192 Mexico: Archivo General 
Tribunal de la Acordada. Colonial period. Numerous volumes. 
The Tribunal de la Acordada was in effect a vigilance committee. It 
developed from the Santa Hermandad, which had arisen in Spain 
as a private association and then was recognized by law and given 
privileges. The Santa Hermandad was established in New Spain 
in 1553 as a means of protecting the roads against highwaymen. 
Early in the eighteenth century the Tribunal de la Acordada was 
established as an independent court with extensive police and 
judicial powers. At one time it had over two thousand men in its 
employ. Later in the century its authority was extended to the 
frontier provinces, where it did effective work. The volumes in 
this section of the archive consist of expedientes formed in the 
Secretaria del Virreynato, section “ Acordada ”’. 
Tribunal del Consulado (Tribunal of the Consulado). Many volumes. Co- 
lonial period. 
Records of the central and local tribunals; reports of the tribunals to 
the central government, etc. 
The Consulado was a corporation of merchants with judicial powers over 
commercial affairs. But, while the protection and direction of 
commerce was the central object of the institution, its functions 
were much wider than this. It also performed the functions of a 
bank, a charitable institution, a contractor, a chamber of com- 
merce, and a trading corporation. Its records should be in- 
valuable for the study of the development of commerce in New 
Spain. See Ordenanzas del Consulado de la Universidad de los 
Mercaderes de esta Nueva Espafia (Mexico, 1772), and Recopi- 
lacion de Leyes de los Reynos de las Indias, libro ix, titulo xxxvi, 
ley XXviil. 
MISCELLANEOUS MANUSCRIPTS; unbound. 
On the second floor in the south room is a mass of miscellaneous papers 
having little bearing on the United States. The principal classes discoverable 
by such an examination as was possible while they are in their present state 
are the following: 
Fiscal Matters. 
Custom-houses (Aduanas), about 25 legajos. Circa 1830-1850. 
Royal Hacienda, several legajos. Miscellaneous papers of the ac- 
countant (contador) and treasurer of the Royal Hacienda during 
the eighteenth century; reports of collection of tithes and alca- 
balas. 
Reports of the Director Fiel de Moneda on gold and silver. Several 
legajos. 
Monte Pio. Several legajos. 
Books of coin and bars (Cizallas) delivered by the superintendents 
(capataces). Circa 1680-1700. 
Military Affairs. 
Registers (filiacién) of soldiers of lower ranks (bajas). 1830-1850. 
About 25 legajos. 
Military reviews (revistas). Same period. 
Service records (hojas de servicios). Same period. 
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