Agttayo Expedition and San Jose Mission, IJI9-I722
III
sonally to the viceroy and acquaint him with the true situation that faced the Padres in Texas. President Espinosa was chosen to represent the Queretaran friars and Father Matias Saenz de San Antonio to rep- resent those of Zacatecas. Setting out immediately, they hurried to San Antonio where they met Governor Alarcon in August, 1718. Father Espinosa now decided it would be best for him to accompany the new governor on his tour of inspection of the missions. He asked Father Saenz de ·San Antonio, therefore, to hasten on to Mexico City, where he was to represent the interests of the two colleges. It was November before the emissary arrived in Mexico City. He remon- strated to the viceroy that the Province of the Tejas was in imminent danger of being lost; that the French were penetrating the country of the Cadodachos where they had already established a post ; 3 that the Mississippi was being rapidly settled in force; and that "it was to be feared on good grounds that they would attach the Tejas Indians to their side, because they fondled them much, giving them firearms in exchange for horses."' He pointed out that the establishment of civil settlements in the vicinity of the missions to set an example to the natives and to increase the number of Spaniards was of the utmost impor- tance, and that more adequate supplies, until crops could be successfully raised, were also essential. But with the characteristic inability to seize an opportunity and act promptly, the viceroy confined himself to the issuance of orders to seek new families to be sent to form villas and to collect the alms set aside by the king for missionaries. No action was taken, however, to put these directions into effect, and the good friar finally departed from Mexico City, in February, 1718, disgusted and disappointed at the failure of officials to realize the full significance of his pious mission.$ Frencle opposed to Spanisle settlement. The habitual procrastination and slow measures adopted by the viceregal government were soon to disclose how timely the warnings of the missionaries were and how their fears of French designs were not mere figments of the imagination. Contrary to the general opinion that the French in Louisiana were pri- marily interested in trade and that they saw the establishment of mis- lThis is an evident exaggeration, as La Harpe did not establish a post there until the spring of I 7 I 9. Margry, op. cit., VI, 260-261. Since 1716, however, (here had been two or three traders living among the Cadodachos. "Espinosa, Chronica, 450. Sfbid., 450.
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