Heading: (Cuba)
Author: Carlos IV, King of Spain
Title: Decree regarding the treatment of prisoners in the Spanish colonies in the Americas, primarily Cuba
Place Published: Mexico
Publisher:
Date Published: 12 May 1795
Description:

2 pp. on both side of single sheet. Printed in Spanish, with 4 lines of manuscript at the top of the first page; signed in type at end "Bonilla" with ms. rubric, beneath the printed statement "Es Copia. México 12 de Mayo de 1795." 30x21 cm (11¾x8¼"), bound in modern marbled boards.

Rare decree promulgated by the Spanish King in September of 1794, relating to the treatment of prisoners in the Spanish colonies, in reaction to the arrival of two inmates from Guatemala in the Port of Habana, who were jailed in the Castle De La Punta and subsequently had to be treated in the Hospital of San Juan de Dios because they couldn't continue their trip without risk of dying. Because of this case, the Governor and General Captain of Cuba, Joseph Ezpeleta, wrote a proposal that was delivered to the King. The proposal was continued by his successor, Luis de las Casas. The proposal is regarding these type of inmates and also the "married in the colonies", who by Royal Decree, were obligated to be reunited with their wives (the document notes that said reunions generally took place in Cuba); the suggestion, which the King now orders by Royal decree, states that the inmates will have to pay their own expenses of transport and food and, but in case they have no money, the place were they belong or committed the crime will have to pay the expenses. The King insists that the inmates, to avoid injustices to them and elevated costs, can't be held in jails for unnecessary periods. We can find only one copy of the decree in OCLC, at Biblioteca Nacional de España, dated 1795 but with no place of publication; there are no copies of this Mexican issue, also dated 1795 but the place of publication clearly indicated.

The document begins: "El Rey, virreyes, presidentes y oidores de mis Reales Audiencias ... de la Indias, é Islas Filipinas, y de Barlovento. Con motivo de haberse arribado al Puerto de la Ciudad de la Habana dos Reos naturales de Guatemala, que no pudiendo mantenerlos seguros á bordo, fueron depositados en el Castillo de la Punta, y trasladados por enfermos al Hospital de San Juan de Dios ..., respecto que no podian continuar su viage sin riesgo de fallecer, propuso el Gobernador ... de aquella Plaza Don Joseph Ezpeleta ... la duda de que ramos habia de costearse el alimento, y conduccion á sus destinos, no solo de esta clase de reos, sí tambien de los casados ultramarinos, que conforme á Leyes y Reales Cédulas debia obligarseles á reunirse con sus mugeres ... habiendo muchos que carecian de medios para su regreso ..."

Fine condition.