"the papers which form the subject of THIS HISTORY" statement is a literary device as set up for the story that follows, not that it is a true history, but a "history" based on the alleged "letters" sent by Beale to Morriss to further develop the building storyline which leads to buried treasure and the ciphers and a "CHANCE" to break he code and become rich overnight.
Where is all of this documented evidence from credible sources that confirms the existence of early Spanish and French mining operations in the region in question? Truth is, it doesn't exist, and with good reason.
Yes, there have been very isolated discoveries over the years of Spanish artifacts in the region but nothing to even suggest that the Spanish had operating mines in the region, and certainly nothing to suggest that these alleged mining operations were anything beyond very small exploratory operations. And the French? There is nothing credible to support all of these allegations at all other then the typical fairy tales that are often associated with treasure and treasure hunting.
Sure, if we travel hundreds of miles to the west or to the south we'll start to encounter more evidence of these operations but this isn't the further reaches of the region in question, not even close. So how is it that the stories of all of these fabled lost mines came into existence? In discovering this answer one needs look no further then the subject of man, his mind, and it's ability to manufacture and fabricate such tales. “If it existed hundreds of miles to the south and to the west then it certainly must have existed here as well.” And “Poof!”....just like that it suddenly comes into existence with every imagination and in every manner possible.
Consider this, per example of how man and his mind goes to work on this subject. The mid to late 1800's, or the mining boom that took place in the great American west. There are those who lay claim that since this mining boom took place and existed during this era then it must have also existed in the early 1800's as well, history apparently just forgetting to document these earlier events. No, actually, there's a sound reason why history never documented these fabricated events, this simply being because because they never took place in the region in question.
As humans we want to badly believe in the common man's ability to defy history and the elements, so much so that we'll even allow ourselves to accept the impossible despite the overwhelming factors and barriers that restrict its very existence. Somehow, someway, common man was able to overcome all of these historical, documented, and deciding and very real obstacles. Why? Because we badly want him to, that's why. This is why so many treasure legends and treasure stories still exist today, because we want them to and as such we keep finding new ways to keep them alive, if only in our wildest imaginations. The Beale treasure legend serves as prime example to a great deal of this, the vast majority of this tale just not being possible according to documented history and many factors and barriers of that era. Yet, this particular treasure story is perhaps more alive today then it has ever been. Go figure.
Truth is simply this, just as documented history details, there was no grand adventure out west and there was no mining operation that produced fantastical wealth in the way of gold and silver. On top of all of this documented mining history of the region, there is no possible way that said party could have kept their secret a secret while trading for jewels in Saint Louis, boarding at boarding houses with cargo in tow, and certainly not while on some steamer where every cargo is required to be inspected, logged, taxed, etc., etc. The only way that any of this is possible is “if” there were some very influential people involved who maintained the resources and connections for arranging such a transfer of an already acquired wealth well ahead of time. “PERIOD!”
And this isn't opinion, it's cold hard fact based on the documented facts and the very real limitations of the era.
No the author did not present the story as true, he clearly stated the "the papers (Beale's letters to Morriss) which form the subject of THIS HISTORY"- THIS HISTORY being the self contained story in the novel.
This was my point, something I was going to point out to a couple of others as well in regards to "any form of travel or history or activity after 1821."
But no one has evidence that the Beale expedition as related in the 1885 Beale Papers ever occurred.
The difference in our opinions is that I stated he presented "this history" as a literary device to draw the unwary reader into the storyline he was developing.
