(Penalver y Cardenas), Luis, Bishop of
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
to Diego Lazaga [Lasaga]
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
In a letter of the 13th, Lazaga asked for a copy of the letter written June 28, (1797) by Father Sebast(i)an Gili, chaplain of the Second Battalion of the Regiment of Mexico as follows: "On March 2, I made known to all the members of this battalion of fulfilling the annual precept of Confession and Communion and the results being small, I complained to the Commandant of the battalion who on May 24 gave an order that all who had not complied with the precept, do so within the set time and turn the certification over to me to affirm that it was carried out, as is attested by the persons whose names I enclose. New Orleans, June 28, 1797. Sebastian Gili to Luis Penalb[v]er." Lazaga also asked for an account of the replies given the 13th by the same chaplain to the charges made by Lazaga in (Penalver)'s presence. (Penalver lists the 7 charges and replies in this matter of Easter duty). Since from the notice given Lazaga June 18, (17)96 that only 56 out of the 285 in the battalion had complied and from Lazaga's reply that he would take the means necessary, the result was that only one complied by August 5 when the chaplain turned over the lists, (Penalver) believes that another letter for '97 would produce no better result. Governor Baron (Francisco Luis Hector de) Carondelet in answer to a letter of '96 told (Penalver) that he had nothing to do with Lazaga's corps outside of inspection. That year only 57 complied and the following year 14. Since the transgression is becoming worse, (Penalver) finds it necessary to apply to a higher authority to carry it out.
L.S. Copy (Spanish)
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1798 Jan. 13
Lasaga, Diego de
New Orleans, (Louisiana)
Lasaga understands that Gili on June 28 sent (Penalver) a letter about the Easter duty for the year. Lasaga asks for a copy of it and also asks (Penalver) to tell him what Gili replied to the charges by Lasaga about the standing of the battalion.
A.L.S. (Spanish)
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1797 Dec. 2
Branciforte, Marq(ue)s de
( )
to Bishop (Luis Penalver y Cardenas
New Orleans, Louisiana)
Knowing all that (Penalver) told in his letter of August 2 and agreeing with his opinion, Branciforte today sent admonitions to the Colonel of the Mexican Infantry, Fran(cis)co Villalba and to Lazaga, as in the two copies enclosed. He hopes that these orders and the letter sent to the Governor, of which he also encloses a copy, will remedy the grave faults.
L.S. (Spanish)
Enclosure:
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1797 Dec. 2
Branciforte, (Marques de)
( )
to Diego de Lasaga
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
Branciforte has a document stating that in the year just past only 57 made their Easter duty and 14 in this year. Lasaga has a grave responsibility to see that his subjects fulfill their duty. Branciforte hopes that Lasaga will inform him of the causes which have made almost all delinquent and of the means he has taken for reform. Antonio Bonilla states that this is a copy.
L.S. Copy (Spanish)
Enclosure:
--------
1797 Dec. 2
Branciforte, (Marques de)
( )
to Fran(cis)co de Villalva
( )
So that Villalva will personally take the means as colonel of the Mexican Infantry, Branciforte sends him a copy of the order which he sent to Lazaga, Lieutenant of the same corps and Commandant of its Second Battalion, stationed in Louisiana. Almost all of the members have failed for two years to make their Easter duty.
L.S. Copy (Spanish)
Enclosure:
--------
1797 Dec. 2
Branciforte, Marques de
( )
to (Baron Francisco Luis Hector Carondelet
New Orleans, Louisiana)
Branciforte has been advised that (Penalver) appealed to (Carondelet) or his predecessor, to which the reply was that the governor has nothing to do with the corps except inspection. Since (Carondelet) is authorized to give military orders he should remedy this without waiting for the Viceroy of New Spain or the Inspector, if there is one, because the leaders are separated by considerable distance and cannot take prompt measures. Branciforte hopes that (Carondelet) will provide a remedy letting Branciforte know the results.
L.S. Copy (Spanish)
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1797 Aug. 20
(Penalver y Cardenas), Luis, Bishop of
New Orleans, Louisiana
to Marquez de Branchiforte
( )
(Penalver) engages the attention of Branchiforte about the Second Battalion whose habits are very dissipated. Of the 311 persons in the list sent, only 14 have made their Easter duty. Last year 57 did so. (Penalver) judged it useless to repeat his letters to the Governor and Lasaga although the chaplain did so on the 2nd. The officers cannot exhort the soldiers to fulfill their duty when they themselves are transgressors. (Penalver) cannot use canonical punishments; the scandal it would cause, the number involved, and the nature of the place in which sects thrive, have made censures subject to ridicule. Only Branchiforte can apply the remedy.
L.S. Draft or Copy (Spanish)
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1797 Jun. 28
Gili, Father Sebastian
New Orleans, (Louisiana)
to Bishop Luis de Penalver
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
On March 2, Gili informed all members of this battalion about their Easter duty, repeating it on three days. Seeing the small effect, he appealed to the Commandant who on May 24 gave an order that all should comply and give Gili the card which would certify this. Those persons did so whose names are enclosed. (13 names are listed for the year 1797).
A.L.S. (Spanish)
V-l-g L.S. Copy, A.L.S., L.S. Draft or Copy (Spanish) 19pp. 4to. &
8vo.
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