C-A 40 · Departmental State Papers, Benicia (Commissary & Treasury), Tomos I–III

Manuscript scans: this volume on the Internet Archive (digitized microfilm of the Savage transcripts).

Printable finding aid (PDF) — the full one-line record list with provenance, for offline use and circulation.

Notable documents

• 1826-07-11 · Herrera → Gefe Político y Comandⁿ Genⁿ (Echeandía) — The full Open-Door defense. Quoting the Comisº Genⁿ's 7-Dec reprimand (for letting the brig 'Anglo-Am. Nº 8' sell 'breaking the laws that absolutely prohibit this') and the Minister of Hacienda's charge, Herrera argues foreign commerce is 'the only resource the National Treasury has in this territory,' that the missions (its chief… (orig. p. 284–295) manuscript scan ↗
• 1833-11-28 · J. M. Mendoza → Sub-comisº de Alta Cal. — Sobre colonización. Transcribes Suprema órden: por orden de la Tesorería Gral (26-Jul) vía Comisario de Sinaloa (30-Oct); el Vicepresidente, en uso de facultades extraordinarias, aprobó la cantidad de $6,785 del presupuesto presentado por Dn José Mª Híjar (Gefe Político de Alta Cal y director de los establecimientos de colonización) para… (orig. p. 47–48) manuscript scan ↗
• 1833-07-17 · J. M. Híjar — PRESUPUESTO pª marcha y colonización en Californias (itemized, Pesos/Rs/Gs): Teodolito $310; 2 gasómetros $100; 2 barómetros de alturas $30; 2 termómetros $20; sextante c/horizonte; 2 cronómetros $350; 2 estuches matemáticos; 2 niveles de aire con anteojos $50; 2 portulanos; piedra artificial $10; 6 ejemplares del Sitkar[?]; 2 ordenanzas… (orig. p. 49) manuscript scan ↗
• 1826-06-28 · Herrera → Habilitados of SF, Sta Bárbara & San Diego — Held personally liable by the Min. de Hacienda (via Comisº Genⁿ de Occidente) for having let foreign ships trade 'against the laws,' Herrera orders the habilitados to bar any arriving foreign vessel from loading/unloading any goods until the Comandante Genⁿ rules (unsigned draft) — *the Open-Door tension: foreign commerce… (orig. p. 169–170) manuscript scan ↗
• 1826-09-11 · Riesgo → Echeandía — Customs-jurisdiction + politics: Echeandía suspended (by circular) the *derecho de internación* & *avería* on foreign goods; Riesgo defends collection citing soberano decreto Nº 70 & the *instrucción de comisarios* — import 25% / internación 15% + ¼ avería (art. 41); frames foreign traders as 'smugglers... prohibited by law, only… (orig. p. 198–202 / 210–214) manuscript scan ↗
• 1826-07-22 · Herrera (Comisº Provⁿ) → Circular to Habilitados of SF, Sta Bárbara & San Diego — Reversal circular: by the Gefe Político's (Echeandía's) authority and 'the impracticability of the laws on the matter,' foreign ships may continue trading as before until a resolution — voids his own 28-Jun prohibition; collect the 15% *internación* (orig. p. 332) manuscript scan ↗
• 1826-10-14 · Herrera → Gefe Sup. Político y Comandⁿ Genⁿ (Echeandía) — The presidial self-financing model laid bare: can't pay militia without supreme order; defense-works & garrison costs exceed San Diego's income; California's income 'generally doesn't cover its expenses' → each presidio sustains itself from its own maritime duties + eventual *alcabala* + the missions' tithes; Monterey too runs a deficit… (orig. p. 345–354) manuscript scan ↗
• 1826-12-31 · Maitorena (Comisº subalterno) — Complete 1826 customs ledger for the port of Santa Bárbara, ship-by-ship: *Washington* $193 · *Spry[?]* $723 · *Jackman* $448 · *Eliza* $1112 · *Fígaro* $533 · *Thomas Nowlan* $2199 · *Rover* $812 · *Courier* $1536 · *Olive Branch* $510 · *McCulloch[?]* $813 — gross ≈ $9,744 (less 3% = ~$7,223 net). ⚠ ship-name Savage renderings… (orig. p. 466 / 471) manuscript scan ↗

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