Ottr Catltolic Heritage in Texas
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and expense, the viceroy was to send all the materials and supplies necessary for the erection of the fort and the establishment of a settle- ment by water from Veracruz, using two ships for this purpose. The measures suggested were considered of utmost importance to the service of the king and the safety of his dominions in America and were to be put into execution without delay. To increase the military guard of the new missions, agreeable to the wishes of the king, the viceroy was empowered to recruit whatever number of soldiers he deemed necessary, taking for this purpose six, eight,. or ten men from such presidios in the interior as in his judgment could spare them. In order that more missionaries be sent to care for the numerous tribes that were being congregated, he was to follow the same practice and take them from such missions as were ready to be turned over to seculars. Great care was to be exercised in the appointment of a governor for the province and in selecting the commander for the new post to be established on the Bay of Espiritu Santo. These men were to be cautioned, particularly, not to allow the French from Louisiana to secure horses in the Province of Texas. Should any attempt be made to penetrate the province, the leader was to be arrested and sent to Acapulco and all persons accom- panying him were to be sent to work in the mines, as had been done in the past with Englishmen. 24 Plans for a ,zew expedition. The Marquis of Valero was already con- templating the sending of a new expedition to Texas. He had not as yet learned, however, how urgent it was for him to take immediate action as ordered by the king. Almost three months were to elapse before he heard of the abandonment of the greater part of the province as a result of the attack of Blonde} on the Mission of San Miguel. When the order of June II, 1718, arrived he had not yet heard of the declaration of war by France on Spain. The king did not send him offidal notice of the outbreak of hostilities until January 30, and the cedttla, instructing him to put all forts and ports on a war footing to prevent a sttrprise by the enemy, did not arrive in Mexico until July 13, 1719. 25 By that time the viceroy was straining every nerve to dispatch a maritime expedition to recapture Pensacola. But in spite of the many weighty problems that made a demand on his time, he was giving due consideration to the .URoyal Cedula, June II, 1718. Historia, Vol. 289. The Cedula was received in Mexico on May 29, 1719. 25Royal Cedula of January 30, 1719. Historia, Vol. 298.
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