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by these neighbors and by the fact that they literally "take the shirts off to give them to the Indians," the Padres asserted. The attention of the viceroy was called to the dangers resulting from an insufficient force, now that the French were rapidly supplying the natives with guns in addition to their arrows. 57 Alarcon seems to have been interested to a considerable extent m making the most out of his -new position. Although sincere, perhaps, in his desire to extend the dominions of the king, he was more interested in his own political advancement and for this reason wished to increase the military contingent of the province. After his return to San Antonio, the governor in his report to the viceroy told all he had done and what was needed to carry out the full intent of his instructions, and asked for one hundred and seventy-five additional soldiers. The repeated com- plaints of the missionaries, who vehemently clamored against him as they saw their work menaced by his indiscretions, especially by his atti- tude towards the French, caused the viceroy and his advisors to doubt the sincerity of Alarc6n's petition for more soldiers and supplies. The refusal to grant his request brought about the governor's resignation. He realized only too well that he had lost the confidence of the viceroy. His decision to retire from the governorship was promptly accepted early in 1719, but he continued in office until December. 51 If the results of this new attempt to extend the missionary activity of the Franciscans and to strengthen Spain's uncertain hold on the vast territory from the Rio Grande to the Red River are summarized it will be found that little or nothing ,vas accomplished. The only tangible result for this very expensive expedition was the establishment of a mission and a small presidio on the San Antonio River. But this weak post was shortly to prove its worth. Had it not been for its establishment, the Spaniards might have been forced to continue in their precipitate retreat all the way to the Rio Grande in the fall of 1719, when the French sur- prise attack on San Miguel de los Adaes took place. The affront by the 57Father Olivares to the Viceroy, June 22, 1718. Provinciiu l11ter11as, Vol. 181, p. 251. SI Alarcon to the King, November 3, 1721. San Francisco el Gra11de Archive, IX, 21-25. He experienced considerable trouble collecting part of his salary and expense account. The king ordered the viceroy to settle with him on October 27, 1722, but it was not until April 9, 1723, that the viceroy finally gave orders to pay him. The facts summarized in this paragraph are found in the following doc- uments: Alarcon to the Viceroy, September 28, 1718; November 7, 1718; Olivares to the Viceroy, June 22, 1718; Royal Cedula, October 27, 1722. San Francisco el Grande Arcl,ive, Volumes VIII and IX.
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