Establisltment and Early Progress of San Xavier iltfissio11s
2iI
king gave his approval on January 16, 1748, "considering that the gravity of the matter does not admit of delay." He therefore ordered the viceroy to plan the required number of missions, "for the comfort of those Indians ... who have asked with insistence for holy baptism and the protection of my royal arms ... all of which will be for the service of God." With regard to the establishment of an hospice, the viceroy was instructed to make a careful investigation as to its need, and the selection of the best site. If deemed advisable, he was to grant permission for the establishment and give it such aid as was necessary. But if found not to be absolutely indispensable, its erection was to be suspended. 33 Status of San Xavier J11ission project at the begi1111i11g of I748. The plan for these missions had gradually evolved as shown in the preceding narrative. First, permission to found a mission was asked; then this was extended to several, the number as yet undetermined; finally, when the number was fixed at three, the question of what would constitute an adequate guard began to loom. With this new problem the San Xavier project, in fact, came to include two distinct propositions: the founding of three missions, and the erection of a presidio. Provisional approval for enterprise of the missionaries was first given on February 14, 1747, and this was confirmed by the supplementary instruction of December 13, of that year, which definitely recognized the merit of the new missions and provided for the equipment and the payment of the Padres. But this decree still left unsolved the question of the erection of a formal presidio, and merely provided what at the time was considered adequate protection. By this time, however, the missionaries had definitely become convinced that the success of the missions depended upon the establishment of a presidio with not less than fifty men. Consequently no sooner was the first question disposed of than a strenuous effort was begun to secure the second. Throughout the year 1748, while the missions were being officially founded, all endeavors were directed to the establishment of a presidio as the essential complement to the project. The attainment of this end brought into being rival forces which were ultimately overcome. The official fouttding of the first missions. As soon as the approval became known, the College of Queretaro sent Fray Juan Jose Ganzabal. destined to suffer martyrdom four years later in one of the missions which he helped to found, to Mexico City, where he arrived at the end of March,
s.tCedula, April 16, 1748, San Francisco ,l Grand, Arcl,ivi, Vol. 4, pp. 77-79. Castaneda, Morfi's Hi.story of T,xas, pt. 2, pp. 302-303.
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