This expedient being ready for the Councils, two letters have been received, one from the proclaimed Bishop of Minorca and the other from the Commandant of that Island, Marques de Alos, both dated April 22nd of the present year. The first states that in consequence of what he spoke of in his preceding letter of February 5th, that an account of the troubles on the Island of Minorca in trying to open war with this Court, His Vicar-General who resides there did not dare to answer His letter of December 14th past, regarding the various families who had passed into Florida. That only by a note, without his signature, did he intimate that this Priest had the title of Prelate and the power to confess and preach. That he was a person of merit, capacity and virtue. That the Monk who accompanied him had the license and power to preach and hear confessions; that immediately after the publication of peace he heard from the same Vicar, who after writing of several affairs corresponding to his ministerial duties, He states that from his Parish alone on account of the great suffering from failures of crops, there had gone to Florida with others from that Island and Spain, more than three hundred families. They were urged by insinuations from the Government who offered them homes, with land to cultivate and hold and the free use of their Catholic religion, adding these remarks regarding the proclaimed Priests: Dr. Campos, who had served as Vicar and Parish Priest in the Parish of Mercadal, had asked him for letters and testimonials to pass over to Florida, which he granted and in them stated the good character He bore and exemplary life He had led and good work he had done for the Church, having served many years as Vicar and being well versed in literature. The St. Augustine Monk who accompanied Him was Padre Bartolome Casanovas; he found nothing wrong in His conduct; He had preached in the Parish of Alazor and was consequently the Confessor of men; he did not remember more. He concludes his letter stating that this is about all He can say on the subject. The Commandant, Marques de Alos, in His letter stated that He had not been able sooner to make the necessary inquiries and comply with the order on account of the differences between this Court and that of London, but that things having quieted he has been able to ascertain that the transmigration of these families was made by the offer of lands to cultivate and retain with the free use of their Catholic Religion as practised by the Minorcans of that Island, according to the treaty between both Courts. That Dr. Campos was assistant Parish Priest of Mercadal--a Priest of exemplary life and habits, taking with Him his credentials from the Vicar of the Diocese in Mahon. It was supposed that the Augustine Monk went also with permission of his Superior, but of that nothing certain was obtained, as that portion of the Island of Minorca was under the dominion of Great Britain, and only the Ecclesiastics recognized the superiority of the Bishop of that Diocese--this was all he could certify in obedience to the command received. Later a letter came from the Bishop of Cuba, dated February 19th; on the same subject in response to the order sent by Royal Cedula of November 7th, he says: That having devoted himself to find out, with every precaution, he was able to obtain the following information from one of the fishermen who has been in the Catholic Minorcan settlement. That these families are established in their homes, the house of Dr. Campos and Padre Casanovas being the principal one of the place. They have a church built of brick, quite commodious and decent; that having obtained last year large and abundant crops of corn and indigo, they loaded two vessels with indigo, but that they are dissatisfied on account of the number of deaths occurring among them and also the lack of spiritual comforts from this same Priest, who had asked for the Holy Oil of the Bishop of Cuba. That most of the Minorcan Colonists are very devout; He saw them daily praying the Rosary and receiving communion, but all wish to throw off the yoke of Great Britain and pass again to the dominion of your Majesty--demonstrating with strong and lively expressions their love and conservatism for the Crown of Spain. This I believe, from all He tells me, He saw during His stay among them. The Bishop concludes by stating: It is all he can tell us regarding this affair, but he has taken steps for further information which he will forward to your Majesty when obtained. All of which I make known to the Council that it may proceed as most convenient.