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Our Catl1olic Heritage in Texas
journey. Lastly in case of foreign attack, the old Mission Dolores could serve as a halfway station between Los Adaes and Nacogdoches. Father Vallejo concluded his plea by suggesting that the order be modified to allow one of the two missionaries now at Dolores to remain there instead of going to Nacogdoches and to permit the mission to retain all its ornaments, chalices, and the other things necessary for divine worship In such a case the other missionary could go to La Bahia, and if allowed the usual aid, could secure the things necessary for the establishment of the new mission from the royal aid granted. To the arguments presented by Father Vallejo were added those of Governor Barrios, who practically supported each one of them in his reasoning. 66 The Guardian of the College of Zacatecas, Father Fray Gaspar Joseph de Solis, lost no time in forwarding Father Vallejo's protest and seconding his plea for the preservation of Mission Dolores. Upon receipt of the new petition, the matter was referred to the Fiscal, who on March 6, 1755, recommended the approval of the new plan suggested by Father Vallejo. One friar should stay at Mission Dolores, which should continue in operation; the other missionary should proceed at once to La Bahia to found a new mission for the Cujanes, Guapites, Copanes, and Karankawas; and the usual allowance for the maintenance and equipment of the new mission should be made out of the royal treasury. The opinion of the Fiscal was approved by the Attditor on March 22, and the viceroy issued the corresponding orders for the preservation of Mission Dolores and the formal establishment of Mission Nuestra Senora del Rosario on April 7, 1755. 67 Thus Mission Dolores was saved by the efforts of Father Vallejo. Without waiting for the final approval of the viceroy, Mission Nuestra Senora del Rosario was formally founded early in November, 1754. It was located four leagues from the Presidio of La Bahia on lands admirably suited for iliep"urpose. There were spacious plains and rich meadows. The lands were skirted by the San Antonio River. The tribes congregated were the Cujanes and Guapites, and numbered about five hundred persons. By January, 1755, they had completed a wooden church, more roomy "Governor Barrios to Fray Vallejo, November 30, I 7 54; Fray Vallejo to the Guardian of the College of Zacatecas, December 1, 1754. A.G. M., Historia, v. 287, pp. 56-63. 67Discretorio of the College of Zacatecas to the Viceroy, January 6, I 7 55; Dlc- tamenes del Fiscal y Auditor, March 6, and March 22, 17 55. Viceregal approval, April 7, 1755. A. G. M., Historia, v. 287, pp. 63-71.
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