USA > Louisiana > The early history of Louisiana. Letter from Mr.Charles gayarre to the Hon. Randall L. Gibson, of the House of representatives, relative to the early history of Louisiana > Part 3
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I am, &c.,
CHARLES GAYARRE.
MADRID, January 13, 1849.
To the Honorable CHARLES GAYARRE,
Secretary of State :
SIR: I herewith inclose Mr. Gayangos' statement of his accounts.
He informs me he has copied everything to be found in Seville-that there are some of the papers not sent from here, which he will forthwith examine and have copied ..
I am, &c.,
.
R. M. SAUNDERS.
Mr. Gayangos' account.
Received a draft in May on Messrs. O'Shea & Co 5,000
in Angust . 7,050
in Seville. 8239.75 4,795
in Madrid. 1,000
17,845
For three quarters' salary, at the rate of $1,000 a year, from the 1st of April to the 31st of December, ists 15, 000
Journey to Simancas and back, including traveling and other expenses during an absence of 16 days 1,200
Journey to Seville and back 1,000
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THE EARLY HISTORY OF LOUISIANA.
Reals.
Extraordinary expenses during four months spent at Seville, from the 7th of August to the 7th of December, 1812, at the rate of $1.50 per day. 4,000
Discount on bank notes received in May, 6 per cent. on 5,000 .. 180
Discount on 7,050 received in August, at the rate of 3} per cent. 245
750
Paid for transcripts at Madrid. Simancas
800
Seville 3,600
Amount of expenditure 26, 855
Money received. 17,845
Balance due to me
9,010
MADRID, April 2, 1849.
To Honorable CHARLES GAYARRE, Secretary of State :
DEAR SIR: I herewith inclose two notes from Mr. Gayangos, that you may see the difficulties he has to encounter and how the matter stands at present. On the receipt of the first note, I called on the under sec- retary of state, informed him as to what I had heard in regard to the order given by the Duke of Sotomayor, whilst minister of state, that the papers in the archives of the foreign office should not be examined, because of their implicating in some way his father whilst minister in the United States. I told him in plain terms unless I was allowed to have access to those papers I should be under the necessity of address- ing a strong note of remonstrance to the minister, stating the grounds of the refusal, and that I should send a copy of my note to the governor of Louisiana; that I thought it much better the papers should be ex- amined, and that copies of such alone should be taken as the minister should not object to. I received, within a few days after, a note from the minister of state, saying there were no papers in the foreign office relating to the history of Louisiana, but that all such were to be found in the office of grace and justice, to which I should have free access. Yon will learn by Mr. Gayangos's last note what has been the result. I doubt not the papers which we are most anxious to get have been abstracted, but I shall not fail, if possible, to get those which relate to the Wilkinson affair.
I have said to Mr. Gayangos that you would feel greatly disappointed should you fail to get everything to be had, and that for the sum ap- propriated ; that I could not exceed that sum, and I yet hoped he might be able to accomplish it.
I still Hatter myself that before I may leave for my return to the United States we shall effect everything which may be practicable.
I am, &c.,
R. M. SAUNDERS.
MARCHI 11, 1849.
To R. M. SAUNDERS, ESq , Minister Plenipotentiary :
DEAR SIR: I have been engaged for the last two weeks in looking over the papers in the archives of the foreign office. The archivero, for whom I have procured a letter of introduction, has been exceedingly kind, giving me every facility for investigation. Unluckily, the papers are now to be removed to another part of the palace, owing to the cir- cuinstance of a private theater being now built in the very rooms formerly occupied by the said archives, which circumstance has not only
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THE EARLY HISTORY OF LOUISIANA.
impeded my researches, but I am afraid will also render them exceed- ingly slow for the future. I mention this because I wish you to take note of all the difficulties thrown in my way, and the consequent loss of time which they are daily causing me. in the fulfillment of the duties which I have accepted.
I have, however, seen enough to convince me that all the secret papers concerning Louisiana are kept in these archives, and that Mr. Gayarre will have nothing to wish for if we are allowed to penetrate into it. Of course the archivero has only permitted me to look at the papers on the ontside, saying, as I apprehended he would, that without a special order from the minister he could not take upon himself to let me take notes.
You know as well as myself the jealousy and mistrust by which the Spanish Government is actuated in such matters. You know, also, that the Marquis of Casa Irujo would never grant the required permission, and I have been told that he gave strict orders to Señor Caballero about the matter. Now, if you think that by making application to Señor Pidal, his successor in office, you can get admittance for me into these archives, you had better do it at once. But if you are not sure of suc- cess, I had better try what I can do myself. I will call on Señor Pidal and tell him that I am engaged in writing a history of French Louisiana; perhaps I will raise no suspicions, and we shall obtain what we want. Whatever you determine upon I shall be glad to know it as soon as possible, in order to lose no time, &c.
PASCUAL DE GAYANGOS.
MARCH 31, 1849.
To R. M. SAUNDERS, Esq., Minister Plenipotentiary :
DEAR SIR: I have been lucky enough to discover, among a mass of papers lying in the greatest possible confusion in the office of the Min- isterio de Gracia y Justicia, Feccion de Indias, to which I had free access. duplicates of some of the very papers which I saw in the office of foreign affairs, and which have been denied to ns. Of course, I have not found the correspondence of Martinez de Irujo, our minister in the United States between the years 1765-78. or that of his successor, Gardoqui. nor the papers which are missing upon the secret negotiations of Briga- dier-General Wilkinson with the court of Spain.
The state of those archives, I am sorry to say, is as lamentably bad as any I have yet seen. Great masses of papers thrown confusedly on large deal tables or covering the floors of wide, desolate rooms; no indexes whatever, and the clerks as ignorant of Louisiana affairs as if that State had never formed part of the Spanish monarchy. Ihave. however, gained the principal point, which is free access to the papers. and permission to take with me a seribe, to take such transcripts as may be necessary; although I apprehend that, owing to the confusion I allnde to, it will give me immense trouble, and will take much more time than I anticipated. The archives. moreover, will be shut till after Easter.
As the sum appropriated by the State of Louisiana may not be sutti- cient to cover all expenses, and it is not probable that a fresh grant is mado, as I recollect my having told yon at one time that I considered the $2,000 voted quite sufficient for all purposes, I am willing to go on. working gratis, and to have transcripts made at my own expense, should the investigation I am now making in the archives of Gracia y Justicia de Indias produce more materials than the funds in your hands would
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THE EARLY HISTORY OF LOUISIANA.
afford transcribing, &c .; for, owing to the dilatory proceedings of our blessed government (I would rather call it disgovernment), owing to the number of archives scattered over the country, and last, not least, owing to ignorance of the archiveros, I cannot but help thinking that that much time has necessarily been lost which might otherwise have been most usefully employed, had all the papers been together in the same place, and kept with anything like order-and although it is no fault of mine nor of yours, yet I consider myself bound to make this sacrifice in behalf of the State of Louisiana.
I inclose the account for the last quarter, and shall feel obliged if, after your perusal and approbation of the same, you send me a check for the amount.
I remain, &c.,
PASCUAL DE GAYANGOS.
Reals.
Received on the 20th February, on a check on Messrs. O'Shea .. 1 1,000
For a quarter's honorary, at $1,000 a year
5,000
Paid for transcripts and paper ... 1,425
Carriage of a package from Seville by coach 39
Total 6, 454
Deduct
1,000
Balance due.
5,454
NEW ORLEANS, May 24, 1849.
To R. M. SAUNDERS, Esq., Minister Plenipotentiary :
DEAR SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2d of April, in which you inform me of the difficulties which Mr. dle Gayangos has still to encounter. He has already overcome many obstacles, and I hope that those which continue to be in his way will not prevent him from executing the task he has undertaken as com. pletely as may be desired by the State of Louisiana. I cannot under- stand the objection which the Duke of Sotomayor has to the examina- tion of the correspondence of his father whilst minister of Spain to Washington. That, in connection with the province of Louisiana, his father should have favored the interests of Spain in preference to those of the United States is but what was to be expected from a Spanish minister. It was his duty; and the proof it, far from committing his memory, would raise it higher in the estimation of his countrymeu, and could not be resented in this country. We are too patriotic not to appre- ciate patriotism in others. I still hope that the contracted view taken of this matter by the Spanish ministry will not be of long duration. and that Mr. de Gayangos will in the end be allowed to make as full an investigation in the archives as may be necessary for our historical purposes. The information which I have received that the transcripts of valuable papers have been made is highly interesting, and I am very anxious that all the copies on hand should be transmitted as soon as possible.
I am, &c.,
CHARLES GAYARRE.
22
THE EARLY HISTORY OF LOUISIANA.
To the Hon. CHARLES GAYARRE,
Secretary of State:
DEAR SIR: The inclosed letter from Mr. Gayangos I have this moment received. You will see what he says. I have only to remark that 1 think for the first quarter he did very little-so that, in fact, that should be considered. I have told him I cannot bind you for any further pay- ment: that when the whole business was complete the legislature would be able to decide what would be right. You will say whether I am to give the price, or what sum, for the work referred to, should the author consent in discharge of it.
As I do not expect to leave before September, I may possibly get your answer. If not, I would leave authority with my successor to open it, and follow your directions. I shall likely send the manuscripts with my own baggage to New York, where I shall leave them or have them sent over to you. I have paid to Mr. Gayangos the balance in my hands. A full statement shall be sent you when the matter is closed.
Very respectfully, &c.,
R. M. SAUNDERS.
MADRID, July 13, 1849.
To R. M. SAUNDERS, Esq., Minister Plenipotentiary :
SIR: According to your directions, I have placed in Mr. Sawyer's hands that portion of the Louisiana papers which are now ready, being chiefly selections from Seville and Simancas. I still retain some by me, as I find I must refer to them occasionally. I would have sent them much sooner -- indeed, almost immediately after yon expressed that wish-had I known then where Mr. Sawyer was lodging, but on calling at his old rooms in the Calle de Peligros, I was told that he had left, without any reference to the place of his removal, and I naturally con- cluded he was at Aranjuez.
That gentleman tells me that your departure being now postponed till September, you wish, if possible, to have all the papers for the end of the next month, in order to take them with you to America. How soon the work of revision and selection in which I am now engaged may be completed I cannot exactly say, but I do not think it can be done before the middle of October, owing to many reasons. First of all, I find that the archives are about to be shut for three weeks, being what is called summer vacations. Secondly, this department seems to contain as much interesting matter as any I have yet visited. Thirdly, the papers them- selves are in greater confusion than either at Seville or Simancas, being chiefly remnants of the various colonial offices which ought long ago to have been sent to Seville, but here remained behind by some unaccount- able event. Fourthly, the keeper hardly knows himself what papers he has under his care. Every second day I find on my table a large bundle of papers, most times without any label or ticket attached to it, and when that one is examined and disposed of another is brought in, with- out the least order as to chronology or subject.
You may easily conceive that under such circumstances, and there being not at these archives any sort of register-book or index to the Louisiana papers-which, by the way, are always mixed with those of Florida, so that I have always to separate them-it is impossible for me to calenlate the extent of the work to be done, and therefore how long I may be employed about it. All I can say is that I shall use all dili- gence and speed; indeed, it is my interest to do so, for as you will find
حقه عبدا الى: ايبيماساو س بن سرم بماش البطة +
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THE EARLY HISTORY OF LOUISIANA.
by the inclosed, being an account of the expenses incurred in the last quarter, I am actually working without renumeration at all, and I will continue to do so for some time to come, besides having to pay out of my pocket all expenses of transcribing, porter's fees, &c., which will form on the whole a considerable sum.
As I had once the honor of proposing to you, having perhaps impru- dently engaged myself to complete the examination and inspection of this department (Gracia y Justicia de Indias), I consider myself in duty bound to complete the same, whatever may be the personal inconveni- ence and expense resulting from it. But, at the same time, I do not feel myself obliged to do the same in the archives of the foreign department, should an order for admission be at last granted, as I have some reason to believe it will be hereafter, on my personal application. Nor do I feel bound to make any further investigations than those actually going on, and which, you may rely on it, will be done in conscience, and as accurately as if they were for myself.
I lay a stress on this circumstance, because, as I said before, I have some hopes of getting, at a future period, admission to the foreign de- partment, and will perhaps furnish you with a list of the papers relat- ing to Louisiana which are to be found there, and which you were offi- cially informed did not exist in the archives of that office: and I may. likewise, have access to a private collection of original papers belong- ing to a descendant of one of the governors of Lonisiana, among which there is, I am told, an : xeellent history of Louisiana, written in French, by a gentleman of the name of Senlis, in his own handwriting, being original, and never printed. The gentleman I allude to resides at Cu- enea, and is now traveling in France. He is not expected till the end of the year; but when he does return I will communicate with him, and ascertain whether he wants to part with the said papers, and what price he wants, and I shall not fail to inform Mr. Gayarre of the result. But should the owner of the papers refuse to part with them, and consent only to allow the perusal and copying of the same, I do not consider myself bound to inenr any more expenses or do any work without an adequate remuneration. This being understood, I will finish what I have in hand, and if, on the 1st of September, I should find that all the papers are not vet transcribed, I will only give you what I have, trust- ing to another opportunity for the departure of the remainder.
My account for the last quarter is 4,021 reals, but as there only re- mains of the appropriated money in your hands 2,641 reals, I must of course be contented with that. If my account of the sums received of von at different times be right, and I beg you to collate it and rectify the mistake if any, I will feel obliged by your remitting the said bal- ance, whatever i, may be.
I remain, &c.,
PASCUAL DE GAYANGOS. ·
WASHINGTON, November 14, 1849.
To the Hon. CHARLES GAYARRE,
Secretary of State :
DEAR SIR: I have the pleasure of informing yon of my having ship- ped by the steamer Ohio, which sailed from New York on the 13th in- stant, a box containing the documents as collected by Mr. Gayangos. I flatter myself you will receive them in due time, and if they shall
24
THE EARLY HISTORY OF LOUISIANA.
answer your expectations, I shall feel fully compensated for any trouble I may have had in procuring them. I forward a statement of the pay- ments:
With great respect. &e .. R. M. SAUNDERS.
R. M. Saunders in account, Sc., S.c.
May, 1-48. To bill on Baring Brothers & Co., received from Mr. Charles Gayarre . $1,000 00
1-49. Do. on J. L. Emné & Co. 1,000 00
2,000 00
May, 1848. By cash paid to Mr. Gayongas
250 00
August. Do ..
352 70
September. Do
239 25
Loss of exchange
3 15
November 8. By cash. do
50 00
January, 1849. By cash
450 30
February 15.
50 00
March
272 70
April
200 00
July
125 00
1,993 10
By expenses on box
6 90
2, 000 00
November 12, 1-49.
R. M. SAUNDERS.
NEW ORLEANS, November 26, 1849.
To R. M. SAUNDERS, Esq., Washington City :
DEAR SIR : It gives me pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th instant, and of the box containing the documents col- lected by Mr. Gayangos. Being busily engaged in the transfer of the seat of government, which must be removed this week to Baton Rouge. I have not had time to look into those documents. They shall be laid before the legislature at its regular session in January next, and I have no doubt that your services will be fully appreciated by that body. I cheerfully tender you my thanks for the very courteous manner in which you have received my applications to you on behalf of the State, and for the ability and untiring zeal with which you have carried on the negotiation which it became necessary for you to have with the Court of Spain.
I am, &c.,
CHARLES GAYARRE.
P. S .- I shall be under obligations to you for informing me whether the box I have received contains all the documents I am to expect.
5747
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