Lasaga, Diego
Proceedings about the burial of Diego Lazaga [Lasaga], Brigadier of the Army, Lieutenant Colonel of the Infantry of Mexico.
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1798 Jun. 4
Gayoso de Lemos, Manuel
New Orleans, (Louisiana)
to Father Thomas Hasset(t)
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
Gayoso informs Hassett about the happenings of May 28 at the funeral of Lazaga who died May 27. There seems to have been some discord between Father Ramon Palao, Collector of the Cathedral, and Father Luis de Quintanilla, O.M.Cap.), pastor. When Lazaga died, the chaplain of the corps, Father Sebastian (Gili) Gilis, his executor, went to see Palao and with his knowledge and consent arranged for the burial at eight o'clock the following morning with the agreement of the Commandant, Colonel Nicholas Daunoy, of the Artillery. When the chaplain went to the Cathedral, relying on the agreement with Palao in conformity with the briefs sent in favor of the Vicariate of the Armies that they might have free access to the church, especially for funerals, he encountered the news that Quintanilla, in spite of pleas, would not permit the burial until after the conventual Mass at nine. The consequence was that there was grumbling and scandal. Gayoso begs Hassett to repair the scandal so that it will not recur and that in the meantime the instructions sent to the sub-delegates of the Vicar General of the Army be carried out and Father Luis restricted in his ministry so that his misdirected zeal does not cause similar incidents. Gayoso asks in the name of the king.
L.S. (Spanish)
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1798 Jun. 5
Hassett, Father Thomas
New Orleans, (Louisiana)
to Manuel Gayoso de Lemos
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
Hassett has Gayoso's letter of yesterday and with his consent, Hassett will investigate the affair. Dispatches have been sent to the sub-delegates of the Vicar General of the Armies and the affair is to be fittingly repaired. Fran(cis)co Broutin, as notary public, certifies this.
L.S. Copy (Spanish)
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1798 Jun. 5
Hassett, Father Thomas
New Orleans, (Louisiana)
Hassett has seen a letter from Gayoso dated June 4, 1798 about Lasaga's funeral. This affair requires investigation. Therefore Hassett issues this decree and orders that there be added to it, the original letter of the governor and the copy of the answer and that Gily [Gili], Palao, the sacristan Jose, and Quintanilla are to testify.
D.S. (Spanish)
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1798 Jun. 8
Broutin, Fran(cis)co
New Orleans, (Louisiana)
Gily appeared before Hassett and swore that since he was in this colony he had dealt with Father Antonio de Sedella, (O.M.Cap.), pastor of the Cathedral, for funerals, without any trouble but since the bishop chose Palao as collector, Sedella has referred to Palao. At a quarter of eight, Gily sent someone to the sacristan to ask if everything was ready to which the reply was that the burial was not to take place until after the conventual Mass. The sacristan said that Palao told him to prepare the tomb and to inform Father Ubaldo (Delgado, O.F.M.) but said nothing about the hour.Gily sent notice to Father John Brady, (O.Carm.)), Father (Jose) Brion(es), Merced., and Father ( ) Suarez, chaplain of a convent, to come immediately to the burial. Gily went to the house of the Capuchins and asked Father Flavian (Flavien de Besancon, O.M.Cap.) and Quintanilla to attend the funeral. Quintanilla replied that it was not to be until after the High Mass and that Palao did not give orders there. After some argument in which Gily cited the scandal and inconvenience, Quintanilla replied that it was not to be until after the High Mass and that Palao did not give orders there. After some argument in which Gily cited the scandal and inconvenience, Quintanilla replied that the people and the battalion could wait. Gily found Hassett at the deceased's house waiting for the burial and asked him to give an order to help him. Hassett went to Quintanilla but they could not get him to accede to their request. Then it was nine o'clock and the High Mass began and when it was over, the burial took place. Gily is thirty-eight and signs as Sebastian Gili.
D.S. (Spanish)
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1798 Jun. 8
Broutin, Fran(cis)co
New Orleans, (Louisiana)
Josef Velasques, sacristan, appeared and swore that Palao came to the sacristy about five o'clock in the morning of May 28 and told Velasquez that he should prepare for the burial and to notify all the clergy, without stating the hour. After seven o'clock the chaplain of the Mexicans sent to ask if everything was ready; Velasques replied that it was ready as far as he was concerned. After the first bell for the High Mass, the chaplain came into the sacristy and told Velasques to give the signal for the funeral which would take place right then. He signs as Jose Velasquez.
D.S. (Spanish)
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1798 Jun. 8
Broutin, Fran(cis)co
New Orleans, (Louisiana)
Quintanilla appeared and swore that on the morning of May 28 he heard that Lasaga's funeral would be after the High Mass. When Gily came, Quintanilla replied that it could not take place until after the High Mass and the chaplain left saying that it would take place before. In the sacristy the question was taken up again. By then it was almost half past eight; Quintanilla forbid the choir and altar boys and two assistants to go out of the church for the burial before the conclusion of the High Mass. Quintanilla signs with Hassett.
D.S. (Spanish)
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1798 Jun. 9
Broutin, Fran(cis)co
New Orleans, (Louisiana)
Palao appeared before Hassett and swore that it was true that Gily came the night of the 27th to talk with Palao and told him that at eight the next day he wished to have the funeral, to which Palao replied that everything for the funeral would be ready but at seven in the morning Gily sent a message to the church and asked the sacristan if all was ready to which he replied yes without Palao telling him the hour which was not his obligation but that of Gily who should have arranged with the pastor about the hour. The assistant pastors and pastor knew that Palao never set the hour. Palao signs with Hassett.
D.S. (Spanish)
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1798 Jun. 16
Hassett, Father (Thomas)
New Orleans, (Louisiana)
In the meantime, the bishop having arrived, these proceedings are to be passed along with the political communication attesting that Hassett went to the Cathedral so that the High Mass being said, there might follow the funeral Mass for Lasaga and so avoid the accusation that Quintanilla had not complied.
A.D.S. (Spanish)
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1798 Jun. 19
(Penalver y Cardenas, Luis), Bishop of
(New Orleans), Louisiana
As a result of the proceedings instituted by (Penalver)'s vicar general at the complaint of Gayoso in his letter of June 4 against the person guilty of causing the disturbance on May 28 at Lazaga's funeral, (Penalver) states that agreement should have been made between Gili [Gily] and the acting pastor, Quintanilla, and not with Palao; the aforesaid pastor should not, because of this deficiency, have delayed the burial for the High Mass, especially when the vicar general urged that it be allowed to proceed, and so (Penalver) orders that it be corrected and that in like circumstances prudence should regulate action, and in all cases compliance be made to the orders of the superior and that (Quintanilla) go to the governor to make amends in person. Father Isidro Quintero, as secretary, certifies this decree and adds in notes that he notified Quintanilla and that on the same day he sent to the governor the official letter.
D.S. (Spanish)
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1798 Jun. 19
(Penalver y Cardenas), Luis, Bishop of
New Orleans, Louisiana
to Manuel Gayoso de Lemos
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
Consequent to Gayoso's letter of the 4th, proceedings were immediately constituted which were given over to (Penalver) upon his arrival. From these proceedings it seems that Quintanilla refused to suspend the High Mass that day although the vicar general had asked it of him. This was the cause of the disturbance indicated by Gayoso. (Penalver) has admonished and corrected the aforesaid pastor and arranged that he go to Gayoso to make amends and means have been taken to prevent such an occurrence which would not have taken place had (Penalver) been present. (Penalver) attributes it more to the pastor's disposition than to malice. Quintero adds that this is a copy of the letter sent.
L.S. Copy (Spanish)
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1798 Jun. 19
Gayoso de Lemos, Manuel
New Orleans, (Louisiana)
to Bishop (Luis Penalver y Cardenas)
New Orleans, (Louisiana)
The interest (Penalver) has shown in the remonstrance made to the vicar general about the happenings at Lasaga's funeral show the prudence which characterizes all (Penalver)'s orders and conforms to what Gayoso thinks about the matter. He can only thank him in answer to his reply of today.
L.S. (Spanish)
On the same paper:
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1798 Jun. 19
(Penalver y Cardenas, Luis), Bishop
New Orleans, (Louisiana)
(This is to be added) to the case.
A.D.S. (Spanish)
V-l-g L.S., D.S., A.D.S. copies (Spanish) and 46pp. 4to. & 8vo.
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