Correspondencia, que precedio à la Capitulacion de la Plaza de la Habana, y Esquadra de S. M. entre sus respectivos Governador, y Gefe, y los Comandantes del Exercito y Esquadra Inglesa, en los dias 10. 11. y 12. de Agosto de 1762. Oficio del Comandante del exercito Ingles, dirigido al Governador de la Plaza, solicitando su rendicion; y Respuesta del Governador, negandose à executarlo. Presentados, el primero Original con su traduccion, y esta en Copia rubricada por el referido Governador Don Juan de Prado à la Pregunta 207. de u Confession.
[S.l. (Madrid?)]: [s.n.], [no date, but 1763]. First edition. In later cardboard with title vignette on front panel. 11 [1] p. Light water stain at the gutter, otherwise in fine condition.
This scarce pamphlet contains the printed copy of the correspondence of three days preceding the surrender of Havana on August 13, between George Pocock and George Keppel on the British and Juan Prado on the Spanish side; the British terms of the capitulation; Prado’s testimony at the court concerning the capitulation; and the testimony of his notary Ignacio de Ayala. Supposedly printed only for the court’s use, thus in very limited numbers, during the large-scale and lengthy trial aftermath of the surrender.
Before Spain entered into the ongoing global conflict, the Seven Years’ War on France’s side in 1762, Charles III of Spain sent a flotilla under the command of Admiral Gutierre de Hevia to Havana to defend the city, and ordered to strengthen Cuba’s fortresses against an expected offensive of the British navy. For managing the fortification works Juan de Prado was appointed as Captain General of Cuba and arrived at Havana in February 1761 with his main confidant and assistant, Captain Don José (Joseph) García Gago, and Balthasar Ricaud de Tirgale the chief architect of the project. The improvement of the fortifications began immediately after their arrival, but soon an epidemic of yellow fever hit the city, the construction slowed down and remained incomplete at the time of the British attack, commanded by George Pocock and George Keppel, 3rd Earl of Albemarle, on June 6, 1762. After six weeks of fighting, the city surrendered on August 13. The British gained control over the most important harbor in the Spanish West Indies, seized one-fifth of the strength of the Spanish Navy, and obtained possession over the city’s military equipment, and its economic and financial assets. The surrender of Havana and a few weeks later Manila (6 October 1762), the capitals of the West and East Indies, was an enormous loss of prestige for Spain which hammered a nail into the coffin of the Spanish Empire and proved the British naval supremacy. The two cities eventually returned to Spain as a result of the 1763 Treaty of Paris, which concluded the Franco-British conflicts of the Seven Years’ War. After the surrender, the Spanish military and civil leaders involved in the defense were tried before a court martial in Madrid. Prado, Hevia, and nine other officials were accused of treason. Prado was found guilty, and sentenced to death, but was reprieved, and died in prison. Hevia was condemned to house arrest for 10 years and the loss of his office and titles but was later pardoned and reinstated. Others were dismissed from office or sentenced to less severe penalties.
An extremely scarce and important document, we could not trace any copies in institutional holdings.
Extremely scarce document related to the treason trial of the Spanish officials after the Siege and Surrender of Havana in 1762.
Price: €3,000.00