Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-10
LIBRARY RECEIVES
HISTORIC PAPERS
Edward S. Hardness Pre-
SentS Original Documents of
Mexico and Peru.

new YORK, mas pfouGnt 10 the ulSLlLu-
ton two more lots of contemporary
papers experimenting the great dona-
ton Of Mr.. Hardness q year ago OF
two collections Of original documents
dealing with Mexico and Peru at the
time of their conquest and occupation
by Cortez and Pizarro and their sue
cessors.
From an historical viewpoint, these
gifts are held by the Library authorities
as altogether unequaled among the gifts
which have accompanied its eXtraor-
binary DEVELOPMENT in recent years.
The papers in all four lots long re-
NAMED unknown. Following their dis
covery they we're acquired eventually by
Mr. Hardness. They contain much that
was unknown to the earlier historians
of Spain In the New World, and are
the documentary bases for the re-
creation of the life In the settlements
that were established and populated by
the stout adventures and those who
came after them.
Papers Dated in 1881.
Among the Peruvian papers are two
dated at CoaQui in 1881, one on Septem-
Der 10, the other on September H..
Pizarro, sailing beneath consecrated
banners. and with shining visions Of
untold wealth drawing him on, had
started from Panama in January of
that year, The manuscripts received
from Mr.. Hardness in the FIRST gift
contain an important group of letters
and papers dated at Coaqui between
April 10 and June IS. 1881. These two
additional papers are dated three
months later. Eight months had now
gone by since the ecclesiastical benedic-
ton on the expedition was pronounced;
the documents Of September 10 and II
reveal the constant thought Of gold.
The first of these is q promise by
Tore so pesos in the precious metal
from the first money or treasure gained
IN the sought-for land of Ell Dorado.
The note is Endorsed by Francisco
Martin Alburrar The other document
is an "act of company" for four years,
between Alfonso Ximines and Alfonso
Lopez to share equally during that
period in all that they may gain.
Francisco Pi2arro'S name appears in
q letter signed at Lima July 4, 1887, by
Juan Rubio, addressed to Cristoval de
Purgos and to "the very magnificent
Senior Don Francisco Pizarro, governor,
adelantado, and captain general of this
province of New CASTLE for His Maj
esty," who, in the authorization con-
ferred by the letter, we're to have power
to act for Rubio. Pizarro himself is
the signer of a letter, dated Lima Sep
TENDER 49, 1887, in which he inStruetS
his solicitors in Spain. Francisco NAL
donado, Francisco Calderon, Antonio
PelleZ and fernando de CevalloS, to
present an account of his many services
in Peru TO the Emperor. and to ask
recompense for them. The commission
was successfully executed and the CRATE
full heart of Charles v responded with
a new coat-of-arms for Pizarro and q
narQuisate.
COnquerOrs Represented.
Many other conquerors are also rep
resented in these manuscripts. A docu-
ment of August 20. l548. bears the au-
tograph of Nicolas de Ribera, the elder,
one of the undaunted thirteen" who,
on the Isla de Gallo, crossed the line
which Pizarro had drawn on the sand
and cast their lot with him. A letter
of September is, 1880, is from Herman
Mexia, who, as governor Of Nombre de
Dios, the important approach TO Peru,
turned from GonZalo Pi2arro and gave
his aid to the reformer Pedro de la
Gasca, shortly before named by Charles
v as president Of the Royal Audiencia.
Ten letters or other documents, dated
between 1882 and 1895, signed by the
Adelantado Aware de Mendana, deal
with his projected voyages and plans
for the colonization of islands in the
South Sea, and for the further expan-
sion Of SPANS imperial domains to
some possible still richer region thought
to be within easy sail of Peru. An
earlier voyage by Mendana, begun in
November. 1867, undertaken with the
proclaimed purpose Ito convert all in
fidelS to Christianity" resulted In find
ing that On certain islands which he
had discovered, and on which he lost
several of his crew. the intransigent in
fidels were eannibals. The marvellous
stories that Mendana brought back of
the wealth of those islands gave rise
to the belief among the credulous that
they We're the source of the gold that
adorned Solomon'S Temple. So it came
about that the islands came to be called
the Solomon Islands.
On his last voyage, Still dreaming his
dreams OF colonization and a yet vaster
empire, Mandana discovered the Mar
quesas Islands, which he so named in
honor Of the wife of his patron, the
viceroy Garcia Hartado de Mendoza,
Marquise de Canete. On this voyage
Mendana died. His widow. Dona Isa-
bel de Barreto, a woman of unusual
force and redoubtable courage, took
command of one OF his surviving ships
and sailed onward with 1t, reaching at
last haven in Manila Bay.
Warning 10 Ship Owners.
The manuscripts relating to Mexico
are also much diversified An interest
ing example is warning issued at Vera
Cruz, October ~, 1896 by Francisco
Lopez Robellero, acting for the inquisi-
ton. and addressed TO ship owners,
merchants, passengers, and others,
stating that all boxes containing books
and images brought on ships entering
the port of Vera Cruz must be brought
before him to be sealed and then for
warded to the city Of Mexico for inspec-
ton by the inquisitors, under penalty
of accommodation and a fine Of 100
pesos in gold. Accompanying this
document is declaration stating that
1T was read october %. 1886. at the
cathedral of Vera Cruz in the presence
of large congregation.
Others of the manuscripts in the
Mexican lot deal with the affairs of
individuals and families: some of them
with ecclesiastical and legal concerns.
In various instances witnesses arc
brought forward whose testimony helps
to establish facts of value to the his
torian of the events of the century fol-
lowing the conquest, and especially SO II
he Is writing of the laws and institutions
that were the fabric Of the new civiliza-
ton. ,..
The legal material adds TO the already
extraordinary collection of the kind in
the lot previously received from Mr.,
Hardness. AS study of the manuscripts
in this 10th proceeded at the library,
there have been constant disclosures Of
the primary Importance of these papers
for all future students of the period, of
special events of the period, of
which these manuscripts are concerned
Almost entirely dealing, as they do, with
a series of cases at law between the
years of 1531-l586. in which some of
the most conspicuous and most famous