Missing Correspondence
Letters Referred to but Not Present in the Archivo Franciscano Ibero-Oriental Manuscripts
With the vagaries of climate, natural pests, problems in transportation, and wars,
it is not surprising that there are gaps in the documentary record. The list below
is intended to signal gaps I have identified in hopes that the items will be found.[1]
AFIO 22/6, Anda to Franciscan Provincial, 3 November 1762: reference to having just received the Provincial’s letter, but no date for that letter given.
AFIO 22/7, Franciscan Provincial to Anda, 6 November 1762: makes reference to having received Anda’s letter of 27 October 1762.
AFIO 22/8, Franciscan Provincial to Anda, 12 November 1762: mentions that he has received Anda’s order of 31 October 1762 referring to the need to retain the province of Tayabas for Spain.
AFIO 22/12, Anda to Franciscan Provincial, 3 December 1762: references letters from the Provincial of 12 November 1762 and 15 November 1762. The one for 15 November 1762 is missing.
AFIO 22/14, Anda to Franciscan Provincial, 29 December 1762: mentions Provincial’s letter of 21 December 1762.
AFIO 22/19, Anda to Franciscan Provincial, 13 January 1763: references Provincial’s letter of
1 January 1763.
AFIO 22/20, Anda to Franciscan Provincial, 25 January 1763: makes reference to a letter from the Provincial from Tunasan, but no date of this missing letter is given.
AFIO 22/75, Anda decree, Apalit, 27 January 1763. Responding to letter from Iriga, but no date other than January [1763] given.
AFIO 22/25, Anda to Franciscan Provincial, [8] February 1763: Anda refers to a letter from the Provincial of 26 January 1763. He also refers to a letter from P. Fr. Godoy, O.F.M., Comisario Provincial, Camarines, that the Provincial evidently enclosed. Both referenced letters are missing.
AFIO 22/14, Anda to Franciscan Provincial, 2 March 1763: response to the Provincial’s note of 13 February 1763.
AFIO 22/73, 24th letter, Anda to Franciscan Provincial, Bacolor, 1 March 1763: reference to Provincial’s letters of 20 February 1763 and 21 February 1763.
AFIO 22/73, 1st letter, Anda to Franciscan Provincial, 14 March 1763: refers to three letters from the Provincial, from 28 February 1763, 27 February 1763, and 6 March 1763.
AFIO 22/32, Anda to Franciscan Provincial, 14 March 1763: acknowledges a letter from the Provincial for 27 February 1763, which is missing. He also refers to a letter from himself to the Provincial dated 6 March 1763, which is also absent from the AFIO manuscripts.
AFIO 22/35, Anda to Franciscan Provincial, 4 April 1763: refers to Provincial’s letter of
26 March 1763.
AFIO 22/36, Anda to Franciscan Provincial, 4 April 1763 (again): mentions Provincial’s letter of 26 March 1763.
AFIO 22/45, Anda to Franciscan Provincial, 23 April 1763: acknowledges Provincial’s letter of 9 April 1763.
AFIO 22/51, Anda to Francisco de Brozas, 27 May 1763: refers to Broas letter of 2 May 1763.
AFIO 22/48, Anda to Franciscan Provincial, 8 May 1763: mentions Provincial’s letter of
6 May 1763.
AFIO 22/50, Anda to Francisco de Brozas, 19 May 1763 acknowledges letter from Brozas dated 9 May 1763.
AFIO 22/55, Anda to Franciscan Provincial, 6 June 1763: refers to letters from the Provincial dated 12 May 1763 and 14 May 1763.
AFIO 22/61, Anda to Franciscan Provincial, 25 August 1763: acknowledges letter from Provincial of 16 August 1763.
AFIO 22/52, Anda to Franciscan Provincial, 1 June 1763: references Provincial’s letters of
20 May 1763 and 21 May 1763.
AFIO 22/65, Anda to Franciscan Provincial, 21 September 1763: mentions letter from Provincial of 16 September 1763.
AFIO 22/67, Anda to Franciscan Provincial, 12 October 1763: refers to letter from Provincial of 26 September 1763.
AFIO 22/68, Anda to Franciscan Provincial, 25 November 1763: refers to Provincial’s letter of
8 November 1763.
AFIO 22/69, Anda to Franciscan Provincial, 29 December 1763: reference to Provincial’s letter of 11 December 1763.
AFIO 22/82, Anda to Franciscan Provincial, 7 February 1764, Bacolor, has reference to an enclosure that is absent from the AFIO mss. collection.
[1] Usually the Franciscans prepared two copies of all materials to be sent to Spain, one leaving via the galleons and the other going by the western route through maritime Southeast Asia, past India, around the Cape of Good Hope, and on to Europe. During the British Occupation, of course, this normal practice was curtailed. Even back up copies could be lost, as we see in this reference to materials dating from before the British attack: Certifico y hago fee en quanto puedo, y debo como N. Hermano fr. Miguel Sevilla Predicador y ExDifinidor me tenía; por Justos recelos de una tropelia, entrego de todo un despacho, que por modo de segunda via llevaba yo mismo para Mexico a N.M.R.P. Comisario General en el año pasado de sesenta y dos, y pude escapar de las manos de los Yngleses en la toma del Navio llamado SS. Trinidad, en el que iban varios y diversos papeles ya authenticos en debida forma, ya originales de todas las cosas acaecidas en esta provincia desde el mes de Noviembre de sesenta y uno, hasta el mes de Julio de sesenta y dos; y aviendose prendido fuego en la casa de mis principal mozada de la rancheria de Calumpang, donde tenia quardado con especial cuidado dicho despacho, estando yo ausente en la visita de las rancherias de esta Mision se quemo, con todo lo de mas, que en dicha casa avia, y de que nada se pudo libertar. Y para que conste donde convenga di la presente, que juro in verba sacerdotis ser verdadera, firmada de mi puño en esta rancheria de Calumpang en viente y siete dias del mes de Mayo de mil setecientos sesenta y quatro años. [Signed by Fr. Francisco Maceira] [On back = witnesses, Fr. Alonso de Fentanes, Fr. Francisco de las Animas, and Fr. Cecilio Muñoz] [Fondo Franciscano, Biblioteca Nacional del Museo de Antropología e Historia, Mexico City. Vol. 130, f. 220-220v, letter, 27 May 1764, from Calumpang ranchería, P. Fr. Francisco Maceira]. Since the Spanish Civil War also occasioned significant losses to the Franciscan manuscripts which had reached Europe and were then stored at Pastrana, it is perhaps a wonder that so much has survived at all.