Our Catl,,olic Heritage in Texas
now spent for the maintenance of seven presidios and numerous missions in Texas and Coahuila. "Would that in the rich site of Presidio del Paso," he exclaims, "where more than two hundred settlers live and five missions have been estab- lished ... two hundred and sixty leagues from their episcopal city of Durango, or in New Mexico [Santa Fe], one hundred and ten leagues to the north of the said Presidio of El Paso, a bishopric could be erected for that old and unfortunate province as already recommended in a royal cedula of November 1, 1709 ( Recopilacion, Libro 3, ley 66) . . ." 73 Little did he realize that eventually an episcopal see would be established at El Paso and an archdiocese in Santa Fe over one hundred and fifty years later. The viceroy was duly impressed with the recommendation and ordered that a copy be made at once and sent to the king for his consideration. But nothing came of the proposal for several years in spite of Altamira's insistence on his project the following year. It was not until January 9, 1753, that the king took notice of the plan in a letter to the viceroy. His Majesty declared that a full and detailed report on the need for the new bishopric or bishoprics, the revenues available for their maintenance, and the number of parishes in the different areas included would be necessary before deciding on this weighty matter. He requested the viceroy to make further investigations and report his findings. 7 ' Nothing appears to have been done regarding the matter until the spring of 1760. In March of this year Escandon wrote to the viceroy to urge the establishment of a new Bishopric of Nuevo Santander with its seat at the city of this name. He explained that the erection had been recommended by Audit°" Altamira in 1751, and that since that time the king had requested an investigation to determine the matter. He pointed out that the inspection of Nuevo Santander conducted in 1757 had revealed that the new province was in a flourishing condition, and that in his opinion it was capable of supporting the dignity of a new bishopric. He said that he did not believe that the Archbishop of Mexico, nor the Bishops of Guadalajara and Valladolid would oppose the move. The Villa of Santander was particularly well adapted for the 71Marquis of Altamira to Viceroy, November 27, 1751. A. G. M., Provineias /,rte,,ras, v. 173, pp. 34-39. 7'Decreto del Cond~ de Revilla Gigedo, November 30, I 7 S l ; Altamira to the Viceroy, March 16, 1752; King to the Viceroy, January 2, 1753. A.G. M., P,o- vineias J,rt,,-,ras, v. 173, pp. 40-41, 64-65, 138-140.
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