Francisco Xavier Goni purchased ship (San Judas Fadeo) in the canaries and sailed for Havanna then Ostiones with load and passengers. After leaving Havana ship sank. Only few crew lived and told what happened. Documents verify discovery of wreckage parts and auction of same. Ff.131 appears to quote laws concerning finding of unclaimed objects. Ship's Matricula, ff. 155-156. Wages paid for unearthing of wreck, ff.111-114. Possible document of boat purchase by Goni, ff.162-163. Steal some of the wreckage from beach and were killed. Request made for money for Goni's widow, Maria Hernandez Goni. Ff.204 contains verification of the Goni's marriage, names their parents. (S. Langmack September 1989)

Documents concern the death of the conde de Sierra Gorda. Gives lengthy biography of his services to the crown, of his settling and establishing of villages and repelling Indians attacks. A detailed account of his early military career in Querataro is given. His various promotions and especially of his successful campaigns against the Indians. A good account is given of his establishing of numerous towns and missions and of his pacification of the Indians and of their conversion to catholicism. Conde de Sierra Gorde decorated with the titulo de Castillo, thus freeing him of payment of Media Annata. Account of 1742 battle with English nation and of their attack on Veracruz. Later documents concern charges brought against him by citizens of his province for his over-aggressive style. royal commission sent to investigate. Conde de Sierra Dies before case completed. His son's role in defending his deceased Father against the charges. Commission's finding of no substance to charges. Additional letters concern the request that the governorship become a hereditary post and that the deceased's son, Manuel, shall be named as governor. His son's biography is extensively listed-military campaigns, settlement of towns, and pacification of Indians. A further request is made that assistance be given to the entire family. Names of family members given and their newly-granted offices and titles listed. Governorship granted to Manuel. Throughout the volume are good descriptions of founding of towns and resulting battle with the Indians. Folios 145-149 are especially strong in describing la Campana en Tamaulipas, including number of deaths, injured and prisoners taken. Also detailed are Indian banditry and the attempt to convert them through education and the missions. (P. Lenz, September 1989)

Letter from Survier to viceroy Revilla Gigedo indicting most of his acquaintances in government of Nuevo Santander for their indolence, sophism, hypocrisy, tyrrany, greed, lack of integrity, and general stupidity. Written with caustic wit, considerable intelligence, literary style, and flawless handwriting. Footnoted digressions make up one-third of document. Mentions Antonio Fabian de Puga's murder of five non-hostile Indians (discussed in ff. 0107-0115, exp. 23 of this volume). (A. Dean, February 1989)

Military service records of men at Punta de Lampazos, Nuevo Reino de Leon through 1788. (E. Wilson, July 1989)

Military rolls from Echegaray for year end 1787 in the province of Nuevo Reino de Leon. (E. Wilson, July 1989)

Denunciations to intendente, relayed to viceregal officials. Miners overworked, poor drainage in mines and stealing from poor. Meson de Teotihuacan similar complaints and neglect of payment of Arancel customs tariffs. Atotonilco*)

Codina writes to viceroy of need for bringing water to two outlying areas of Guadalajara. Difficulties in completion of present projects due to financial and bureaucratic problems. Plans to marry; requests return to Spain. Pagazaurtundua to be replacement. Ff. 127-130 biographical details of training, work in Spain and new world. Because of health problems requests transfer to Spain, not Guadalajara. Discussion of Codina's salaries and turning over projects to Pagazaurtundua for completion. Chihuahua petitions for immediate replacement; Valparda asks for position. Many documents refer to past administrative and fiscal ordances. (J. M. Johnson, December 1988)

Prelate and cabildo of Guadalajara urgently request viceroy to name engineer for work in city and region. Effects of drought forcefully described. Codina requests passport; details work experience in Spain and new world. Officials discuss length of time for completion of projects and responsibility for Codina's salary. Reference made based on king's decree of 1787, deciding salary questions of cuerpos de artilleria and ingenieria for all the indias. (J. M. Johnson, December 1988)

Details and budgets of repairs on real carcel de Corte of real Sala del Crimen in Mexico by ingeniero Mascaro. Urgent repairs needed on dungeon and repair and enlargement of men's and women's prisons to avoid misconduct among inmates. Budget for dungeon prepared by Castera and funds approved by real hacienda. Ff. 25-27 good description of physical layout of surrounding area of carcel de Corte and types of people using the Callejon leading to entrance. Proximity to Alcalde's residence danger to official's families by criminals. Need for better security and cleanliness to instill good behavior in prisoners. Mascaro forcefully defends need for better social conditions for prisoners as well as welfare of officials. Ff. 29-31 budget of Mascaro for work on Alcalde's Palace, and prisions. Recommendations for solutions to problems, such as building new entrance to prisons. Series of documents on fiscal matters and royal ordances. Work began February 24 and concluded April 16, 1791. Ff. 36-50 lists of payrolls for workers on project, broken down by administrators, skilled workmen and laborers, for Series of inclusive dates. Details of materials purchased for repairs. Ff. 51-58 repairs to Casa del Mayorazgo, Puebla (See folios 1-8) to eliminate disorders in area of ruined factory. Cleaning out accumulated rubbish from area urgent. (J. M. Johnson, November 1988)

Ugarte sends to the viceroy a letter describing all his civil-military accomplishments. (J. Tapia, September, 1987)