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Rivera y Moncada, Fernando de (1725-1781) to Antonio Bucareli

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC06287.06 Author/Creator: Rivera y Moncada, Fernando de (1725-1781) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 22 September 1776 Pagination: 3 p. ; 30.5 x 21.4 cm. Order a Copy

Discusses Native American uprising of 9 August 1776. Comments on differences between Christians and "barbarian" Indians.

September 22 of 76

Excellent Sir
There is work already being done making adobes to bring up the Mission, at the time I got news of the Indian uprising it was 9 at night and the 7th of the month of August. Not knowing their present state, I would have prevented it with cavalry, and sent the news with a dispatch with two soldiers to Corporal Diego Eloques who is at the Mission.
The following day I marched atop to communicate the news verbally to Mr. Diego, he asked me for gun powder (the one that the guards had as refill 6 pounds.) In my occupation I have increased guards, and from both I derive Your Excellency's testimony, and I prove individually without confusion that I was not in any state of power to provide one, or the other; we concurred in removing the people from there, and the removing of the captain from his crew and me and the guard of six men is being executed.
Hose does the worst to me by continuing the job in the same circumstances. It would be this way, if after a few mishaps he would give Your Excellency accounts that they had stopped, because by staying there a great part of the crew ordinarily came and went [2] as the Marines performed any diligence they wanted, and the distance did not go down from 2[0] leagues.
The cause of the recent occurrence is found in the declarations of which testimony has been remitted to Your Excellency. They say that I have the Gentile Captain of Rancheria de la Punta, this is the case Excellent Sir. I put the Marines at the shore in little water and a net to fish, a good part of that was stolen from them at night; it was offered that Captain Diego concur at this Presidio where he narrated what happened, seeming to me that the investigation corresponded to the [present] Missionary which I told the present Fr. Vicente over there. The present president responded directed it at me but I did not accept it. Firstly I examined these Christians, there were no real results, it became completely filled with those from the Junta and I sent for the Captain, it was still not investigated that it was they who did it, they blamed a Christian and before clarifying it, it was his Second in command and he called a meeting; I did not dare release him because you can not expect a good ending without major inconveniences with these barbarians, they attributed it to fear, they would be easier if they were insulted, There was no service alone for them, or to feel any charity towards them. It was on three occasions that I sent for the second in command and in each one he has escaped.
The Mission continued in this Presidio is the administered Indians, and those that inhabited outside, they come for [3] their turns at Mass, I have no complaints from the P.P. It will be placed in their old location, pulling together any unrest; and much will be contributed when the Presidio be free of the care of the prisoners; and it could be even more secured if it serves Your Excellency in fortifying it with some men.
God give Your Excellency's important life an extensive amount of years S. Diego and September 22 of 1776
Excellent Sir
At Your Excellency's feet
Fernando de Riv.a y
Moncada

Excellent Sir B.o Fr. D.n Antonio Bucareli y Ursua

Rivera y Moncada, Fernando Xavier de, 1725-1781

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