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Virginia Argus
Richmond, Virginia
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Bishop of Monterrey arrives at Natchitoches on the 11th ultimo with a large escort of sixty cavalry, pioneers, and followers from Nagadoches and St. Antonio. He travels in a coach and litter, with numerous mules for transport. Described as 45, European, former confessor to Spanish royalty, related to Prince of Peace, with jurisdiction over five provinces and $50,000 income. Stays four days, receives attentions, and leaves benediction. Carries scientific instruments; conjectures on political motives.
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Extract of a letter from a gentleman at Natchitoches, to the Editors. dated June 4.
" On the 11th ultimo, his illustrious highness the Bishop of Monterrey arrived at this place; he travelled in a coach drawn by six mules, and had the top of a chariot suspended upon poles like a litter, and carried by two mules along, in which he occasionally rode; he had an escort of sixty cavalry, a party of pioneers that went before, and was followed by a large number of persons, mostly inhabitants of Nagadoches and St. Antonio. He had sixty mules particularly allotted for his carriages which were changed frequently, and nearly as many packed with his baggage; he travelled eighteen or twenty leagues a day ; he wore the mitre and purple robe, appears about 45, is rather short and fat, of easy manners, facetious and agreeable in conversation, speaks nothing but Spanish and Latin, but reads French, and he surprised us all by the liberality of his sentiments or expressions. He is an European, was late confessor to the king and queen of Spain, and is said to be a near relation of the Prince of Peace; he has been about 5 years in America, has jurisdiction over five provinces, with an income of fifty thousand dollars a year. He stayed with us four days; we paid him all the attention our situation would admit; he appeared pleased; returned every civility politely, and left his benediction with us.
There has been a variety of conjectures relative to the objects of his visit to this place; some have supposed it more of a political than an ecclesiastical nature, and it was generally thought he would make as good a general as a bishop; he carried with him a Theodolite for taking the latitude of places and mathematical instruments, as well as the instruments of his order; he was requested to take the latitude of Natchitoches, which he said he would do with pleasure, but he had lost some screws out of the instrument that rendered it useless ; he said he found Nagadoches in 31 deg. 15 m. or thereabouts, which is somewhat south of this place."
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Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Natchitoches
Event Date
11th Ultimo
Key Persons
Event Details
On the 11th ultimo, his illustrious highness the Bishop of Monterrey arrived at this place; he travelled in a coach drawn by six mules, and had the top of a chariot suspended upon poles like a litter, and carried by two mules along, in which he occasionally rode; he had an escort of sixty cavalry, a party of pioneers that went before, and was followed by a large number of persons, mostly inhabitants of Nagadoches and St. Antonio. He had sixty mules particularly allotted for his carriages which were changed frequently, and nearly as many packed with his baggage; he travelled eighteen or twenty leagues a day ; he wore the mitre and purple robe, appears about 45, is rather short and fat, of easy manners, facetious and agreeable in conversation, speaks nothing but Spanish and Latin, but reads French, and he surprised us all by the liberality of his sentiments or expressions. He is an European, was late confessor to the king and queen of Spain, and is said to be a near relation of the Prince of Peace; he has been about 5 years in America, has jurisdiction over five provinces, with an income of fifty thousand dollars a year. He stayed with us four days; we paid him all the attention our situation would admit; he appeared pleased; returned every civility politely, and left his benediction with us. There has been a variety of conjectures relative to the objects of his visit to this place; some have supposed it more of a political than an ecclesiastical nature, and it was generally thought he would make as good a general as a bishop; he carried with him a Theodolite for taking the latitude of places and mathematical instruments, as well as the instruments of his order; he was requested to take the latitude of Natchitoches, which he said he would do with pleasure, but he had lost some screws out of the instrument that rendered it useless ; he said he found Nagadoches in 31 deg. 15 m. or thereabouts, which is somewhat south of this place.