Documents concerning ship pilot appointments. Paquetbot destined for Guayaquil loaded with cacao and wine. Shipmates attempted to steal part of the cargo. Ship cargo included prohibited fruit from the south. List of ports smaller than San Blas. Request for permission to sail Zeleta's boat to Loreto carrying provisions for soldiers at the presidio. Ship held up due to contraband charges. Work orders concerning construction and repairs. Lists of wages paid. Lists of weapons shipped from San Carlos to Acapulco. Detailed lists of types of weapons, their caliber, and material made from. Lists of wages paid to sailors for particular voyages. (K. Mccaston, April 1990)

Soriano's solicitud followed by recommendation of Hezeta of his service on el Rey, el Gallardo, Glorioso, Serio and San Juan. Soriano named by Bucareli, salary to be that of second pilot. (J. M. Johnson, may 1988)

Series of documents concerning change in Naval command due to death of contador and requesting permission to anchor in the port of Veracruz. Correspondence asking the viceroy to appoint a new contador for the San Pedro de Alcantara so that it can get underway. Letters concerning Monterde's promotion, his transfer to Spain and his request for passports to take his family with him. Correspondence concerning payment of ships crew includes a detailed accounting of sales of Plata during trip from San Blas to Vercruz and what money was used for. (S. Tisdale, October 1989)

Correspondence of administrative and financial matters consists of documents providing data on qualifications, salaries, appointments, health status and death notice (f. 475) of departmental personnel. Cargos and itineraries for fragata Santiago (Nueva Galicia), Goleta Sonora, Paquebot San Carlos carrying provisions to California. Ff. 471-472 discuss launching of new fragata la Princesa (N.S. del Rosario) and its role in colonization of California. Other documents continue Sonsonate and Realejo transferred to district of Guatemala, status of construction of new Paquebot and tools, supplies (ff. 453-455). Agricultural information on seeds and planting (ff. 451-452). Widow's pensions (f. 462) and salary deductions for payments to wives of officials (ff. 466-467). (J. M. Johnson, October 1988)

Correspondence is on administrative and financial matters in department of San Blas. Several documents deal with appointments, health and salaries of personnel; others with cargos and itineraries of Paquebot San Carlos and Goleta Sonora on voyages to California ports, supplying provisions to discuss damage to Paquebot in storm. Ff. 407 continues discussion of status in construction of Paquebot and why better suited to be fragata rather than Paquebot. Ff. 408-410, 414-419, 430-432, 434 deal with personnel problems of craftsmen on ship construction, delays due to illnesses. Ff. 411-413 on publication of new royal decrees lowering percentage of rights to gold, after royal fifth subtracted. Ff. 423-429 are list of workers contracted in Veracruz with salary information and deductions on salaries for officials for pensions to wives. (J. M. Johnson, October 1988)

Documents are of four types: Ff. 382-385 from Hijosa to Bucareli announce departure of Goleta Sonora (Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe) carrying memorias and efectos to Loreto and other California missions. Discussion of crew and change of command because of illness. F. 386 and ff. 399-400 are bills of lading for transported cargo. Ff. 387-388 is incomplete list of food supplies aboard, (dried) meat and fish, bread. Ff. 389-398 are extremely detailed inventories of the Goleta, including dimensions, volume capacity, hull, masts, rigging, quarters, keel, rudder, hold, tools, anchors, cables, auxiliary boats, etc. (J. M. Johnson, October 1988)

Series of documents of administrative and financial matters concerning San Blas. Topics include appointments, salaries and payments for expenses of personnel; also cargos, intineraries & freight charges of the fragata Santiago and Paquebot Principe. Completion of construction of new ship to be called la Princesa (Nuestra Senora del Rosario), including details on design of figurehead and whether it should be armoured as fragata or be a Paquebot. F. 376 acknowledges receipt from Neve for food supplies and other provisions ordered for California settlements for 1778. Ff. 379-381 detail 5 yr. Contract with townspeople of Tequepespam for supply of tar for ship maintenance. (J. M. Johnson, October 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)