PASTRY WAR---MEXICAN DOCUMENTS

Monterrey, México: Secretaria de Gobierno del Departamento de Nuevo León, 1838-1839. Very Good. Item #83943

Set of 15 printed documents from the Government of the state of Nuevo Leon in Mexico regarding the war against France also known as the Pastry War, a conflict between Mexico and France in 1838-1839. Throughout the 1820's and 1830's, Mexico experienced political turmoil and constant rebellions by dissident army officers. Many people, including British, Spanish, United States and French residents suffered losses and damages to their properties and businesses during those revolts. Claims for compensation were made by diplomatic representatives, but with the Mexican treasury virtually empty, no agreement was reached. On 6 February 1838, a French squadron arrived on the coast of Veracruz, and on 26 February, Baron Deffaudis, senior French diplomat in Mexico issued and ultimatum to the Mexican government that, among other things, demanded 600,000 pesos in partial settlement of the claims of his compatriots. Included in this demand was one from a pastry chef who claimed the enormous amount of 60,000 pesos for alleged damage to his business. The Mexican Cabinet rejected the ultimatum, and on 16 April the French responded by breaking off diplomatic relations and blockading the port of Veracruz. Talks between the two sides failed and in 27 November 1838 the French fleet began to bombard Veracruz. The Mexican government declared war three days later.
Veracruz soon fell to the French, and the intermittent skirmishing during the next few weeks was insignificant except for one incident that became notorious in the career of Mexico's leading general, Antonio López de Santa Anna. On 5 December, he suffered a serious leg wound that required amputation. The severed leg was preserved and later placed in a mausoleum, a site of obligatory reverence as long as he was in power but later destroyed.
On 9 March 1839, two treaties were agreed with the French after mediating by British diplomats. They accepted arbitration of several outstanding issues and the payment by Mexico of 600,000 pesos in compensation. See Nancy Barker, "The French Experience in Mexico 1821-1861 (1979).
Text written by Michael P. Costeloe .
"Pastry War" Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture, Vol. 4 - New York : Simon and Schuster Macmillan, 1996, pp. 318
Contents include the following:

1. EL CIUDADANO JOAQUIN GARCIA, GOBERNADOR CONSTITUCONAL DE NUEVO LEON Á SUS CONCIUDADDANOS... Circular. (Monterrey, México), Gobierno del Departamento de Nuevo León, (1838), 1 lv. sigs. 31cm.
Printed broadside where Governor Joaquin Garcia informs the citizens of the State of Nuevo León the likely declaration of war against France. With rubric of Governor Joaquin García and of Pedro del Valle.

2. CON FECHA 13 DEL ACTUAL DICE EL ECSMO. SR. MINISTRO DE LO INTERIOR AL ECSMO. SR. GOBERNADOR DE ESTE DEPARTAMENTO LO QUE SIGUE... Circular. Monterrey, México, Gobierno del Departamento de Nuevo León, 31 de Marzo de 1838, 1 lv. sigs. 31cm.
Printed broadside informing the citizens of the State of Nuevo León that the Government of Mexico has not received any official notice from France of the arrival of French war ships to the port of Veracruz, although information to the contrary. With rubric of Pedro del Valle.

3. CON FECHA 27 DE MARZO PRÓXIMO PASADO DICE EL ECSMO. SR. MINISTRO DE LO INTERIOR AL ECSMO. SR. GOBERNADOR DE ESTE DEPARTAMENTO LO QUE SIGUE... Circular. Monterrey, México, Secretaria de Gobierno del Departamento de Nuevo León, 21 de Abril de 1838, 1 lv. sigs. 31cm.
Printed broadside informing the citizens of the State of Nuevo León the sudden departure of French Ambassador Baron Deffaudis and his ultimatum note to the Mexican Minister of Foreign Relations demanding a compensation of 600,000 pesos and other demands or possible war. Terms not accepted by Mexico until the naval forces of France leave the port of Veracruz. With rubric of Pedro del Valle.

4. EL CIUDADANO PEDRO JOSÉ MORALES, VOCAL MAS ANTIGUO DE LA ECSMA. JUNTA CONSTITUCIONAL Y ENCARGADO DEL GOBIERNO DEL DEPARTAMENTO DE NUEVO LEÓN. POR EL MINISTRO DE HACIENDA SE ME HA COMUNICADO CON FECHA 17 DE MAYO PRÓXIMO PASADO EL DECRETO QUE SIGUE… Decree. Monterrey, México, Gobierno del Departamento de Nuevo León, 7 de Junio de 1838, 1 lv. sigs. 31cm.(some stains and small 2 holes, one affecting one word of text, o/w very good copy).
Decree promulgated by President Anastacio Bustamante where the Mexican Congress will equip accordingly whatever ports are needed against the maritime blockade of the French naval forces. With rubric of Pedro José Morales and Pedro del Valle.

5. EL CIUDADANO PEDRO JOSÉ MORALES, VOCAL MAS ANTIGUO DE LA ECSMA. JUNTA CONSTITUCIONAL Y ENCARGADO DEL GOBIERNO DEL DEPARTAMENTO DE NUEVO LEÓN. POR EL MINISTERIO DE GUERRA Y MARINA SE ME HA COMUNICADO CON FECHA 23 DE MAYO PRÓCSIMO PASADO EL DECRETO QUE SIGUE… Decree. Monterrey, México, Gobierno del Departamento de Nuevo León, 28 de Junio de 1838, 1 lv. sigs. 31cm.
Decree promulgated by President of Mexico informing that the General Congress has declared that during the war with France the Mexican Ministry of Defense will be authorized all the extraordinary expenses requested. With rubric of Pedro José Morales and Pedro del Valle.

6. JOAQUIN GARCIA, GOBERNADOR CONSTITUCIONAL EL DEPARTAMENTO DE NUEVO LEÓN. POR EL MINISTERIO DE RELACIONES EXTERIORES SE ME HA COMUNICADO CON FECHA 30 DE NOVIEMBRE PRÓCSIMO PASADO EL DECRETO QUE SIGUE… Decree. Monterrey, México, Gobierno del Departamento de Nuevo León, Diciembre 16 de 1838, 1 lv. sigs. 31cm.
Decree promulgated by President of Mexico informing that the General Congress has declared war and has broken off any relation with France after French naval forces opened hostile fire against the port of Veracruz. With rubric of Joaquin Garcia and Pedro del Valle.

7. JOAQUIN GARCIA, GOBERNADOR CONSTITUCIONAL EL DEPARTAMENTO DE NUEVO LEÓN. POR EL MINISTERIO DE LO INTERIOR SE ME HA COMUNICADO CON FECHA 1° DE NOVIEMBRE PRÓCSIMO PASADO EL DECRETO QUE SIGUE… Decree. Monterrey, México, Gobierno del Departamento de Nuevo León, 16 de Diciembre de 1838, 1 lv. sigs. 31cm.
Decree promulgated by President Anastacio Bustamante informing that the country's state of war against France requires that all French citizens residing in Mexico will leave the country in the next 15 days, with the exception of those married to Mexican women or those with physical impediments. Those that decide to stay will receive the protection of the Mexican government. With rubric of Joaquin Garcia and Pedro del Valle.

8. DEBIENDOSE ORGANIZAR LA COMPAÑIA PRESIDIAL DE LAMPAZOS PARA QUE PRESTE LOS SERVICIOS QUE DEMANDA LA PATRIA… Circular. Monterrey, México, Secretaria de Gobierno del Departamento de Nuevo León, 17 de Diciembre de 1838, 1 fldg. lv. sigs. 21.5cm.
Decree of the State government regarding the recruitment of specific number of men from the different towns of the State of Nuevo Leon to cover loses of the Lampazos Military Company suffered during the French-Mexican war. With rubric of Pedro del Valle.

9. JOAQUIN GARCIA, GOBERNADOR CONSTITUCIONAL EL DEPARTAMENTO DE NUEVO LEÓN. POR EL MINISTERIO DE HACIENDA SE ME HA COMUNICADO CON FECHA 5 DE DICIEMBRE PRÓCSIMO PASADO EL DECRETO QUE SIGUE… Decree. Monterrey, México, Gobierno del Departamento de Nuevo León, Diciembre 24 de 1838, 1 lv. sigs. 31cm.(some waer stains not affecting text, o/w very good copy).
Decree promulgated by President Anastacio Bustamante informing the citizens that during the war the Mexican government will use what ever resources needed without suspending any already existing rents. With rubric of Joaquin Garcia and Pedro del Valle.

10. CON FECHA 3 DEL ACTUAL DICE EL ECSMO. SR. MINISTRO DE LO INTERIOR AL ECSMO. SR. GOBERNADOR DE ESTE DEPARTEMTNTO LO QUE SIGUE… Circular. Monterrey, México, Secretaria de Gobierno del Departamento de Nuevo León, Diciembre 22 de 1838, 1 fldg. lv. sigs. 21.5cm.
Decree promulgated by President informing an extension period for those French citizens that have not been able to leave the country from 15 to 70 days and the assignation of more departure ports. With rubric of Pedro del Valle.

11. CON FECHA 10 DEL PRESENTE DICE EL ECSMO. SR. MINISTRO DE LO INTERIOR AL ECSMO. SR. GOBERNADOR DE ESTE DEPARTEMTNTO LO QUE SIGUE… Circular. Monterrey, México, Secretaria de Gobierno del Departamento de Nuevo León, Diciembre 25 de 1838, 1 lv. sigs. 31cm.
Decree promulgated by President informing of new obligatory contributions to cover the army operating costs during the Mexican French war. With rubric of Pedro del Valle.

12. EL CIUDADANO PEDRO JOSÉ MORALES, VOCAL MAS ANTIGUO DE LA ECSMA. JUNTA CONSTITUCIONAL Y ENCARGADO DEL GOBIERNO DEL DEPARTAMENTO DE NUEVO LEÓN. POR EL MINISTERIO DE GUERRA Y MARINA SE ME HA COMUNICADO CON FECHA 4 DEL ACTUAL SE ME HACOMUNICADO EL DECRETO QUE SIGUIENTE… Circular. Monterrey, México, Secretaria de Gobierno del Departamento de Nuevo León, 28 de Abril de 1838, 1 lv. sigs. 31cm.
Decree promulgated by the Ministry of War and Marine offering amnesty to all those who deserted the Mexican army as long as they present in a specific term, otherwise will be prosecuted and imprisoned. Anybody that helps the deserters will be fined no more than 500 pesos. With rubrics of Pedro José Morales and Pedro del Valle.

13. JOAQUIN GARCIA, GOBERNADOR CONSTITUCIONAL EL DEPARTAMENTO DE NUEVO LEÓN. POR EL MINISTERIO DE HACIENDA SE ME HA COMUNICADO CON FECHA 4 DEL CORRIENTE LO QUE SIGUE... Circular. Monterrey, México, Secretaria de Gobierno del Departamento de Nuevo León, 21 de Marzo de 1839, 1 lv. sigs. 31cm.
Decree promulgated by the Ministry of Economy informing the Mexican citizens that the king of France is demanding the compensations for the corresponding war expenses, therefore the Mexican president decrees that all those Mexican citizens that believe they should be indemnified for their loses during the war will present their claims to the government so they can be processed in due time. With rubrics of Joaquin Garcia and Santiago Vidaurri (Oficial Mayor).

Price: $1,500.00