Artist: José Joaquín De Arrillaga
Date: 1809
Museum: History San José (San Jose, United States)
Technique: Paper
Sargento Luis Peralta The Reverend Fathers of Mission San José de Guadalupe have brought to my attention the damage caused by the livestock at that town. They have warned the townspeople that if the cattle continue to damage the fences on a daily basis, they will be confiscated and killed. They will, however, permit the livestock that is already in the field to remain, so as not to increase tensions, even though the animals are damaging the pasture land. The townspeople responded that the owners should definitely be reimbursed for any cattle found within the fences which the mission should kill. The Reverend Fathers have told me that they are not in agreement with the proposed reimbursement. They say that they are suffering serious losses and that any cattle they find in the corn fields or pasture lands either will be killed immediately or penned up and left to die. But they are adamant that the Mission will not pay the reimbursement that the townspeople have proposed. You have been informed of this and of the fact that the Reverend Fathers have requested my opinion on the matter. I must instruct you that my position is the same as the practice that is followed in all New Spain, namely that the owner should take care of his land during the day and that from sunset to sunrise the owner should take care of and be accountable for his livestock. If during this time the cattle are penned up or killed, no claim or complaint whatsoever will be accepted. I also should warn you that the cattle that habitually break fences are exempt from similar rules. I am giving the same notice of my position on this matter to the Reverend Fathers for their information and management. It is your duty to let the townspeople know that they will not be reimbursed for cattle that are killed within the fenced area or that die penned up in the corrals. No complaint regarding this matter will be accepted from them either. God keep you many years.Monterey, January 28, 1809José JoaquÍn de Arrillaga
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