Volume 44 — LETTER BY A SPANISH OFFICER

Cousin, friend, and sir:

At the coming of the galleon which arrived here from Nueva España at the end of July in last year, 1729, I received two letters from your Grace of the same tenor, dated April 19, 1728. While they gave me most special pleasure, on account of the consolation which is afforded me by all the letters from your Grace which I am so fortunate as to see, I have not been and am not able to express my feelings at the news contained in them of the grievous illness, the inflammation in the chest, from which your Grace has suffered for so long a time; and I am very anxious that you should continue to improve, so that your Grace may be entirely free from it (as I hope you now are), and restored to the excellent health which I earnestly hope you may experience for many years. In the midst of so much vexation as has surrounded me, God has been pleased to grant me the favor of good health, so liberally that it seems as if He had cast me in bronze; for He has preserved me in the midst of so much trouble without the slightest headache, contrary to my usual condition, for which I give thanks without number to His great goodness—remaining, as I always shall, so devoted to your Grace as you must well know.

The director whom my wife’s father had for the [business of the] lawsuit, or for drawing up his allegations in court [escriptos], took refuge in one of the churches near the city, as soon as he knew that the governor had arrived here. The latter, having understood the many wicked acts which this man had committed, besides those that he practiced in that affair [of mine], desired that—since for the present he could not be punished in proportion to what he deserved, on account of his being in that asylum—he be sent to some military post, not only in order that this might serve as a correction to him, but with the intention that this community be freed from a person of so utterly perverse practices, and that he be not given the opportunity to continue in them. He therefore held a consultation in regard to this point with the archbishop, who, having the same knowledge as the governor, in regard to the perversity of this man, and the great expediency of sending him to a military post, and assured that the sanctuary which he enjoyed would not be violated by another punishment, very readily agreed to the plan, and caused that man to be removed from that sanctuary in order to secure him (as he did) in the prisons of the archbishop. [There he remained] until he was carried thence, some two months ago, by command of the same governor, to the military post that is most remote in this jurisdiction. The efforts which this knave made to see whether he could escape being sent away from here were many; and they were so singular, unusual, and culpable that they seem incredible—as your Grace will recognize from one of them. This is, that he feigned that he was sick, and so skilfully that, the governor having sent two physicians to examine him, they were persuaded at seeing him that really he must be very ill. At that time he practiced the stratagem of having acted the part of a dying man, so skilfully that they even tolled the passing bell for him; but the fact is, that a little while after this had been done—when the physicians had gone away, as also had a religious who had been summoned and had hastened to him—it was learned that he ordered the women to bring him some food, and that he performed his part as well as a good gravedigger could. This trick caused much amusement here as soon as it was discovered, as might be expected from its singularity.

A little while after the governor took possession of his dignity, the necessity arose for making a change in one of the offices in the regiment, for a reason which rendered such a change unavoidable. On this occasion the governor directed that I should propose three names of meritorious persons whom I should find to be suitable tor that position, in order that from these he might select the one whom he thought best—determining that in future this practice should be observed in regard to all the military offices to which he had to make appointments. Although this regulation is so eminently proper—not only because it had been the usage here until, in the last few years, the inexperience and despotism of some of the governors broke up this method of procedure; but because it is in all countries the inviolable usage that the masters-of-camp or the colonels (which is the same thing) have always proposed [appointments for] the vacant posts in their organizations—it caused much surprise (or, to speak more correctly, envy) in the licentiates or auditors. For, as soon as they heard of it, they went to see the governor, and with as much energy and eagerness as if some great advantage could thus result to them, addressed him, endeavoring to dissuade him from the observance of this method—availing themselves, in order to incite him not to allow this regulation to take effect, of the artful argument that it was opposed to his own authority. But the governor, knowing their good intentions and how very proper are those proposals of names (as above stated), sent them away more offended than they were when they came into his presence, on account of his answer to them that he could not permit the appointments to be made as they wished, since it was the prerogative of all masters-of-camp to propose them—saying that no one could have a better knowledge than these officers have of the merits and fitness of persons for their command, in order that those who were necessary for military employments might be judiciously selected. From this your Grace will understand how far the prejudice of these licentiates can extend, and their exceeding ill-will, and that I shall find myself badly off and can ill remain here with these and other knaves, who are in more than abundant numbers in this goodly land, and of so evil, or even worse, intentions; and the good intentions of those licentiates not stopping at this only, I will relate to your Grace another case in which they show no less their proved enmity.

I am fully informed of the reasons which made your Grace regard it as not expedient to present in the Council the sworn statement which I sent you, in the year 725, of what had been done up to that time in regard to the affair of the jurisdiction of the small fort. Considering that, although the governor has known and knows the injury that was done me in that matter it will please him that the revocation of the sentence which, ill-advised, his predecessor pronounced should come from there [i.e., Madrid], I trust that your Grace, on receiving this letter, will be pleased to arrange for presenting in the aforesaid Council the sworn statement of the whole of this lawsuit which I sent you in the year 727; and make all possible endeavor to secure that, if the affair result as is just, the decree which I mentioned on that occasion be sent here. Also such measures should be taken as will lead to Auditor Martinez, who was the chief cause of so unjust a sentence, being given the condign punishment that corresponds to his fault; and that the same be done as concerns Alcalde Vermudez, on account of his having thrust himself into usurping the jurisdiction of another.

This gentleman, the governor, has told me that your Grace gave him the duplicates (which he has brought here) of the reports which I made and sent to you in regard to the absurd speeches which have been habitually made here. I have been much pleased at this precaution (which was a very proper one), not only that he might come here with full knowledge and information about affairs, and because of the benefit which he has derived from them (which he has personally acknowledged to me), but because since his coming he has proved the truth of all that is contained in them.

I am very thankful to your Grace for the news which you send me in regard to the condition in which affairs are there [i.e., in España]. I cannot express my feelings at the death of the Count, not only because I know the same things that you mention, but on account of the especial circumstance of the personal favor and affection for which I owe him the gratitude for which I shall always be under obligation; and I am equally grieved that it happened thus, in the prime of [his] life, on account of what concerns Don Pedro his nephew. For the present, then, since for lack of time it is not possible for me to write, your Grace will please present my condolences for both these casualties to the lord Count Mozo, and to my lady Doña Ge[r]trudes, assuring them that I sympathize with them very sincerely. Will your Grace please also convey my kind remembrances to the other acquaintances and friends who favor us, as also to all our relatives—and especially to our Don Matheo, and to my lady Doña Antonia, telling them how sorry I am for the impaired health that they have suffered, and that I shall be exceedingly delighted if they regain their health.

A little while ago, God took away the eldest child of Don Luis and Doña Rosa, after a tedious and lingering illness with diarrhœa. They are exceedingly grateful to your Grace for your expressions of kindness, which they very cordially reciprocate; and Don Luis places at the disposal of your Grace [whatever he can do for you in] the new office which he holds, that of chief notary (in proprietary appointment) of the cabildo of this city, with accompanying rights of privilege therein. In order to secure this purchase (which he made here from the crown), he was aided by a schedule of properties which he owns in this same city, [amounting to] some twelve or fourteen thousand pesos, for the post cost him that amount. Although it is certainly an excessive price, it is compensated by the advantageous circumstances attending it: he has authority to select a deputy who can exercise the office in his name, as is the case at the present time—the latter to be paid, according to what they say, 3,000 pesos each year—and it is a place of much honor and esteem, just as it is in all the cities of these kingdoms. These advantages he had borne in mind, for without them he would not have undertaken this office, even if it had been worth much more; [another consideration was], that whenever he may choose to quit it he can do so, assured that he will find some one else here to whom he can make it over, at very nearly the same amount which it cost him, since that office is sought for by many persons.

I render to your Grace the grateful thanks which I owe you for the diligent efforts that you made in order that the post of governor here might be conferred on me; and I now see how, on account of the reasons which you state, you could not gain the result that was desired—for which it is necessary to resign ourselves and be patient. By my previous letters your Grace will have learned the object to which my mind is directed, since learning that [my hope of securing] this office has been disappointed, and the other motives that I stated therein. Every day increases, if that be possible, my desire to indemnify persons here; and moreover I am certain that, instead of securing advancement [here], I can regard it as certain that I shall, on the other hand, become more embarrassed at every step—considering that I cannot hope in any direction for the least gain of [pecuniary] profit; and that my salary is so limited that, as I have stated on other occasions, it is not enough even for the absolutely necessary expenses of my decent living, moderate [as that is]. For all these reasons, I cannot help repeating at this time my urgent requests to your Grace in regard to this subject, entreating with almost the same energy which I could employ to escape from purgatory, if I found myself there—that you will, as also friend Arce (to whom also I have written at this critical time), continue your efforts until one of the posts of governor which I have mentioned to your Grace can be secured for me, either in the kingdom of Peru or in that of Nueva España. I suppose that the [door to such a] purchase is now closed; but if through a little good-fortune there is opportunity for one, you can render assistance in securing one for me, from the money which will remain from what I have sent, since all of it is now on the road thither [i.e., to España], according to the information which they have sent me from Nueva España. If this shall not be enough, I trust, in the great loyalty and affection which I owe to your Grace, that you will make up the remaining sum that shall be necessary, in such way as you shall find most convenient—[what is needed] not only for this purpose, but tor the rank of field-marshal; or, that failing, for the rank of brigadier. I will repay the amount that may be needed, with more than its proceeds amount to, as is just—assuring your Grace that the favor of aiding me to secure (as I hope) this relief will be so exceeding a kindness that 1 have no words to express suitably my inmost appreciation of it, nor, consequently, to show the gratitude for it which I shall always feel toward your Grace—whose life I beseech our Lord to preserve for me for many years, with all prosperity. Manila, January 28, 1730.

Cousin and Sir:

I am very sorry that the articles which I sent by Fathers Buena Ventura Plana and Joseph Bobadilla were lost, through an accident; for this has deprived me of the pleasure which I would have felt if they—as being things from this country, although of little value—had reached the hands of your Grace and other gentlemen to whom my gratitude and affectionate good-will had addressed them.

I think that the aforesaid fathers are now in Nueva España, on their return journey, and I do not doubt that in passing by way of the court there [i.e., Madrid], on their return from Rome, they exerted whatever good offices they could in my favor, on account of the special affection which I owe them, and [which], your Grace is pleased to declare, they displayed. And although I take into consideration the fact that at present the other fathers who reside at that court cannot accomplish much, for the reasons which you give me, I persuade myself that it will do no harm if your Grace will please to preserve (if you can do so without special trouble) communication with all those to whom you caused the letters that went from here to be delivered; for they will not fail to render aid in whatever may arise. Nevertheless, even without their aid I have entire confidence that your Grace will employ the other means which you have obtained through your great ability, and such others as you may find convenient, if one alone do not prove sufficient for the attainment of one of the governorships which I have mentioned. Again I assure your Grace—to say nothing of the fact that this hope itself affords me some pleasure—that it will be a favor so praiseworthy, and so great a kindness, for me to be able to escape as soon as possible from this chaos, this deep well, that (as I have already said) I shall not have words with which to express it, and therefore to manifest to your Grace sufficiently the gratitude which I shall always feel toward you. I flatter myself that at the same time there may come an order to the governor to give me the command of the galleon in which I shall have to make my voyage, for the reason which I have already explained to your Grace on other occasions, in order that in this way I can perform it with more convenience, and without so great expense. In case the granting of such order be refused (although I imagine that there will be no obstacle that can arise in the way of issuing it), it will be desirable to obtain letters from the secretary (present or future) in the general office of state who has charge of matters concerning the Indias, recommending to this gentleman [i.e., the governor of Filipinas] to be sure to grant me this favor; it would even be worth while for Señors Legarra and Maturana, and likewise Sargento-mayor Castro of the Guards, also to write to him on this subject.

I kiss your Grace’s hands, as your cousin and sincere servant and friend, who earnestly desires to see you again,

Manuel de Santistevan

[Addressed: “To my cousin Señor Don Lorenso de San Tistevan.”]

[On the margins of pp. 28 and 29 of the MS. appears the following, evidently a postscript to the letter:]

Cousin and Sir:

When your Grace may write to the relatives [Spanish, Pa—, the rest blotted; the context would indicate parientes], I trust that you will grant me the favor of explaining that, for the reason which I have already stated, lack of time, it is not possible for me to write until another opportunity (which I will try to do); and will your Grace please say the same to the mother of Doña Rafaela (whom may God keep), and convey to all of them, in my behalf, my affectionate remembrances.

This packet—of which I will send another copy by the galleon, being uncertain whether this may be lost on the way—is going by way of one of the colonies which in this part of Asia belong to the foreign nations, such as Francia, Inglaterra, Olanda, and Portugal. By this route letters usually go very expeditiously to that kingdom [of España], as also those come here which are sent thence by these routes, employing the method which I described in detail to your Grace in the years 723 and 24—a fact which many persons here have learned by experience, in the case of the letters which by these lines are sent to them from the court there, by the correspondents whom they have in it; for one, the governor obtained this satisfaction soon after his arrival in these islands, in receiving various letters, among which was the commission as warden of the castle of Santiago in this city, for a nephew whom he had brought, who in España had been an alférez of the Guards.

From the maternal grandfather of Doña Maria Josepha the authorities seized here 102,000 or 106,000 pesos—a sum which, as it had been sent from these islands to Nueva España as an investment by Don Fernando Bustillo Bustamante, the former governor of the islands, was therefore by order of the viceroy of that kingdom [of Nueva España] placed in the royal treasury of Mexico; as also another considerable amount, which the aforesaid governor had sent, was obtained from various other seizures which the viceroy had made. Although the executors of the said grandfather of Doña Maria Josepha obtained a decree that they should be repaid for the amount seized, there has not thus far been any way in which that could be done—either because there was a lack of funds, or because the person to whom this commission had been entrusted in the aforesaid city of Mexico was inefficient. The greater part of the amount thus seized belongs to the aforesaid Doña Maria Josepha; in order to ascertain what is legitimately hers, some measures have been taken in order to secure the division of all the goods; and if (as I hope is the case), this effort shall have succeeded [in time] for the despatch of the galleon, I will then send word to your Grace of the result, in order that your Grace and friend Arze may be so kind as to ask for a new decree in which the viceroy shall be commanded to see that the most prompt satisfaction be given for the aforesaid amount. With this and a strong letter of recommendation from the secretary for the affairs of Indias in the general office of state, addressed to the present or future viceroy, there will be no doubt that the collection of this money will be facilitated, as is necessary and desirable—and all the more if this order shall arrive at the time when, as I trust, [an appointment to] a governorship being received, I should go, as would be necessary, to that kingdom [of Nueva España], even though it might be for [an office in] that of Peru.