289
Establislmient and Early Progress of San Xavier Missions
The governor did not even deign to open the letter, which was returned with the seal unbroken. Father Mariano then asked Captain Urrutia to deliver the letter personally to the governor. Urrutia complied with the request and was severely reprimanded for his pains by the governor, who not only berated him but vociferously abused the missionaries and refused to take any action. Fray Mariano filed the letter and the official report of Urrutia as testimony for the future."' Fray Benito Fernandez de Santa Anna goes to 111exico. Several months before conditions reached the state described, Fray Benito had deemed it advisable to go to Mexico in person to plead the case of the San Xavier missions. Although the date of his departure from San Antonio is not known, circumstances seem to indicate that he left probably in August, shortly after Governor Barrio dispatched the report of his investigation by special messenger on August 12, 1749. This deduction is borne out by the fact that Fray Benito learned of the decree of July 7, increasing the garrison to forty-eight with eighteen men from San Juan Bautista, and of the letter of commendation for his services of July 9, while at San Juan Bautista; and that the soldiers from this post, sent in compliance with the new orders, did not arrive in San Antonio until August 28. Their presence there was the occasion for the consultation of Governor Barrio of September 11 and his bitter denunciation of Captain Urrutia and Fray Mariano. 65 Much encouraged by the good turn of affairs in Mexico, he continued on his journey, only to fiind by the time of his arrival in Mexico City of the new representation of Barrio of September I 1. Undaunted by the increasing bitterness of the governor, he presented a long memorial to the viceroy in which he reviewed the actions of Barrio since his arrival in Texas and the progress made by the missions in spite of adverse con- ditions, closing with a strong plea for the establishment of a presidio to insure the success of the enterprise. 66 Success of Fray Benito. Conditions had taken a favorable turn since April and Fray Benito had little difficulty in discrediting the adverse 6'Fray Mariano to the Governor, October 23, 1749; same to Captain Urrutia, October 24, 1749. San Francisco el Grande Arcliive, Vol. 19, pp. 174-17 5. 6SSee pages 285-286. 66Fray Benito to the Viceroy (November II, 1749). San Fra11cisco el Grande Arcliive, Vol. 4, pp. 207-244. See also Castaneda, Morfi's History of Te:ras, 213-2 14 . The original document cited here was summarized by Morfi and has not been used before .
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