THE BIBLIOTECA NACIONAL. 
(THe NATIONAL LIBRARY. ) 
The Biblioteca Nacional is located in the old Colegio de los Santos on the 
corner of Calles de San Agustin y San Agustin. It is open to the public regu- 
larly from g a.m. to5 p.m. There is also a night reading room, open from 
6 p.m. tog p.m. 
The nucleus of the library consisted of the libraries of the Colegio de los 
Santos and of the Royal University of Mexico, but it is evident that many 
things once in the library of the University are not now in the Biblioteca 
Nacional. The number of manuscripts preserved there bearing directly on 
the history of the United States is small, but some of them are important. 
Most of them are kept in the private office of the Director, and are available 
only when this official is present. A few of the manuscripts are listed in the 
History Division of the library’s catalogue (Novena Division), and others 
will be included in the forthcoming Division of Jurisprudence. 
PRINCIPAL ITEMS. 
The following items of interest were noted: 
“Firmas Autografas.” 2 vols. Original signatures of persons prominent 
in the history of New Spain from the time of Cortes to the nine- 
teenth century. To procure them valuable manuscripts have 
doubtless been mutiliated. 
“Papeles Varios Tocantes al Real Patronato.” Vol. 4. Royal cédulas and 
other documents, beginning in 1580. 1 vol. 
Autos executed on the occasion of commending the natives of the pueblo of 
Vigan, province of Ylocos, to General Francisco Garcia del 
Fresno. 1669. Ivol. 755 ff. (Official copy.) 
“Libro 4° de Titulos de los Ministros del Distrito de esta Inqq°® de Mexico. 
Afio de 1700.” (Original.) 1 vol. 
“Luz de Tierra Incognita”’, Libro I., by Mange. 1720. (Copy.) 1 vol., 
octavo. 
(This work covers the history of discovery in the northwestern part of 
New Spain and particularly in Pimeria Alta. It contains at the end a 
copy of Kino’s diary of 1698, dated at N. S. de los Dolores, Dec. 8, 1608. 
This volume has been copied for the Peabody Museum. For Book jf Be 
see p. 54.) 
“ Coleccién de Reales Cédulas y Ordenes Sobre Jesuitas.” Libro III., 1774- 
1794; Libro IV., “ Appendice ”, 1784-1796. 
(For Libros I. and II. see p. Io.) 
“ Cartas Escritas al Ex™? S°" Conde Aranda” by the viceroy concerning the 
expulsion of the Jesuits. Libro I., 1767-1768; Libro II., 1768- 
1771. Libro iil, 1768-1771, 
Nicolas La Fora, “ Relacién ” of his expedition to the northern provinces in 
company with the Marqués de Rubi. 1766-1767. About 100 ff. 
(Some vandal has cut out folios 80-89.) 
“Documentos Para la Historia de México.” A composite series of manu- 
scripts, listed in the catalogue, History Division. 
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