Lote 492

✉ PUERTO RICO. 1511. June 23rd, 1511. CAPARRÁ (first name of the city now known as San Juan of Puerto Rico) adressed to "el Comendador Ochoa de Ysasaga, factor de la Casa de Contratación de Sevilla" (Governor of the House of Commerce in Seville). Complete letter with full text, written by Diego de Arce "veedor de las fundiciones de oro de la Isla de San Juan" (overseer, a position directly appointed by the King to control the smelting process of metals such as gold and silver). A very highly interesting early Transatlantic letter circulated only 19 years after the Discovery of America. Text of a great historic importance referring also to the "Almirante" (title of Diego Colón y Carvajal, son of Cristóbal Colón). In the letter is only mentioned June 23rd, without a year. It's known that Diego de Arce had the position of overseer from 1510 to 1516, which places this letter in the 1510's. He says that he just arrived to the San Juan Island, so we can deduce for sure that the year is 1511 or 1512 at the latest. Diego de Arce explains that, after leaving La Gomera (Canary Island) and travel through a terrible storm, he arrived to San Juan island and was very well received by its Governor, Juan Ponce de León. He also explains to Ysasaga that his friend Ponce de León just arrived from fighting against the indians and only received him thanks to this friendship. The letter praises Ponce de León as Governor and clever man of war, the indians usprised after killing Cristóbal Valdesoto but de León suffocated the insurrection. De Arce explains that the Governor thinks there are more islands to be conquered (Guadeloupe is one of them) and that it's better to conquer them from San Juan instead of from Santo Domingo, meaning in the name of the King instead of the "Almirante". This emphasizes the importance of the litigations that Cristóbal Colón began against the Crown and that his son continued after his death; his claimed was the promises of being Viceroy of the New World after his father. From this letter we clearly can deduce that the writter as well as the receiver, held their loyalty to the Monarchy. The account of events on first hand of the first europeans in America remarks the importance of this letter, not only because of his early circulation but also for the people involved in all the action what happened. Signed Alberto Bolaffi.