Add MS 36335

VENEZUELA PAPERS. Vol. XXII. (ff. 366). 1737-1742.

1. Minute of the Council of the Indies, reporting a despatch from Bartliolomé de Aldunate, Governor of Trinidad, dat.

17 Apr. 1732, on the foundation of the town of Buenavista, adjacent to S. Joseph de Oruña, for Indians rescued from the English and Dutch, the desired erection of a church there, etc. ; 28 Jan. 1737. With the king's resolution thereon, etc. f. 1.

2. Minute of the same, reporting a despatch from Governor Aldunate on the failure of the cacao crop in Trinidad, an epidemic among the natives, etc., and desiring remission of their taxes, improvement in the spiritual care of them, etc. ; 6 Feb. 1737. With the king's resolution, and advice of the Council for a remission of taxes for ten years. f. 4 b.

3. Report by the Fiscal upon a despatch relating to the construction of a fortress on the island of Faxardo in the R. Orinoco; Madrid, 29 Apr. 1737. With assent of the Council, 17 Aug. f. 9.

4. Fray Francisco del Castillo to [the Secretary of State], on the inutility of the Faxardo fort, and recommending the site of Angostura, etc.; Madrid, 7 June, 1737. f. 17.

5. Minute of a letter of Carlos Sucre, Governor of Cumana, to the king, on the hostilities of the Dutch and French on tho coasts, and the inability of the Spaniards to resist them, etc. Camana, 13 Aug. 1737. Submitted to the Council, 8 Doe. 1738. f. 2 4.

6. Governor Sucre to the king, reporting the perilous condition of the Spanish dependencies, and informing him that he has sent the Marquis of San Phelipe y Santiago to the Cour to give an account of affairs; Cumana, 13 Aug. 1737. f. 28.

7. Report of the Marquis of San Felipe y Santiago on the means for dislodging the Dutch fromm the R. Orinoco and for restricting their commerce, with tables of artillery, etc., at Araya and elsewhere, census of inhabitants, soldiers, etc. [after 13 Aug. 1737]. f. 33.

8. The Council of the Indies to the king, on two letters of the Governor of Cumana showing the impracticability of fortifying the I. of Faxardo, on a memorial of the Marquis of San Phelipe y Santiago, and on another of the Governor of Trinidad, soliciting the Governorship of Cumana; Madrid, 2 Sept. 1737. With a note by tho king, and reference to the Fiscal, 10 Doe. 1738. f. 53.

9. Isidro de Andrade, Commandant of Guaiana, to the king on troubles with the Caribs, who are in league with the French, and on the fortification of Angostura, etc. [after 1737]. f. 76.

10. The Council of tho Indies to the king, on a letter from Governor Sucre respecting his services and asking that his eldest son, Vicente de Sucre, may have the reversion of the post of Castellan of Araya; 9 Aug. 1738. With a note as to the fortress of Araya, and the king's resolution, 4 Oct. 1738. f. 82.

11. The Audiencia of Santa Fee de Bogota to the king, reporting news from Carlos de Sucre, Governor of Cumana, that the Caribs are attacking the Guayana Missions, and that the Faxardo fort has not been erected, etc. ; Santa Fee, 22 Nov. 1738. With a note by the Council, 24 July, 1739. f. 84.

12. Governor Sucre to the king, on the services of Antonio Thomas Jordan, engineer of the fortifications on the R. Orinoco, on a rising of Caribs, encouraged by the French, with intent to burn the Jesuit missions, etc.; Guayaiia, 13 Dec. 1738. f. 87. Enclosing (f. 90) a memorial, of the same date, by the said A. T. Jordan, relating his services, and giving an account of the fort at La Angostura, etc.

13. Report of the Marquis of San Phelipe y Santiago (cf. art. 6), to the king, on the lamentable condition of Guayana, the progress of Dutch colonization, the uncertain limits of the Spanish possessions, etc.; no date [1737-1738]. In duplicate. ff. 94, 105.

14. Report by the Jesuit Father Joseph Gumilla, Superior of the missions of Casaiiare, Meta and Orinoco, etc., on the deplorable state of the Jesuit and Capuchin missions on the R. Orinoco, and the means of resisting the hostilities of the Caribs and Dutch, with an historical retrospect, etc.; no date [1739 ?]. f. 105. See below, art. 19.

15. Royal order to tho officers of Guayaquil in Quito, notifying the establishment of the Viceroyalty of Santa Fee, and the points in which they are to be subject to it; San Ildefonso, 20 Aug. 1739. f. 134.

16. Minutes of letters from Joseph Albear y Velasco, Governor of Margarita, on the suspension of the pearl-fisheries, and on the wreck of a French vessel having a permit to trade on the coasts of the Spanish Windward Islands from the Admiral of France and the French Governor of Martinique, with notes of their being laid before the Council, etc.; 20 Jan. 1738-28 Septn. 1739. ff. 138-143.

17. Minute of confidential papers sent to the Secretary of Stato. f. 144. Followed by: (a) Joseph de la Quintana to the Marquis Villarias, on certain foreign conventions as to the limits of the Spanish West Indian possessions, etc.; Buen Retiro, 3 May, 1740. f. 144 b;-(b) Note by the Marquis of Villarias, on the project of alliance with France and Portigal in 1737 ; Aranjuez, 4 May, 1740. f. 145;-(c) Despatches by [the Secretary of State ?] to the Marquis of Villarias respecting the same matters; Buen Retiro, 21 Aug. 1739. f. 145 b.

18. " Estado que tiene el Govierno y Capitania General de la Provincia de Cumaná ": an " expediente " for consideration in the Council. f. 152.

19. Francisco Campo de Arue to Padre Gaspar Rodero, asking for a copy of the printed " Informe " of Padre Joseph Gumilla (cf. art. 14); Madrid, 9 Feb. 1740. f. 158. With the reply, dated Collegio Superior, 13 Feb. 1740 (f. 158 b), and the " Informe " as above, art. 14 (f. 159).

20. Report of the Marquis of San Phelipe y Santiago, on the means of preventing the Dutch from trading in the Orinoco and of providing for the necessities of Cumana, etc., with tables of munitions, etc.; [circ. 1740]. f. 178.

21. Secret instructions to Gregorio Espinosa de los Monteros, Governor of Cumana, as to the, fortification to be erected in the narrow part of the R. Orinoco; Madrid, 3 De(,. 1739. f. 195. With a note (f. 207 b) of his proceedings in the matter, as reported by him on 30 Sept. 1743.

22. Notes of letters of the same as Governor elect of Cumana, on the same subject; with minutes of the Council, etc., 10 Feb., Alar. 1740. ff. 214, 216, 217.

23. The Council of the Indies to the king, oil a memorial of Isidrio de Andrade porposing to erect, on certain conditions, the portess on the R. Orinoco, as above (art. 21); 17 Nov. 1740. f. 222.

24. Martin de Lardizaval to Joseph del Campillo, upon the same subject; Madrid, 6 July, 1741. f. 225.

25. Juan Viamonte to the Governor of Cumana, reporting news from a Dutchman on 10 Dec. of an impending attack by the English on Guaiana, followed on 11 Dec. by the capture of the fort by the English, with burning of a mission, etc.; Aragua, 28 Dec. 1740. f. 227.

26. Fray Benito de Moya, Prefect of the mission of Suay, to the same, reporting "la fattal noticia de hallarse esta provincia ell poder de Ingleses," etc.; Suay, 13 Dec. 1740. f. 228 b.

27. Gregorio Espinosa de los Monteros, Governor of Cumana, to Joseph de la Quintana, reporting that the English have taken the city and castle of Santo Thomas de La Guiayana and burnt a mission, with the asistance of the Dutch of Surinam, and explaining his measure for defence of Cumana, etc.; Cumana, 4 Jan. 1741. With a postscript reporting an English descent on La Trinidad. f. 231. Followed by a minute of the reply of the Secretary of State, Madrid, I July, 1741 (f. 237 b), and a précis of the Governor's letter as above (f. 239).

28. The Secretary of State to Governor Espinosa, in answer to the above (art. 27), stating that the king hopes to hear that he has so dealt with the small force of seventy-five English that they will not return, that the Commandant General of Caracas has sent the desired aid, etc. ; Madrid, 1 July, 1741. f. 242.

29. Instructions to Gabriel de Zuloaga, Governor of Caracas, to send help to the Governor of Cumana, as it is of great importance that the English should not set foot in any place; Madrid, 1 July, 1741. f. 245.

30. Francisco [Perez Lozano], Bishop of Puerto Rico, to the king, on the condition of the Capuchin missions of Guayana, and requesting the despatch of more priests of Cataluña ; Cumana, 25 Oct. 1741. f. 247. With reference to the Fiscal, 27 Mar., his report, 11 Sept., and minute of the Council, 14 Sept. 1743, (ff. 250, 251), and a " testimonio " of letters of Fray Benito de

Moya, Prefect of the Capuchin Missions of Guayana, 16 Nov., 18 Dec. 1739, enclosed in the bishop's letter as above (f.251).

31. Memorail of Joseph Gumilla, Proctor General of the Jesuits for New Granada, to the king, urging their claim to the coast of the R. Orinoco as a field of labour, in preference to the Capuchins; referred to the Fiscal, 26 Apr. 1742 (cf. 36337, art. 2). With numerous decrees, petitions, letters, etc., enclosed. ff. 258-361.

32. The Secretary of State, forwarding to Fernando Trivino a letter of Gregorio de Espinosa de los Monteros, Governor of Cumana, for the opinion of the Council; Buen Retiro, 22 Jan. 1742. f. 362. Followed (f. 362 b) by a minute of the Council of the Indies, 24 July, 1742, as to the same letter, which reported the refusal of the city of New Barcelona to assist in expelling the English from Guayana.

includes:

• f. 4 Island of Trinidad: Famine through failure of cacao crops: 1733, 1737.: Span.
• ff. 9-23, 33-93, 195-226 River Orinoco: Papers relating to the exploration, fortification, etc., of: 1587-1791.: Span. and Engl.
• ff. 28-87 Colonel Carlos de Sucre y Pardo: Letters, as governor of Cuba, and of Cumana, to the king of Spain, etc.: circ. 1728-1738.: Span.
• ff. 33, 94, 174 Netherlands, United Provinces: Paper, relating to Dutch influence on the Orinoco: 1719-1738.: Span.
• f. 84 Santa Fé de Bogota, New Granada: Official papers of the audiencia of: 1618-1738.: Span. and Engl.
• ff. 105-133, 158-177, 247-361 Orders Religious. Capuchins: Documents relating to the Capuchin missions in Trinidad and Guiana: 1686-1818.: Span.
• ff. 105-133, 158-177, 258-261 Orders Religious. Jesuits: Documents relating to the Jesuit missions on the Orinoco: 1739 (?)-1750.: Span.
• f. 134 Guayaquil, Quito: Made subject to the viceroyalty of Santa Fé de Bogota: 1739.: Span.
• f. 138 Island of Margarita, Venezuela: Papers relating to the pearl fishery, English and Dutch privateers, etc.: 1532-1739.: Span.
• f. 144 b West Inches: Papers rel. to conventions conc. the limits of Spanish possessions in: 1740.: Span.
• ff. 145, 145 b John V of Portugal: Papers relating to proposed alliance with France: 1739.: Span.
• ff. 145, 145 b Louis XV of France: Papers relating to a proposed alliance with Portugal: 1739, 1740.: Span.
• f. 152 Province of Cumana, Venezuela, S. America: Miscellaneous papers rel. to: 1607-1790.: Span. and Engl.
• ff. 195, 214, 216, 217 Gregorio Espinosa de los Monteros: Secret instructions to, as governor of Cumana and Guiana, etc.: 1739, 1740.: Span.
• f. 227-246 Guiana, South America: Papers relating to English attacks on: 1740-1741.: Span.
• f. 231 Gregorio Espinosa de los Monteros: Letters to the king of Spain, etc.: 1741, 1743.: Span.
• f. 247 Francisco Perez Lozano, Bishop of Puerto Rico: Letter to the king of Spain: 1741.: Span.