In the last years several old, scarce and sometimes unknown to the general public, books were digitalized and presented to the public by for instance books.google.com. Although it costs a lot of time to search on the Internet, the results are sometimes overwhelming. I did a quick research with as topic the Mexican navies and found several useful books.
For example the book written by H.G. Ward with the title Mexico. The 2nd edition, in two volumes, was published by Henry Colburn, London, 1829. Ward give some information dealing with the strength of the Mexican armed forces (p, 227-228). When Mexico tried to recover her freedom from the Spanish Empire, Spanish troops fled to the castle of Saint John of Ulloa near Veracruz. The newly Mexican government purchased 6 gunboats and 2 sloops of war in the United States, her opponent in the near future. At the Pacific coast possessed the Mexicans one brig and two launches. The castle was besieged while in the meantime the Mexican navy slowly grew. In January 1827 the naval strength consisted of the ship of the line Congress (the former Spanish Asia), the two frigates Libertad (1) and Tepeyac, the corvette Morelos, the brigs of war Guerrero, Victoria, Bravo and Constante, the schooner Hermon, 4 gunboats, 4 large launches and finally 2 pilot boats. Commanding officer was commodore Porter who afraid for a Spanish fleet, commanded by admiral Laborde, didn't leave Key West. Ward was convinced that Mexico didn't need a large navy. A few small vessels to 'stop' the smuggling were enough. The 1,309,045 dollars expended for the navy wasn't necessary in his opinion.
A second digitalized book adds some more information. In 1837 H. Huntington Jr, Hartford, published the book written by John M. Niles and L.T. Pease. The long title was History of South America and Mexico; comprising their discovery, geography, politics, commerce and revolutions by John M. Niles, extended with A geographical and Historical View of Texas, with a detailed account of the Texian revolution and war by L.T. Pease. Niles wrote on page 119 that a considerable naval force was available, costs in 1825 around 3 million dollars. June 1825 the Spanish 74 guns ship of the line Asia and the brig Constante, arriving at Acapulco coming from Callao. Both ships voluntarily surrendered. The Asia served in Mexican service at the Atlantic coast. According to Niles another 74 guns ship, several frigates and warships arrived in Mexico out of England for the end of 1821, while several ships were built in the United States. Commodore Porter was appointed as commanding officer. The navies of Mexico and Colombia [in fact Ran Colombia] were concentrated at Carthagena for an attack on Cuba or another still-owned by the Spanish dominion.
A. Finley, Philadelphia, published the third book in 1828 and written by Ashrel Green, titled The Christian Advocate, vol. VI 1828. Again Commodore Porter was mentioned as commanding officer with a still growing navy. At the moment Green wrote his topic the naval strength consisted of a 74-guns ship, 5 frigates and schooners armed with 16-40 guns in actual service, another five in ordinary and a 28 guns-corvette building.
Note
1. Rowan Hackman wrote in her book Ships of the East India Company. (2001, p. 198-200) about the Libertad which she called Libertador that she was the former British East Indiaman Surat Castle, launched at the Bombay Dockyard, India 25 March 1788 with as dimensions 127'0" x 41'3" x 15'3", 1149.43/94 tons builders measurement. The Mexican Government bought the ships from Bassett&Co at London, which bought herself in 1825.
For example the book written by H.G. Ward with the title Mexico. The 2nd edition, in two volumes, was published by Henry Colburn, London, 1829. Ward give some information dealing with the strength of the Mexican armed forces (p, 227-228). When Mexico tried to recover her freedom from the Spanish Empire, Spanish troops fled to the castle of Saint John of Ulloa near Veracruz. The newly Mexican government purchased 6 gunboats and 2 sloops of war in the United States, her opponent in the near future. At the Pacific coast possessed the Mexicans one brig and two launches. The castle was besieged while in the meantime the Mexican navy slowly grew. In January 1827 the naval strength consisted of the ship of the line Congress (the former Spanish Asia), the two frigates Libertad (1) and Tepeyac, the corvette Morelos, the brigs of war Guerrero, Victoria, Bravo and Constante, the schooner Hermon, 4 gunboats, 4 large launches and finally 2 pilot boats. Commanding officer was commodore Porter who afraid for a Spanish fleet, commanded by admiral Laborde, didn't leave Key West. Ward was convinced that Mexico didn't need a large navy. A few small vessels to 'stop' the smuggling were enough. The 1,309,045 dollars expended for the navy wasn't necessary in his opinion.
A second digitalized book adds some more information. In 1837 H. Huntington Jr, Hartford, published the book written by John M. Niles and L.T. Pease. The long title was History of South America and Mexico; comprising their discovery, geography, politics, commerce and revolutions by John M. Niles, extended with A geographical and Historical View of Texas, with a detailed account of the Texian revolution and war by L.T. Pease. Niles wrote on page 119 that a considerable naval force was available, costs in 1825 around 3 million dollars. June 1825 the Spanish 74 guns ship of the line Asia and the brig Constante, arriving at Acapulco coming from Callao. Both ships voluntarily surrendered. The Asia served in Mexican service at the Atlantic coast. According to Niles another 74 guns ship, several frigates and warships arrived in Mexico out of England for the end of 1821, while several ships were built in the United States. Commodore Porter was appointed as commanding officer. The navies of Mexico and Colombia [in fact Ran Colombia] were concentrated at Carthagena for an attack on Cuba or another still-owned by the Spanish dominion.
A. Finley, Philadelphia, published the third book in 1828 and written by Ashrel Green, titled The Christian Advocate, vol. VI 1828. Again Commodore Porter was mentioned as commanding officer with a still growing navy. At the moment Green wrote his topic the naval strength consisted of a 74-guns ship, 5 frigates and schooners armed with 16-40 guns in actual service, another five in ordinary and a 28 guns-corvette building.
Note
1. Rowan Hackman wrote in her book Ships of the East India Company. (2001, p. 198-200) about the Libertad which she called Libertador that she was the former British East Indiaman Surat Castle, launched at the Bombay Dockyard, India 25 March 1788 with as dimensions 127'0" x 41'3" x 15'3", 1149.43/94 tons builders measurement. The Mexican Government bought the ships from Bassett&Co at London, which bought herself in 1825.
