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MONTIANO ACKNOWLEDGES THE RECEIPT OF ORDERS RELATING TO THE EXPEDITION AGAINST GEORGIA, AND REPORTS

Source: Collections of the Georgia Historical Society - Vol 7 #89

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From COLLECTIONS OF THE Georgia Historical Society, Vol. VII.

1742-3-12 MONTIANO ACKNOWLEDGES THE RECEIPT OF ORDERS RELATING TO THE EXPEDITION AGAINST GEORGIA, AND REPORTS HIS ACTION.
St. Augustine, in Florida
12 March, 1742.

The Governor, Don Manuel de Montiano, agreeably to the advice, that he must assist with all the forces possible in bringing to a happy issue an expedition against Carolina entrusted to the Governor of Habana,* reports that he has sent to the said Governor a return of the garrison
of that post [Saint Augustine] for the selection of the troops not necessary to its defense, to serve in said expedition, and anticipating a happy issue.
[*Navarro, in the MS. (Itself a copy of the original in the Archive at Seville).]

1742-3-12 Montiano to Campillo
Sir:
In a letter of the 31st of October of the past year, you did me the honor to say that the King had entrusted to Don Juan Francisco Guemes y Horcasitas, an expedition of importance which he would communicate to me as directed, and that toward the execution and success of this affair, I should, after leaving this post [Saint Augustine] in a state of defense, strive with all available forces, communicating all the information and advice expected, in order that action might be concordant and efficacious. And that His Majesty had commanded Your Lordship to convey this decision for my information to the end that the aforementioned Governor might treat with me with the punctuality called for by the royal service.

With regard to this determination, I have to inform Your Lordship, that as soon as I was informed of it, I set to work to acquire as much information as was possible; and, without losing a moment of time, nor engaging in any other matter, I passed my reports on to the Lieutenant General, Governor of Havana, offering my recommendations charged rather with hopes than with certainties. But it is impossible for me to say how contented I am with the great administration of that Governor General, who will so adjust his measures to action, as morally to persuade me that the favorable results expected are in my opinion almost inevitable.

In respect of other matters, I venture to suggest to Your Lordship, that, according to my comprehension of the case, the design of the King will be the antidote, the wholesome medicine, that will restore to health this debilitated and deserted Province, of good consideration; for Carolina once ruined and destroyed, the extermination of her colonial dependencies will follow, and all the slaves now under her heavy yoke will pass over to us. This is what they most desire: as they are numerous, we shall be able to make here many settlements, and turn their people to account in war. And what is more, it will follow that the Indians, no longer having anyone to instigate or protect them, will continue always with us in a state of tranquil peace; these Provinces will grow and people themselves, since they are all as it were paramos,* and families from Galicia and the Canaries will be able to establish themselves in quiet.
[*A paramo is a high, bleak plateau; the word is South American. Precisely what plains Montiano had in mind, of course, we do not know. In all probability he uses the word in a loose way.]

I am sending to the aforesaid Lieutenant General, Governor of Havana, a return of the troops of this post, and I leave to his judgment the selection he may, with due regard to the defense of this place, see fit to make for the contemplated expedition. This is all I have to lay of this matter before Your Lordship for the information of His Majesty.

That God keep Your Lordship many years, is my desire.
Saint Augustine in Florida, 12 March 1742.
Sir: I kiss your hand, being your most grateful servant.
Don Manuel de Montiano
[A flourish follows.]

To Senor Don Jose de Campillo.**
**One of the ministers of Philip V, remembered as the author of a book, "Nuevo sistema de gobierno eonomico para la America," published posthumously in 1789. In this work, Campillo criticized the system of colonial administration and proposed certain reforms, arraying himself against the military system of conquest followed in America. He argued that this system, however necessary at first, was now out of date, and pleaded for economical liberty.