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265
Establislmient and Early Progress of San Xavier Miss-ions
new proposal on June 28, 1747. But the Auditor, always cautious, reviewed the entire situation in a long report made on July 4. Referring first to the plan previously proposed by Fray Ortiz, he declared that he was ready to give his approval to such a plan if the missionaries undertook to enlist one hundred settlers, allowing each, not only one hundred pesos as requested by Escandon for his settlers, but two hundred, as suggested by Fray Ortiz, and granting them all the necessary land, water rights, privileges and honors of first settlers. In the meantime, however, protection should be afforded to the Indians already congregated at San Xavier. In view of the reasons presented by Urrutia and the Cabildo for not carrying out the order of February q, 1747, he now suggested that the nine mission guards from La Bahia stationed in the three Queretaran missions at San Antonio return to their post; that the garrison of San Antonio replace this guard; that the captain at La Bahia detail thirteen men from its garrison to San Xavier; and that the Governor of Texas send seventeen additional men from Los Adaes for the protection of the new mission. He recommended that the men be carefully selected in order to insure the success of the enterprise. This force should be sufficient, in spite of the representations of Fray Francisco. In the past the Presidio de Nuestra Senora de los Dolores had been maintained with only twenty-five men until its abolition at the request of Brigadier Rivera, in a country and under conditions similar to those of San Xavier. To prevent the disregard of these instructions he advised that the viceroy impose a fine of six thousand pesos and removal from office for delay, or failure to comply. The recommendations of the Attditor met with the full approval of the viceroy (July 6) and the corresponding orders were issued on July 27, 1747.u The first attempt to secure a formal presidio had resulted in the increase of the number of guards assigned from twenty-two to thirty. Viceregal instructions again disregarded. The new orders did not please the zealous missionaries of Queretaro, who had set their heart on the establishment of a formal presidio in connection with the new missions. They had become convinced by actual experience of the need of adequate protection for the success of their labors. Sometime in August, Father Fray Mariano de Anda y Altamirano presented a new memorial to the viceroy. Father Anda had been assigned to the San Xavier missions and
24 Parecer del Senor Auditor, July 4, 1747. Archivo del Cougio (Dunn Tran- scripts, 1716-1749).
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