Our Cat/10lic Heritage in Texas
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account of Fray Alonso and that he should have consented to give his unqualified support to the conversion of the numerous Apaches. 80 Although he did not make his formai proposal for the financial support of the missions intended for the conversion of the Apaches until the first week in July, 1756. he had discussed the details unofficially with the viceroy as early as April. It will be remembered that Don Pedro had been consulted concerning the value of the minerals found by Miranda. This, and many other indications, pointed to the fact that he was a frequent counselor to the viceroy. On April 29, the viceroy asked the Commissary General of the Franciscans to instruct Fray Alonso to appear before him for a conference. By May 9, the zealous friar was in Mexico City, where he was informed that Don Pedro, his cousin, was contemplating the offer of his sponsorship for the founding of missions for the Apaches on condition that Father Fray Alonso be placed in charge of the new conversions. As was to be expected he readily agreed to accept the directorship, and he seems to have interviewed his cousin shortly afterward to discuss the details of the plan. It was in this inter- view that he suggested that the new missions be founded for the Apaches and other tribes located to the north of San Juan Bautista in Coahuila. He made no reference whatsoever to the San Saba project, but he did suggest a maximum of twenty missions. 81 San Femando and Queretaro to cooperate. Don Pedro appears to have been anxious that the recently founded college of San Fernando of Mexico City should participate in the missionary endeavors with the college of the Holy Cross of Queretaro. He suggested that the mis- sionaries for the proposed undertaking be selected alternately from each of the two colleges for each mission as founded. The proposal was sub- mitted to San Fernando and Queretaro and their approval given on May 31 and June 7, respectively. 12 - 80For a detailed biography, see Manuel Romero de Terreros, Los Co11des de Regla. Don Pedro was granted the title of Conde de Sat1ta Maria de Reg/a by Charles III on September 23, 1768, in recognition for his services to the crown and his support of the Apache missions in Texas. 81This number was not stipulated in the formal proposal of Don Pedro, as was erroneously stated by Bancroft in his Nortk Mexican States and Texas, Vol. I, 626. Dunn, "Apache Missions on the San Sab~ ~iver," T/1e Quarterly, Vol. 17, 387, note 1 7 , correctly calls attention that no hm1t as to_ number was indicated in the formal agreement made by Don Pedro. See also Castaneda, 1l1orfi.'s History of Texas, pt. 2, pp. 357-358. . . . . 12For a summary of Fray Alonso's act1v1hes prior to the formal proposal of Don Pedro, see Castaneda, JJforft's u;story of Texas, pt. 2 , PP· 357-358.
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