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Spanish documents concerning Florida and the West Indies
mssHM 9471-9548
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Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Spanish documents concerning Florida and the West Indies
Identifier/Call Number: mssHM 9471-9548
Physical Description:
1.2 Linear Feet
(86 pieces in 1 box )
Date (inclusive): 1783-1787
Abstract: This collection contains 86 pieces of official documents, in Spanish, related to the 1783 Treaty of Versailles, particularly
in relation to Spanish possession in West Indies.
Language of Material: Spanish.
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader
Services.
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material,
nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and
obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
[Identification of item]. Spanish documents concerning Florida and the West Indies, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Purchased from the Maggs Bros., 1926.
The Treaty of Versailles of September 3, 1783, which recognized the independence of the thirteen colonies, also ended hostilities
between European powers. According to the treaty, Spain recovered Minorca and East Florida. The Treaty was preceded by separate
preliminary articles that France and Spain signed on January 20, 1783. Yet Americans were hostile to Spanish control. They
began to expand into Florida, first gaining territory called the Yazoo Strip through the Treaty of Lorenzo (Pinckney's Treaty)
in October 1795. By 1821, Spain agreed, by the Adams-Onís Treaty, to the cession of Florida to the United States.
This collection contains official documents related to the 1783 Treaty of Versailles, particularly in relation to Spanish
possession in West Indies. Included are original notifications about the cessation of hostilities directed to the Spanish
overseas governors, the Minister of Marine and officers commanding the armed forces from the royal administration and Council
of Indies; the acknowledgements and correspondence thereon; the text of two of the Articles of the Peace Treaty, and official
proclamations, including a text that had been published without the consent of the King and was later withdrawn and destroyed.
Prominent authors include: Juan Antonio Enriquez, Pedro Castejón, José Moffino, and Francisco Xavier Morales.
Some notable items include:
- Enriquez, Juan Antonio. Proclamation of the Peace between Spain and England (1783, Feb. 5). Note: This document was printed and posted in Seville by Enriquez, Minister of Marine at Seville, but was withdrawn and destroyed by the command of the king.
- Castejón, Pedro, marqués de, 1719-1783. To Don Juan Antonio Enriquez. Draft of a letter from the king's secretary reprimanding Enriquez for exceeding the limits of his authority in publishing the news of the peace (1783, Feb. 11).
- Enriquez to Castejón. Letter vindicating his action, and begging intercession in his behalf (1783, Feb. 19).
Arranged chronologically.
Articulos preliminares de paz entre el Rey Nuestro Señor y el Rey de la Gran Bretaña : firmados en Versalles en 20 de enero
de 1783 [Madrid, 1783] was removed from mssHM 9500 and cataloged separately: call number: 653907.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Great Britain. Treaties, etc. Spain, 1783 Sept. 3.
Spain. Sovereign (1759-1788 : Charles III) -- Archives
Spain. Sovereign (1788-1803 : Charles IV) -- Archives
Florida -- History -- Spanish colony, 1784-1821 -- Sources
Spain -- Colonies -- America -- History -- 18th century -- Sources
Spain -- Foreign relations -- Great Britain.
Spain -- Politics and government -- 1759-1788 -- Sources
West Indies -- History -- 18th century -- Sources
Government records Spain -- 18th century
Letters (correspondence) Spain -- 18th century
Military records Spain -- 18th century
Official documents Spain -- 18th century