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Content Enable editor Use plain text Code entry Shortly after Don Juan Jacinto Rodriguez returned with hearsay from Georgia, Matheo Rodriguez prepared to sail his schooner from St. Augustine to Havana.* It was a chance to get a letter to Guemes. Montiano sat down and wrote as much as he could to update the captain-general.* Sir: In answer to Your Excellency's letter of November 24, inclosing a note, in which the transfer of the company of grenadiers is regarded as proper, and directing me to employ the news brought by the pilot as a pretext for sending (him) with it to Frederico or New Georgia, in order to make sure I have the honor to make the following statement: On January 18 I sent the adjutant Don Juan Jacinto Rodriguez with Your Excellency's letter, under the pretext of complaining to the commanding officers of those colonies, that Indians of their allegiance had murdered the Cacique Pujoy and the people with him. I further demanded the return of the Cacique's wife and of fourteen other persons, men and women, taken prisoners, a barbarous violation of good relations, and the punishment of the authors of this infraction, etc. Having arrived at Gualquini, a plantation of Don Guillermo Horton, Esquire, Governor of Frederico, Rodriguez gave him my letter, but was refused permission to proceed in order to deliver the remaining letters to Don Thomas Hauston, Esquire, Governor-in-chief of the entire province of San Jorge, and to Don Diego Gasgoine, Captain of the Manual* (man-of-war). In spite of all his efforts, permission to proceed was still refused, with the statement that within 21 days answers would be sent to San Juan; and as he could not delay so long without exciting suspicion, and now felt sure that he would not be allowed to continue his journey, as on former occasions, he decided to return, having verified to the best of his ability, the fact that no new fortification had been added to those he had seen the year before. He noticed, too, that according to appearances, they were living without care, or else making a show of it. While with Don Guillermo, he was told of the departure about five months ago from Holland of six ships of 50 or 60 guns to capture the coast guard vessel of Habana, because of the latter's seizure of a ship of great importance (muy interesado) and that likewise, a ship of unspecified nationality had sailed from Cadiz, with orders from the King that Your Excellency and Don Antonio de Benavides should meet to decide whether the prize was good. He also learned that three frigates had arrived with 350 laborers to work in the fields, and noticed that the Manual (man-ofwar) was not in its usual moorings, and upon asking why was told that she was careened in Savana. He adds that he was informed that the schooner of Devis was loading at Puerto Real for a journey to this point, and as the distance is only forty leagues, Your Excellency's long delay discourages me. That is why I renew my prayer to Your Excellency to deign to send as early as possible a vessel loaded with corn to keep us from perishing. This is all that I have by way of news for Your Excellency to whom I am always obedient, ever praying, etc. Florida, February 3, 1738. Montiano was still writing when Matheo had to leave to ride the tide through the shallow inlet. * Matheo waited long enough for Montiano to add a plea for corn, then sign and seal the letter.* I beg you will do me the favor to send by the earliest opportunity a cargo of corn to save us from perishing; these being all the news that I have to offer. Don Manuel de Montiano to Senor Don Juan Francisco de Guemes y Horcasitas

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