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Javier
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posted 4/4/04 7:52 PM
Dear Ernie,Thank you for your lines.The Argentinean Government had a that seaman in high esteem due the services he paided to the Republic, services he offered by note dated 22nd june 1815, including his own bergantín “Invencible”.Please note that he obtained something that was extremely rare for a foreigner: he was granted the title of Coronel de Marina by Director Supremo Rondeau on 15th January 1820. The “Despacho” says he is granted the “grado de Coronel de Exército al servicio de la Marina Nacional” to the commander of “Fragata de Guerra del estado Heroína” (“...State War Frigate Heroína...”) -signed by Rondeau and Matías de Irigoyen-; I have a copy, the original is to be found in A.G.N. Sala 5-1-3). Please note that Rondeau had assumed the year before (the previous had been Pueyrredón) but that Irigoyen had remain in his position as War secretary. As such, he was in charge of giving direct orders to Jewett and so he is responsible of the order to rise the Flag in Malvinas. The campaign of Heroína was an unhappy one, as you well say: the second in command died soon, the CREW carried out a mutiny attempt (most of the crew were anglosaxons; but those who played the part of marines were not, as the troops on board were Argentineans, under Captain Laureano Anzoátegui and Tennants Pedro Vega, Luciano Castelli and Cristóbal Carnelia). Then, they had scurvy (escorbuto). After capturing “Carlota” and given the above mentioned problems, Jewett decided to turn south, towards Malvinas. ANY OTHER PERSON IN SUCH UNFAVOURABLE CIRCUMSTANCES would had proceeded to Buenos Aires. This tells a lot about Jewetts conception of DUTY!!! Before arriving to the islands he suffered a terrible storm, with serious damage to the sails and finaly arrived to Bahía de la Anunciación (Berkeley Sound, for you) on 17th October 1820, where he dropped anchor. He had departed with 200 men: fifty crewed the “Carlota”; he had only 32 sailors and 42 soldiers on board by now. This man had perseverated against all odds, he had been at sea for nine month in permanent tennsion, sleeping dressed and with his pistols at hand, vigilant to any noice, any attempt by his mutinous sailors. In such circumstances, I repeat, anybody else would had sailed directly to Buenos Aires. His was an heroic attitude.It was not him, but the mutineers who were trialed and convicted, being Captain Jewett behaviour approved. He later offered his services to Brazil and in occasion of our war against the Brazilian Empire, he gallantly refused to serve against us.The procalimed he issued was appropiate, informing those depredating the islands that his main aim was to avoid the destruction of those resourcesTeniente Coronel Guillermo Mason was our second authority on the islands.There has never been any doubt about our sovereignty in Malvinas.They were an effective part of the Vicekingdom of the River Plate as was Tucumán, Córdoba or Buenos Aire itself. It can be seen by LATER and EARLIER documents.1) Please note that our “Primera Junta” assumed on 25th May 1810. The first administrative act by it regarding Malvinas is signed by Cornelio Saavedra and Juan José Paso and dated at Buenos Ayres, 30th may 1810 (only five days later).2) On 30th january 1813, Captain Henry Jones (English vessel Rastrero) requested authorization to hunt seals in Malvinas.3) On 28th August 1823, the Government of Buenos Aires granted Don Jorge Pacheco his request to settle the islands, reconstructing the buildings (signed by Martín Rodríguez and his minister Bernardino Rivadavia).4) On 18th december 1823, the Government of Buenos Aires accepts the Commander proposed by Pacheco and Vernet, the “Capitán de Milicias (retired) Don Pablo Areguatí” (signed by Martín Rodríguez and three notaries). (*)5) There is a Government instruction dated 3rd december 1823 for Pacheco and Hobmung that states as follows: “(...) se reunirán todos los estantes (SIC) en la isla y Don Em° Vernet entregará a Don Pablo Areguatí el despacho de comamte [MY NOTE: an old abreviation for ‘commander’, not anymore in use] de la isla qe (SIC) le ha librado este Superior Gob°, haciendo saber su Decreto a todas las personas pa (SIC) qe (SIC) lo hayan tengan y reconozcan pr (SIC) tal comandte (SIC) afin (SIC) de qe se conserve el órden y se eviten excesos” [Oficio –letter- belonging to the “Borrador de Apuntes Interesantes ó Compendio de mis negocios” by Vernet in his archive or Colección Documental de A.G.N. S VII 2-3-46) Decree by Dorrego and Balcarce dated 5th january 1828 granting new concessions to Vernet.7) Finnaly, the historical Decree dated 10th june 1829, where among other reasons mentions: “(...) habiendo entrado el Gobierno de la República en la sucesión de todos los derechos que tenía tobre ESTAS provincias la antigua metrópoli, y de que gozaban sus virreyes, he seguido realizando actos de dominio en dichas islas [MY NOTE: islandS, in plural], sus puertos y costas, a pesar de que las circunstancias no han permitido hasta ahora dar a aquella parte del territorio de la República la atención y cuidado que su importancia exige (...) (**)Best, JavierNOTE: A.G.N stands for Archivo General de la Nación (*) Areguatí arrived to Puerto Soledad on 2nd February 1824 with Argentinean flagged vessels “La Rafaela” and “Fenwick”(**) I will do my best to write the full decree with a traduction to English ASSAP.
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