EXTRACTO DE LA INSTRUCCION DEL EXMO. SEÑOR VIRREY, CONDE DE REVILLAGIGEDO [caption title] a.k.a. INSTRUCCION RESERVADA QUE EL CONDE DE REVILLA GIGEDO DIO A SU SUCESOR EN EL MANDO, MARQUES DE BRANCIFORTE SOBRE EL GOBIERNO DE ESTE CONTINENTE EN EL TIEMPO QU
Revillagigedo, Count of: Juan Vicente Guemes y Horcasitas:
Mexico. 1794. [695]pp. of manuscript text in Spanish in a neat secretarial hand. Dated on final leaf: "Mexico 30 de Junio de 1794." Folio. Contemporary vellum, leather ties. High quality paper of the period, all leaves crisp and perfect. Inner hinges separated, but holding by strong cords. Slight gnawing at lower foredge of front board. Overall, in fine condition. The present extensive manuscript volume is an overview or status report of the Conde de Revillagigedo's accomplishments as viceroy of New Spain, prepared when he left office in 1794. Intended to instruct Revillagigedo's successor, the Marqués de Branciforte, these Instrucciones include important reports and recommendations concerning Spain's Pacific coastal possessions, including Alta California and the Northwest Coast, encompassing present-day Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska. Viceroy Juan Vicente Guemes y Horcasitas, Count of Revillagigédo, governed New Spain from 1789 to 1794, an important period in the history of exploration and settlement of the North Pacific. It was during Revillagigedo's government that Spain was attempting to assert sovereignty over the Pacific Northwest by sponsoring several expeditions to the region. The viceroy was keenly aware of the vulnerability of Spain's Pacific possessions, and herein summarizes what should be done to protect the northern lands from foreigners. For example, he points out the need to strengthen defenses at the California ports of Monterrey, San Diego, and San Francisco as well as Ezeta (Eceta) at the entrance of the Columbia River, and warns of foreign incursions: "Donde se necesita poner alguna regular defensa construyendo proporcionadas Baterias en los Puertos de Monte Rey, San Diego, S. Francisco Bodega, la entrada de Ezeta, o Rio de la Columbia, si se quiere por alli atajar los intentos de las Naciones que pueden pensar en establecerse..." - paragraph 701. Paragraph 703 cites the increasing importance of San Blas as a supply and troop depot for the protection of "la costa Septentrional de Californias" as various nations extend their reach in the Pacific: "actualmente desde que han empezado a ser frecuentados aquellos mares por varias naciones, ya se le debe mirar como un punto de la mayor importancia para mantenernos en la debida posesion de los distantes y preciosos terrenos que pertenecen a S. M. por aquella parte...." He lists the ships currently at San Blas: "Los Buques que alli hay son las fragatas Concepcion, Princesa y Aransazu el Vaquebo, San Carlos, el vergantin, o goleta Activa, las tres goletas Sutil, Mexicana, y Valdes, y la Valandra Horcasitas. Los quatro ultimos Buques son aproposito para exploraciones, y no admiten Artilleria...." He continues by suggesting the advantages of Acapulco over San Blas as an alternative Pacific port, citing its better climate and proximity to Mexico City. He further suggests a sort of patrol of the Pacific coast: "Las Goletas podrian entrar en movimiento continuo recorriendo las Costas de Norte y Sur." Revillagigedo makes several references to the Nootka Convention signed in October 1790 between Spain and England (see paragraph 562). He points to the need for a Spanish military presence at San Francisco, Bucareli (Alaska), and Nootka, at the very least stationing a ship at these places to assert Spanish sovereignty in the region. "Aunque se halla a alguna mayor distancia de los Presidios, y de las posesiones de Notka hay tambien algunos ventajas en la comodidad de la salida que facilitan tomar mayor alaira y por consiguiente recompensar aquel inconveniente; fuera de que siempre sera precivo el que haga en uno de aquellos Puertos, bien sea en el de San Francisco o Bucareli, o bien en el mismo Nootka segun quedase nuestra Corte convenida con la de Inglaterra, algun buque, o destacamento nuestro para hacer respectar la autoridad del Soberano, y su dominio en aquellos mares antes que vayan amparandose de aquallas costas y terrenos otras Naciones." Reports on Russian settlements in the Northwest relayed through the captain of the American Brig "Gencook" [Hancock?] at Nootka, caused Revillagigedo to emphasize the great threat posed by the Russians. He suggests that Spain reduce her territorial ambition to a boundary drawn at the Strait of Juan de Fuca: "El comandante nuestro en Nootka escribio en 20 de Julio del año proximo pasado que en 17 de Mayo precedente arribo a aquel Puerto el Vergantin Americano el Gencook y su Capitan Samuel Croel refirio que havia evado un año antes en el Principe Guillermo fondeo en el Puerto de Graviña y adquirio noticia de que los Rusos se hallaban establecidos en una de las Islas de Quadra con una bateria de diez cañones de a 3 con que los dejo un Bergatin que vino desde Ososco y havia pasado a Onalaska para restituirse pronto a aquel destino, que no se sabia el numero de gente que se hallaba en la fortificacion; pero que sabia que tenian mucha los mismos Rusos en otra muy buena que havian echo en la Rivera de Cook...La vecindad de los Rusos podria acaso con el tiempo sernos mas perjudicial que la de los Ingleses u otras Naciones Europeas, cuyas disposiciones y auxilios debian ser mucho mas tardos y mui dificil que nos perjudicasen. Yo he sido siempre de opinion y he propuesto a la corte que lo conveniente era reducir nuestros limites hasta el estrecho de Juan de Fuca que parece ser un termino de demarcasion señalado por la misma naturaleza...." Recent Spanish voyages of exploration to the Pacific are described, including that of the Sutil and Mexicana, as well as the voyage led by Malaspina. Paragraph 714 relates news of the efforts of the 1792 voyage of the Sutil and Mexicana to the Northwest Coast: "Los viages de Exploracion que hicieron los Goletas Sutil y Mexicana aclararon ya que el Estrecho de Juan de Fuca no es el pretendido paso desde el oceano Pacific al Mar Atlantico, pues rodeando la Isla de Nootka vuelve a salir al mar por los 50 grados en cuyo viage no pudieron reconocer la parte de la costa que hay desde las 44 a los 47 grados - por lo que fue necesario repetir 2a. Expedicion en 30 de Abril de 93 comisionando para ella las Goletas Activa y Mexicana, de cuyos Buques el primero solo llego a los 43° 56 de latitud, y el 2o. llego a los 48o. y bajo haciendo un prolixo examen de la costa, reconocio la entrada de Ezeta y Rio Columbia, se incorporo con el otro Buque en el Puerto de San Francisco, y entraron ambos en San Blas a 4 de Noviembre de 1793." The viceroy describes how Texas was a natural buffer against invasions by foreigners from the north because of the lack of supplies and water in the region: "...tratar de venir por Texas tambien seria una empresa costosa y arriesgada para nuestros vecinos por aquellas partes que son los Colonos, y mui incomoda por la escasez de viveres, y especialmente de aguas." Besides items of Pacific interest, the manuscript contains much on the internal affairs of New Spain, and it is difficult to summarize the full range of topics covered in its 1422 entries. New Spain's finances, missions, regulation of corn production, creation of royal academy of fine arts, powers and responsibilities of the viceroy, are all discussed. Dozens of entries reflect Revillagigedo's special interest in the urban problems of Mexico City, for example, modernizing infrastructure and expanding education, among other efforts. An extensive index lists topics with respective paragraph reference number. "Revillagigedo [led] one of the most beneficial administrations that Mexico ever had under Spanish rule. He reformed the financial management, finished the paving of the principal streets of the capital, had the open sewers and canals filled up and subterranean sewers provided, cleaned the principal square, established free primary schools and began a carriage-road to Vera Cruz" – APPLETON'S. These Instrucciones were considered important enough for publication as early as 1831, when they were printed in Mexico under the title, INSTRUCCION RESERVADA QUE EL CONDE DE REVILLA GIGEDO DIO A SU SUCESOR EN EL MANDO, MARQUES DE BRANCIFORTE SOBRE EL GOBIERNO DE ESTE CONTINENTE EN EL TIEMPO QUE FUE SU VIRREY. According to the preface of the 1831 published edition, this "precioso documento" may have been originally edited by D. Rafael Bachiller y Mean, a close advisor to Revillagigedo. A handful of other original manuscript copies of this important report are known to exist, of which two can be located in the United States, at the Newberry Library and the University of Arizona. Although the text was first published in 1831 as described above, the present manuscript represents its original format as circulated among officials in New Spain in the late 18th century. A key work for this critical period in the history of the Spanish American colonies, recording the accomplishments of New Spain's greatest administrator and marking the beginning of the end of Spain's dominance in the North Pacific. APPLETON'S CYCLOPAEDIA III, p.10.
(Item ID: WRCAM38316) $35,000.00