the faculties of intendant of the said province, you are to manage the affairs of my royal hacienda there, in conformity with the said regulation, and as your aforesaid predecessor managed them; it being likewise your duty, to devote yourself with the utmost zeal, purity and disinterestedness, to the defence and security of that province, and to the preservation of the most exact discipline, among the troops garrisoning it, as also to the extinction of unlawful commerce, and the punctual observance of my royal orders. I also command the said council, justices and magistracy of the said city of New Orleans, and all other ministers, sojourners and inhabitants thereof, and of the province of Louisiana, that as soon as required by this my royal patent, they receive and consider you as political and military governor of the said province and city, for the whole period above expressed, during which it is my pleasure that you should exercise that office, giving and securing to you, as well as to the deputies (tenientes) whom you have appointed, or may appoint, all the honours, favours, rights, privileges and immunities without exception, which correspond to the respective stations, the said deputies, and others of the said province, commandants, officers, and soldiers, considering you as such military and political governor, and obeying all orders which you may give them, for my royal service, verbally, or in writing. And the accountant and treasurer of the said province, is to give and pay to you, the sum of six thousand dollars, being the annual salary assigned to that office, from the day in which it is proved that you have entered into it, to the expiration of the said term of five years, more or less, according to my pleasure, out of any funds which are, or may enter into my royal hacienda, on due presentation of this patent, and of your receipt, without any other formality; which sum will be put down to your account, for your satisfaction; it being understood, however, that as security for your administration, according to the form established by the said Don Alexandro O'Reilly, a fifth part of your said salary is to be retained in the royal treasury, in each of the said five years, the sum assigned as duty of media anata, for the said salary, being also secured thereon, by the commissary and accountant of said duty, according to the terms of the royal cedula, of the 24th of May, 1778, together with the 18 per cent. additional, for conveying the whole to these kingdoms, as set forth in the regulations of the tariff, and various others on the subject-And note shall be taken of this patent, in the offices of the accountants general of distribution of my royal hacienda, and of my council of the Indies, within two months from the date thereof, otherwise it shall become void: note shall also be taken of the same, by the aforementioned accountant and treasurer of New Orleans. Given at Aranjuez, on the 8th of May, 1779.

Commission of Don Estevan Miro.

Don Carlos by the grace of God, &c.

Whereas, in consideration of the merits of you, Don Estevan Miro, colonel of the stationary regiment of infantry of Louisiana, and of the especial services rendered by you, when acting as governor ad interim of that province, during the absence of the Conde de Galvez, its regularly appointed governor, while commanding the army of operation in the last war-I have thought proper, by my royal decree of the 14th of July, of last year, to assign to you the governorship (in proprietad) of the said province.

Therefore, it is my will, that you, the said Don Estevan Miro, should be the political and military governor of the city of New Orleans, and the province of Louisiana, with a salary of four thousand dollars per annum, free from the duty of media anata; and with the indispensable condition, that the commandants of Pensacola and Mobile, are to remain immediately subject to your orders; and I command the council, justices, and magistracy of the said city, as also the other judges and ministers of the same, and of the province, that after you shall have taken before that assembly, the oath and obligation conformably with the statutes and customs of Spain, and according to the form established by Lieutenant General Don Alexandro O'Reilly, to keep the said city and province in my royal name, and not to surrender or deliver them while you live, to any enemy, or to any person whomsoever, unless he present a commission to that effect, signed by my royal hand, they shall leave you in full exercise of that office, for the space of five years, more or less, as may be my pleasure. All the fortresses, with soldiers, ammunition and artillery, of that city and province, being delivered up to you, by the person or persons, who may be charged therewith, to be used and commanded by you, in all cases and things pertaining to them; you also conducting the said military and political government in the same manner as your predecessors have and should have conducted it, and as all other political and military governors, of my kingdoms in the Indies do, and should; being subordinate to my governor and captain general of this province, the said Conde de Galvez, in political and military affairs, in all cases and things pertaining to the said office; you will, therefore, in all business and cases which may occur, conform to the orders received from the said governor, and captain general; observing in political and judicial affairs, the laws and whatever else may issue from the tribunals, and causing them to be obeyed in all things without exception, unless where I have commanded to the contrary; it being also your especial duty to devote yourself with zeal, purity and disinterestedness, to the defence and security of that province, and to the preservation of exact discipline among the troops in garrison there, also to the destruction of all unlawful

commerce, and to the punctual observance of my royal orders. I likewise command the aforesaid council, justices and magistracy of the said city of New Orleans, as also all other ministers, sojourners and inhabitants thereof, and of the province of Louisiana, as soon as required by this my royal patent, to have, receive, and consider you, as such political and military governor of the said province and city for the whole period above stated, or other during which it may be my will, that you should enjoy the said office; giving and securing to you and to all deputies whom you have appointed, or may appoint, all the honours, favours, rights, privileges and immunities, without exception, attached to the respective stations; the said deputies, and all other persons in the said province, the commandants, and military officers regarding you as such military and political governor, and obeying the orders which you may give them, either by word or in writing, in my royal service; the accountant and treasurer of the said province, are hereby commanded to give and pay to you, the aforementioned salary of four thousand dollars per annum, assigned for this office, from the day in which it is proved that you entered into it, to the end of your service, out of any funds which are or may be in my royal hacienda, on due presentation of this patent with your receipt, without any other formality; on condition, however, that as security for your administration, according to the form established by Don Alexandro O'Reilly, a fifth part of the salary for each year of your governorship, is to be retained in the royal treasury.

Note shall be taken of this patent in the offices of the accountants general of my royal hacienda, and of my council of the Indies, otherwise it shall become void. Note shall also be taken by the accountants and treasurer of New Orleans aforementioned.

Given at San Ildefonso, on the 31st of July, 1786.

Commission of Baron de Carondelet.

Don Carlos, by the grace of God, &c.

Whereas, in consideration of the merit and services of you, the Baron de Carondelet, at present governor of San Salvador in the kingdom of Guatemala, I have thought proper to confer upon you, the military and political government of New Orleans, and of the province of Louisiana, with a salary of four thousand dollars per annum, free from duty of media anata, on the going out of that office of Don Estavan Miro, who now holds it; it being understood that the commandants of Pensacola and Mobile are to be immediately subject to your orders. I therefore command the captain general of the said province of Louisiana, that after you shall have solemnly in his presence taken the oath and obligation (of which testimony is to be transmitted,) he shall give proper orders for

putting you in possession of the said military government of New Orleans, and of the province of Louisiana, keeping and securing to you, all the honours, favours, privileges, and exemptions which pertain to said office, and should be preserved entire, and without loss. And I command the chiefs and soldiers, residing in the said province, to respect and acknowledge you as such governor; and all who should obey you, from their station or military rank, to fulfil, preserve, and execute the orders which they may receive from you verbally or in writing for my service, without any reply or delay; you and they being also subject to the orders of the said captain general, or whoever may succeed him in that office; and it shall be your duty to advise him of all that may conduce to the security and defence of the said province, in order that he may inform me of what occurs, and provision be made for the same; on condition that in order to exercise the political government, within six months from the date of this document, you are to take out a patent for the same from the chamber as I have commanded; which unless you do, you are to enjoy no salary, either for political or military services; such being my will. The intendant of the said province is also to give orders that note be taken of this patent in the office of the principal accountants, for the purpose of making the allowance of the said sum of four thousand dollars, which you are to receive, on showing this, provided the other requisites have been complied with; the said salary being paid you, without deducting the duty of media anata, but without allowing you any other as political governor; deducting, however, to be deposited in the royal treasury, as security for your administration, the fifth part of each year's pay. And in order that the above be complied with and executed, I have ordered the present patent to be made out, signed with my royal hand, sealed with the secret seal, and countersigned by my secretary of state for the whole war department of Spain and the Indies; of which note is to be taken in the offices of the accountants general of values and distribution of my royal hacienda, and of my council of the Indies, within two months from the date hereof, in default of which it will become void. Given at Madrid, on the 17th of March, 1791.

Commission of Don Manuel Gayoso de Lemos.

Don Carlos, by the grace of God, &c.

Whereas, in consideration of the merit and services of you, Brigadier Don Manuel Gayoso de Lemos, governor of the fort of Natchez, I have thought proper to confer on you, the military and political government of the Province of Louisiana, with the salary attached, now held by the Baron de Carondelet; I, therefore, command the captain general of Louisiana and the Floridas, after you

shall have solemnly taken, in his presence, the oath and obligation, (of which, testimony is to be transmitted) to give proper orders for putting you in possession of the said military government of Louisiana, keeping and securing to you, all the honours, favours, privileges and exemptions, pertaining to the said office, without loss of any. And I command the chiefs and soldiers, whether infantry, cavalry, dragoons or militia, as well as all other military persons residing in the said province, to respect and acknowledge you as such governor; and all who should obey you from their station or military rank, to fulfil and execute all orders they may receive from you, for my service, without reply or delay, you and they being subject to the orders of the said captain general, or the person who may succeed him in that office; and you are especially to advise him, of all that may conduce to the security and defence of the said province, that he may inform me of what occurs, and measures be taken accordingly; in order to enjoy this political government, you are, however, to take out a patent for the same, from the chamber, as I have ordered, without which you are to receive no salary, for political or military duties, such being my will. I also command the intendant or minister of my royal hacienda of the said province, to give proper orders in the offices, for opening an account for the said salary, to be paid you from the day of your entering on the office, after the above requisites have been complied with; on condition that you are to pay the duty of media anata, as the salary is not purely military. And in order that the above be fulfilled, and executed, I have caused this patent to be made out, signed with my royal hand, sealed with my secret seal, and countersigned by my secretary of state, for the whole war department, all of which, note is to be taken, in the office of the accountant general of values, and the distribution of my royal hacienda, and of my council of the Indies, within two months, from the date thereof, in default of which this commission becomes void.

Given at San Lorenzo, on the 28th of October, 1796.

Commission of Don Manuel Juan de Salcedo.

Don Carlos, by the grace of God, &c.

Whereas in consideration of the merit and services of you Don Manuel Juan de Salcedo, colonel of infantry, and lieutenant of the king for the station of Teneriffe, I have thought proper to raise, and appoint you to be military and political governor of New Orleans, which office is now vacant, from the death of Brigadier Don Manuel Gayoso de Lemos.

Therefore I command the captain general of the province of Louisiana, that after you shall have taken before him the proper oath, (of which proof must be transmitted to us) he should put you VOL. II.

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