The Judge being cognizant of your Majesty’s Royal Decree regarding the consultation held by the Government on December 10th, 1772, at which time said Tribunal recalling the proceedings and last state of the expedient of the Minorcan families who passed over to Florida, with the free use of their Catholic religion, he brings to the consideration of your Majesty, among other things, that they implore of the Apostolic See the grace and power for the actual missionaries of the Commission or Bull from the Vatican, that they may administer the Sacrament of confirmation to these faithful ones, while the Bishop of Cuba does not dare concede these powers to them, on account of the natives and his peculiar Episcopal dignity. That your Royal person deign to confer with the Council in the following terms. As the Judge has decided, it seems proper that my Minister in Rome should supplicate the Vatican for a Bull, granting power to these missionaries, and have it sent by the reserved way for their direction. In obedience to this sovereign resolution, and to accomplish it in the spirit intended, the Judge has had present the origin of this affair and the motive which actuated the sentiment of the Council to the referred consultation of December 10th, and with reference to one and the other He has found the minutes which are rubricated by His hand, and accompany this reply. The proclaimed minutes comprehend a general idea of the manner and style in which the Minister of this Court in Rome should present the supplication and urge the granting thereof in the order and regularity with which these affairs are conducted in the Offices and Tribunals of Rome. The Judge has not seen proper to state the form of these Bulls, leaving that to the arbitration of your Majesty’s Minister, that time may not be lost when the opportunity presents itself. The Judge feels that if the Council finds nothing to correct in the minutes they should be sent by the “via reservada” as arranged by the Royal Decree already mentioned, that your Majesty may give it the direction which corresponds and is of your Royal pleasure. Madrid, Aug. 21st, 1773. TESTIMONY SENT BY THE BISHOP OF CUBA. _Sire_: With regard to the Royal Cedula of the present January 3rd in which your Royal Highness advises me to assist, care for, and aid the Catholic Minorcan families established in the English Territory of Florida, in accord with the Governor of the Post, I have given the interlocutory decree comprehended in the testimony which I remit to your Majesty for your sovereign approval. May God preserve your Majesty for many years. SANTIAGO JOSE, Bishop of Cuba. Havana, June 30th, 1773. CHAPTER XXI. A. D. 1773-1786.