Correspondence deals generally with following topics: Naval salaries, appointments, service and health records of personnel for department of San Blas, ship construction and repair. Much information on cargos and itineraries of the Goleta Sonora and paquebots San Carlos (toison), Principe and Concepcion. Documents of major importance are the following folios: Ff. 242-248 concern publication of general pardon for all military or commercial deserters from navy. Six month term for amnesty offered; terms and enforcement discussed. Ff. 249-260 and ff. 267-271 deal with problems in construction of (new keel for) launch for paquebot San Carlos (toison) and building of additional paquebot for navy. Ff. 279-281 discuss arrival of ship-building tools from Spain and expert technicians from Veracruz. Difficulties in scheduling itineraries and supplying missions and presidios in California due to shortage of ships. Ff. 264-266 request by Hijosa and approval by viceroy for monthly amount of his salary to be sent to assist his wife. Ff. 272-274 deal with illnesses and delayed arrival of technicians; ongoing need for recruitment of surgeon for department. (J. M. Johnson, September 1988)