Letter of the Governor and Captain-General of Florida, Don Diego Quiroga
y Losada, to his Majesty--Giving an account of a custom obtaining in the
Garrison which endangers the safety of the people--When the Host is
taken out in the night to administer communion to the dying the bells
are rung until its return which is often hours, thus preventing the
hearing the firing of the sentries across the river who are instructed
to fire as often as there are numbers of vessels sighted--This danger
fully laid before the Priest, who refused to discontinue the ringing of
the bells, notwithstanding the city has been in arms awaiting the enemy
for some days--In a Cedula by his Majesty of July 18th, 1674, he asks
for a statement concerning the order and place of the Holy Tribunal of
the Inquisition--These questions answered by Severino Mausaneda March
17th, 1690--An account of a military review in St. Augustine by Governor
Don Diego Quiroga y Losada--Also recounts the great advantage to the
City by building a sea wall to extend from the Fort the entire length of
the City thus securing it against the sea which at present comes up to
the houses during a storm--The soldiers and citizens subscribe ten
thousand dollars, and the King is petitioned for aid that the citizens
seeing his Majesty’s interest will be encouraged to proceed--The King
rebukes Governor Don Diego Quiroga y Losada of the city of St.
Augustine for unjustly taxing the Indians--Misappropriating funds sent
by agreement for canvas and provisions for them--Not attending to their
wants and comfort and treating them alone as vassals--Extracts from the
investigations of the Council as to alleged excesses committed by the
Governor Don Francisco Moral Sanchez--His ill treatment of a Captain of
Grenadiers--Acting according to his own will and not to military
law--The Governor’s removal desired--A report according to the King’s
command concerning affairs under Governor Don Francisco Morales
Sanchez--Investigation shows that the facts set forth in the different
papers and petitions sent to his Majesty to have been only too
true--Impossible to put upon paper the strange, divers and extraordinary
excesses committed by this Governor--The abuses sufficient to chill the
soul and congeal the blood.