Correspondence of gobernador intendente Corbalan to comandante general de Croix deals with logistical questions of Rivera y transfer of military personnel and supplies, weapons and transportation of settlers. Departure of ship and postal service carrying supplies to California establishments. Accounts of Rivera detail weapons and clothing for members of expedition. Ff. Numbered 19-23 are of petition of Maria de Leon, wife of teniente at San Francisco who because ill could not accompany Husband Jose Joaquin Moraga. now asks to rejoin him. Corbalan approves and grants 200 pesos for her travel with Rivera y Moncada. (J. M. Johnson, November 1988)

(D. Marksz, December 1987)

Letters from ayuntamiento de Chihuahua for virrey explaining the difficult situation of living in close proximity to united states, and as a frontier they have problems all the time with the Apaches, and the necessity to have the comandancia general in Chihuahua instead of in Durango, because the long distance delays the military orders, and it is better for the population to resolve the problems in Chihuahua rather than going to Durango. On folio number one is a view point from the gente emprendedora a quien nada Le satisface y con devida ansia suspiran Por el dominio de estos preciosos territorios, y Sus abundantes minerales; virrey notifies Bonavia to move to Chihuahua; letter from Bonavia to virrey explaining why he has not obeyed. Letter from the Ayuntamiento de Chihuahua to the virrey complaining because Bonavia refuses to change his residence, and the dangers they face with Anglosajones and Indians so close. (D. Bautista, November 1989)

Alarcon is assigned the post of governor and the command of the colonization of Texas. The aims of this enterprise are the elimination of foreign trade (mainly French) and expansion of the Spanish one. General instructions for the expedition, and later colonization of the area and reduccion of Indians are given. They emphasize the need to found two villages in the area to prevent the meddling of foreign traders in the coast of the seno Mexicano and the main navigable rivers. (A. Nielsen, November 1989)

Four soldiers are attacked while on watch on January 13, 1724. Two are killed, one wounded and one escaped without harm. Governor Almazan begins an investigation of the events leading up to the attack. Questions asked of the commanders of the presidio at which nation of Indians are responsible?, how many soldiers are at the presidio?, were the soldiers armed, on horseback or on foot?, and was there negligence on behalf of the commanding officers? This information was to be collected on declarations. Approximately one month after a local Indian uprising by the Cojanes, Carancaguases and Guapites nations, Arge spots an Indian in a nearby oak grove lighting a fire and reports it to Diego Ramon. Garza mounts a horse to investigate returning shortly having seen nothing. Whether men should be outfitted with horses and arms is disputed. That night, January 30, 1724, four sentinels are attacked. The men are poorly armed and on foot. Sentinel Juan Rodriguez returns on foot with two arrow wounds while sentinel Miabe escapes unarmed to the mission where he borrows a horse. Sentinels Antonio Garcia and Ramon de Burgos are killed. Governor Perez de Almazan visits the presidio to find it in disrepair, the men poorly armed, clothed and showing poor military training due to Diego Ramon according to the governor's report. The original uprising occurred on December 19, 1723 when 40 Indians retaliated for a soldier knifing an an Indian. In Olivan de Rebolledo's final report, he suggests garrza be relieved of his rank of sargent, Diego Ramon be relieved of his rank of captain and the lieutenant (?) of his rank. (E. Wilson, March 1990)

Begins with review of previous testimonies and conclusions drawn. All witnesses believe Colorado River to be the boundary between the two territories. Barrio believes Misisipi (Sic) River to be boundary. Testimonies are considered hearsay and not conclusive. Governor of Texas deems necessary to establish boundary between territories and move French presidios from la Isleta to Nachitos. Questions discussed; engineer to survey boundaries, squadron of 20 soldiers and one official to observe the French, wine and aguardiente trade with French, 36 French companies each of 50 men and 100 swiss men, slaves fleeing French masters, Frenchman San Denis bestowing titles of rank on Indians in Spanish territory, French lenguarazes in Spanish territory. French are described as machinaciones, wanting to trade with anyone and that the only way to control them is by populating presidios with more Spaniards. Ff. 253 - 264 junta de guerra y hacienda discusses same as aforementioned including; one-third advance on pay to soldiers; governor of Texas to determine amount of land usurped by French, names of French towns and presidios established on Spanish territory. All witnesses believe the French occupied lands from 1734 - 36, no new towns have been built, French trade gunpowder, clothing, etc.., with Indians in Texas. Many Indian tribes ally with the Texas Indians and the French. These same Indians consider the Spanish the enemy. Ff. 264 - 275 junta de guerra y hacienda discuss and resolve the following eight points. The governor of Texas should inform commander of Nachitos to return to his Side of the Colorado River, the boundary. The governor will not be sent engineers to map and restore usurped land. A twenty-man squadron with one official will not be sent to the San Pedro River to observe the French. No decision yet as to whether the Texas squadron will be reinforced as the Nueva Veracruz squadron, only a break in relations could decide that. Wine and aguardiente trade with the French desired due to the cold winters is prohibited. Decree proclaiming black French slaves free is prohibited as provocation of the French. Spanish Indians in Texas are not prohibited to trade with the French as the Spanish want to keep the Indians happy and possibly sway the Indians to trade with the Spanish. The second part of this point decides to prohibit the French from bestowing titles of rank on Spanish Indians. The final point permits the French lenguarases to remain in Spanish territory so as not to provoke the French. (E. Wilson, January 90)

Military personnel and civilians are sworn to testify in response to questions on; how they heard of the French trespassing the Colorado River into Spanish territory; when they first heard of it; how much land they believe the French have occupied; and what outposts or presidios the French may have built on said land (ff. 163 - 171). Ratifications (ff. 171 - 180). Indian interpreter relates French trade activity with the Indians. Spaniards describe black slave mistreatment by the French and consider their potential to become loyal Spanish subjects. Junta de guerra y hacienda considers weight of testimonies and action to be taken, if any (ff. 208 - 215). French crown has paid multilingual spies planted, which the Spaniards condemn. (E. Wilson, December 1989)

Reiteration of the six questions in Vol. 181 seq. B. Between 1750 and 1751 French troops and families arrived in new Orleans presumed to fortify population of Nachitos, puente Cupe and Caudachos. The Indians in the area are presumed to like the French as they are generous with guns, bullets, etc... In endless quantities. The Spanish are uneasy about the French trading with the Indians and trespassing the boundary dividing the two territories established in 1720, the Colorado River. The Spanish view the Mississippi River as a natural boundary. Past autos and documents are consulted to determine how past governors settled the question of trespassing. Sandoval is found to have permitted illegal trading between French and Indians in Spanish territory. The French should definitely abandon any presidios built within Spanish territory and return to Nachitos, talk of war with the French if they donot do so peacefully. Aguardiente and wine trade with the French is questioned. English are found to be trading with the apachilinos and the Samases on Santa Rosa Island. Ff. 146 - 147 is a relacion that orders meeting of guerra and hacienda to resolve whether; Escolta is needed on San Pedro River to observe French activities; a mapping engineer is needed to assist governor in defining boundaries; peaceful or forceful removal of French is needed; Spanish troops should be moved to Adais presidio in case of forceful removal; 1/3 advance on pay be approved for soldiers to equip themselves with rations; French aguardiente and wine be allowed in moderation due to extreme Weather temperatures in region; all documents on this subject should be collected so as not to contradict any royal warrants concerning the French and Spanish boundaries; the governor of Texas should execute said relaciones. On ff. 150 the junta de guerra y hacienda is begun to resolve the aforementioned problems. (E. Wilson, November 1989)

Revilla Gigedo orders Barrios y Jauregui, present governor of Texas, to investigate whether Barrio Junco y Espriella, Former governor of Texas, was involved in illegal trade with French. Declarations and ratifications from ff 74 - 80 mostly from military leaders at San Xavier sworn to secrecy not to tell of the investigation. All denied any knowledge or possibility of contraband dealings connected with Barrio Junco y Espriella, Ruiz or Losoya. Barrios y Jauregui makes outline of six trespassing into Spanish territory ignoring the Mississippi Indians. They each answer these questions on ff 81 - 95. Declarations are from ff 95 -99. (E. Wilson, November 1989)

Manuel de Escandon (the son of the colonizer of seno Mexicano) asks the king to intervene in Nuevo Santander, where the situation has become very unstable after the demise of his Father. He blames the jueces pesquisadores for the present situation. They retrieved from the soldiers the land his Father had given to them, provoking their migration and consequently abandonment of the frontier. In his answer, the king awards Manuel de Escandon the title of count (which his Father formerly had) and the government of Nuevo Santander. Finally, a full account of his career is attached. (A. Nielsen, November 1989)