Administrative correspondence re: sailing of paquebot San Carlos for Loreto; inventory of San Carlos; buying prices in San Blas and selling prices in Loreto; positions and food supplies for crew of San Carlos; discussion of salaries; travel expenses for Ramon Segurola; need for vino, aguardiente and aceite in California presidios; need for gunpowder in San Blas; San Blas is sending existing sailcloth to California presidios, but must have it replaced with next shipment from Spain. (D. Uhlman, December 1988)

Consultation with virrey re: payment for goods; fabrication of jarras de cobre for polvora storage; replacement of Sierra by Morant as capellan on paquebot San Carlos; purchase of polvora for defense of ships sailing to San Diego; return of clerk Escovar following recuperation; remission of review of expenses in San Blas for January; factors that have impeded scheduled launch of fragata Santiago and paquebot San Carlos. (D. Uhlman, November 1988)

Series of documents of administrative and fiscal matters for San Blas. Many deal with cargos and itineraries of paquebots San Carlos and el Principe (San Antonio) and fragata Santiago; others with personnel matters, ship construction and repair. On excess food supplies from Naval department to be given to presidios and missions in California and administered by Serra. F. 344 on three month leave for Choquet for accident suffered to rejoin wife in Spain after 14 yr. Separation; discussion of Hijosa's successor Ruiz and military escort to Mexico. Ff. Wife, approved by viceroy. Details given on amounts and construction of new launch for Paquebot and new buque de Paquebot, many details given on problems and techniques, delay to appoint Ayllon as contador; both assume new duties upon Hijosa's incapacitation. (J. M. Johnson, October 1988)

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)

Most important documents concern arrival in San Blas of two carriages and four servants for Areche to be shipped to Acapulco (folio 198); and detailed inventory of the Goleta Sonora (N. S. de Guadalupe) including food supplies, its physical structure, rigging and equipment (ff. 199-213). Bausa requests monthly sum sent from royal treasury to Sister in financial need; approved by Hijosa and viceroy (ff. 330-333). Fragata Santiago (Nueva Galicia) and paquebots Concepcion and San Carlos; costs and logistics of transportation of materials to California ports; procurement of supplies and skilled labor for ship repair; appointments of Naval, religious and medical personnel; and reports on departmental personnel, including illnesses and deaths. (J. M. Johnson, September 1988)

Primary topics of correspondence are: recruitment of pilots, contramaestros, sailors for arsenal; explanations of vacancies and discussions of qualifications, salaries, illnesses and regulations concerning personnel. Cargos and documents transported to California. Expenses for provisioning ships. Viceroy orders naval equipment stored in Veracruz to be released for use in San Blas. Many details of shipments, itineraries, etc. of Goleta Sonora, paquebot El Principe, fragata Santiago and navio de guerra San Luxan (?). F. 52 Carlos III orders Hijosa to return to Spain to resume marital life after separation of 14 years from wife. (J. M. Johnson, September 1988)