at 20 r[eale] s adozen ..............030..0..0

One dressed cowhide inwhich they came..... ......2 p[eso s, 4

r[eale s...........002..4..0Fourteen crates of lard soap,

consisting of 184 pesos'[worth] at 71 to a ep^sso.. . . . . . . 184..0..0

Six dozen women's shoes...... at 7 s[eso s., 4rr[eale s........... 045..0..0

Three loads of superiorflou.r...,........*........a.t 6 p[eso s.......018..0..0

16 embellished sword-belts...at 10 rr eale]s....020..0..0Four fire wheels .............at 6 rrTeale s.....003..0..0

Carried forward 489..4..0

28v

Brought forward

[Prices at Saltillo]

489..4..0

One gross of skyrockets at... ...... 004..4..0Forty-five pesos' worth of

sugar loaves in threeloads .....................at 25 to a s[es o..045.0..0

Fifteen pesos' worth inanother load ..............at 24 to a s[es]o..015..0..0

Three loads of Toliman bags +containing the above...... at 1 s[es]o........ 003..0..0

Three skeins of threadde arrea, or rather fourvaras of unbleached [sic].at 3 r[eale]s...... 001..4..0

558..4..0

CO m +^

ra N ^°cD o

137

[Prices at Saltillo ]

Freightage, correspondence,commissions, bags andpack-cloths......... .,.......... .............285..1..9

843..5.,9The five percent ................................042..1..6

885..7..3

Barring any error this invoice amounts to eight hundred

eighty-five pesos, seven rr[eale]s, and three gr[ano s,

the goods for which have been received by me, don Faustino

Lazo, alferez and paymaster of this company, to my full

satisfaction, at retail, exactly as seen on this invoice.

[They are] in good condition, of good quality, and

undamaged. The prices placed on them are equal to those

on the price list which I saw and which was shown to me

by senor Captain don Luis Cazorla, sent from the villa

of Saltillo by d[o]n Fran[cisc]o Melendes Valdes, his

supplier. It is evident to me also that the cost of the

said goods was the amount charged above. All this I

present to the lieutenant of this company, Xavier Venitez,

who has signed [this] with me as evidence thereof at the

aforenamed Royal Presidio of La Bahia [del Espiritu Santo]

on November twenty-eighth, in the year seventeen hundred

138

seventy-three.,

Faustino de Lazo Xavier Venites[Rubric] [Rubric]

[D.S., 28-28v p., in E. 8/21/1780-8/1/1781]

139

29// [Cross]

Cppy My dear sir: [I am writing] in obedience to theno. 5

true, equitable, and just resolution which Your

Lordship has communicated to me in your letter of the 6th

of the past month of March, touching on the expenditure of

the remainder of the list of goods which I delivered to the

paymaster of this company in the sum of three thousand seven

hundred twenty-one ' ep sos, five reales, five granos. When

I had made it known to the troops and other individuals of

the company, I made provisions whereby from the afore-mentioned

effects they would be given what each person requested and

needed for himself, his wife, his children and the rest of

his family and [whereby] the surplus of the afore-cited

chattels would be divided among the entire company in

proportion to their salaries, leaving only riding gear,

arms, and items of clothing in such numbers as would be

sufficient to fill such deficiencies thereof as might arise.

All this has been done as stated with the exception of

items in such insufficient quantity as not to warrant

apportionment. [In such cases] I ordered. that [goods] be

raffled by lottery, and their small worth was charged to

whomever took them. And although there has accrued to them29v

at the present time the necessary obligation // which

can be seen, the said determination seems to me to be to

their benefit. For in any other case for in any other

140

case [sic] there was no means for them to request what they

desired until the said effects were expended, and the latter

were not [so expended] because they were surplus beyond

what [the purchasers] wish. Thus it was necessary to spend

a great deal of time in the issuance thereof, and consequently

they were not to send for their lists [of goods] even though

there might be a balance in their favor if many of the

afore-mentioned goods were lost, as has begun to occur.

They would have been liable for charges [in the amount] of

their value, without the benefit of their use, of which

they now are assured by the reasons [cited]. And since

they thus have also won [the benefit of] not having any

more money detained than the King wishes [to retain] with

respect to the minimum amount which must be kept in store,

it seems to me that I have proceeded in my determination

completely in accordance with Your Lordship's intention.

I have no doubt that its approval will follow from its

demonstrable justification according to my sincere way of

thinking concerning my command and the faith which I have

in it. May Our Lord protect Your Lordship's life many

years. Royal Presidio of La Bahia del Espiritu. Santo, June30

7, 1775. Your Lordship's most devoted and // faithful

servant kisses your hand. Luis Cazorla [addressee:]

S[en or don Hugo Oconor

[C.C.5 29-30 pp., in E. 8/21/1780-8/1/1781]

141

[The foregoing] is a copy of the original, taken from

composition book No. 3, pertaining to La Bahia del Espiritu

Santo. This I certify. Valley of S[an]ta Rosa, January 8,

1781.

Luis Cazorla[Rubric]

3ov// [Blank] [D.S., 30 p., in E. 8/21/1780-8/1/1781]

142

31// Copy I have observed the wrong method which on some

points is pursued at this paymastership. For in

spite of my continuous vigilance I take note of many faults,

careless acts and omissions in the management of money.

From this there can be damages resulting against the

company and the branch of the royal treasury in the tobacco

stores under the supervision of the paymasters. And since

I must obviate the foresaid in fulfillment of my duties,

it has seemed appropriate to me to set forth firm rules

for better direction so as to avoid all mismanagement of

a.llowa.nces. At each journey by which allowances are

brought, [the allowances] are to be deposited in the cashier's

office, as they have been until now. From there [sic] one

is to proceed bearing the amount of salaries and expenses

of the company, recording [data] in the guaderno formed

for this purpose. Your Grace is to keep in another

[cuaderno] of folio size a monthly record of deposits and

withdrawals of this money. The latter are not permitted

to consist of more than the legitimate [amount of] money

delivered as verified. [Deposits and withdrawals] are to be

signed by Your Grace, so that when I examine them I may

place thereon my approval. With them also the general

account of debits and credits must agree. And Your Grace

is to keep [the latter] in conformity with the royal

instructions, to be formed as soon as the senor commandant

143

inspector remits the formula which he has repeatedly offered

[to send]. The credit balance and debt resulting to Your

Grace in one month's distribution you shall put down as

the first entry of payment or charge on the next. Any

money or other thing in store which is to be given to an

individual in the company or to others attached thereto

is to have my consent. Without [the consent] of the captain,3lv

the paymaster has no way of deciding any matter //

concerning his duties. I forbid Your Grace to make for

any reason any delivery of supplies on credit to any person

working for the company. In case such action is necessary

Your Grace shall notify me, to ascertain whether it is agree-

able. Any such action shall be contingent upon the securities

necessary to avert any risk. I also give Your Grace the

same advice when you. go after money to bring back the goods

ordered for persons at the presidio. For they have been

notified by me to manage their money well. Under any other

circumstances nothing is to be brought. Purchases made

by Your Grace on the afore-mentioned journeys are to be

limited to things which are necessary for the provisioning

of the troops corresponding to the stores of clothing,

riding gear, and provisions. For no reason are other

goods to be brought. For those goods which are needed by

the soldiers' families they are to give their lists on the

terms advised by the royal instructions. I am satisfied as

144

to Your Grace's trustworthiness and [convinced] that it is

compatible with the honor of the office which the King

in his piety has condescended to confer upon you. Any

matter outside our career is opposed to it. Yet I advise

Your Grace that not one half real's worth [of goods]

from the stores is to be sold to any person. Nor for

any reason shall any dependent conduct or be allowed to

conduct any commerce. Such tolerance on my part would be

quite extraordinary. The soldier is to be given the pay

of two r[eale s a day in hard cash. But he is not to receive

any item on credit, nor keep any [account] with the same

[money] as that [which is listed.] in his livreta. For

the management and procedures of the estanco I advise Your

Grace to keep a quaderno for recording receipts of tobacco.32

[Your are also to record] the date on which each // case

of cigarettes or cigars or tin of snuff is opened (this

requires my intervention). You are to state the number of

boxes, papers, or livras comprised. The money realised from

their sale is to be put in a locked chest, separately for

each kind [of tobacco product] until [the opened container]

is empty. The total amount shall be deposited in the cash

box when a new [container] is opened. Under no circumstances

is anyone to remove (during the sale [of any one box]) any

amount of money whatsoever. This is so that whenever it is

suitable for me to examine [the partially sold tobacco] I

1 45

will find the [number of] reales in hard cash which is

the value of the tobacco which has been consumed from the

case or tin opened. For the method which has been followed

has been quite disorderly and subject to error (as heretofore

experienced) in spite of my continual warnings.- Desirous

of seeing the current state of the paymastership under Your

Grace's command, I advise you to form a general balance

as of the end of the present month, the time at which

adjustment is to be made for the company. [The balance]

is to be made with my consent, so that I may examine the

state of the company to ascertain whether or not there is

any deviation and may proceed towards the due remedy thereof.

I hope that you will put into practice all that has

been said and such other means as Your Grace finds appropriate

in accordance therewith for the best possible conduct, so

as to match with honor and zeal the confidence which the

company has in your attentiveness. Your Grace, when

convenient, is to advise me of your receipt of this and

your prompt compliance therewith. May Our Lord protect

Your Grace many years. [La] Bahia [del Espiritu Santo],

June 16, 1777 Luis Cazorla [addressee:] Senor don

Jose Santoja

[C.C., 31-32 pp., in E. 8/21/1780-8/l./1781]

146

[The foregoing] is a copy, made from the original

copy which is in my possession. This I certify. Valley of

Santa Rosa, December 23, 1780

Luis Cazorla[Rubric]

32v// [Blank] [D.S., 32 p., in E. 8/21/1780-8/1/1781]

147

33// [cross]

Copy I have received with Your Grace°s official letterNo. 7

of the 17th of the proximate past September

the report of debits and credits accruing to the company

under my command on its adjustment for the end of August

of the present year. I perceive therefrom the debt accruing

to [the company]. From this one infers how little care

has been exercised in its provisioning. What seems to me

most irregular is that the soldiers Alexo de Leon, Santiago

Delgado, and Tomas de la Garza have not in so long a time

been able to discharge their debt. From this I am convinced

of their lack of direction and the fact that they have not

been restrained in purchasing supplies. On this I have

written to the paymaster.

[C.C., 33 p., in E. 8/21/1780-8/1/1781]

[The foregoing] is a copy of a paragraph from a letter

written to the alferez of La Bahia del [E]sp[iri]tu Santo,

don Jose Aguilar on the 12th of November, seventeen hundred

seventy-nine. The original remains in my possession. Valley

of Santa Rosa, December 16, 1780

Luis Cazorla[Rubric]

33v// [Blank] [D.S., 33 p., in E. 8/21/1780®8/1/1781]

148

34// [cross]

COPY My dear sir: A resident of this presidio hasNo. 8

presented to me a statement concerning his

attempt to have delivered to him goods brought for him by

the paymaster in the amount of one hundred fifty esos,

which [sum] was given to [the paymaster] to fill his order.

[This procedure] was in conformity to that which the royal

regulations permit, [that is] that individuals from the

presidio may present [orders for supplies]. He discloses

that what he is being obligated to do is to accept the

proration of the uncovered amount. Although his reasoning,

it seems, has some merit, I find elsewhere that the goods

had been purchased with the troops' money. What [the pay-

master] received here from this resident, he had already

spent when he arrived at San Luis [Potosi]. And although

I am aware of the detriment to this poor man, who gave his

money in good faith, I do not find it just that the troops

should absorb this additional loss, to the detriment of their

own assets from which the said amount was taken. Nor [do

I find it equitable] that their pay should have to be used

to pay what the paymaster misappropriated. For this reason

I have not dared to.make a deliberation on the matter,

leaving [that prerogative] to Your Lordship's well-known

providence. I hope for your just resolution. What I

149

34vhave disposed is only that // the effects afore-mentioned

be kept on deposit until [your decision] is obta.ined. May

Our Lord protect Your Lordship many years. Presidio of

La Bahia del Espiritu Santo, May 8, 1775 Your Lordship's

most devoted and faithful servant kisses your hand. Luis

Cazorla [addressee:] S[en]or d[o)n Hugo Oconor

[C.C., 34-34v pp., in E. 8/21/1780-8/1/1781]

[The foregoing] is a copy of the original, made from

the loose draft which is in composition book No. 3, pertaining

to the Presidio of La Bahia del Espiritu Santo. This I

certify. Valley of Santa Rosa, January 8, 1781

Luis Cazorla[Rubric]

[D.S., 34v p., in E. 8/21/1780-8/1/1781]