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Aguayo Expedition and San lose Mission, r7r9-r722
enlisted. He had already spent out of his own purse over nine thousand ,pesos in raising the first contingent of eighty-four men which had been sent to San Antonio. 28 He assumed the office of governor of the two provinces in October, 1719, at Monclova. 29 Fatl1cr Es,pinosa's ,plans for civil settlements. While preparations are carried on for the new expedition, let us see what was being done by the missionaries in San Antonio. Shortly after the arrival of the fugitives, some time early in November, 1719, Father Espinosa went to the Rio Grande, where he was informed by Father Pedro Munoz, president of the missions in the vicinity of San Juan Bautista, that the Marquis of Aguayo had been appointed governor to replace Alarcon and that he had been put in charge of the organization of the new expedition now being planned to recover Texas. Father Espinosa asked Father Munoz to go to the Hacienda de Patos to inquire from the new governor what his plans were. He seems to have been particularly anxious to know how soon aid for the reoccupation of East Texas could be expected. Being of a restless nature, he could not wait at San Juan Bautista, so he traveled to Mon- clova. He there conducted a mission, preaching for a week, and had the pleasure of seeing in the audience the two governors, Alarcon and Aguayo, who were then in Coahuila. Learning that Aguayo was not to start for some time, and feeling that it was highly important for him to speak to the viceroy, if possible, before the expedition set out, Father ·Espinosa left immediately for Queretaro to consult with the Father Guardian of the College of La Santa Cruz. After a short stay in Queretaro, he went on to Mexico City, where he interviewed the viceroy early in 1720, and discussed "the state of the poor province of the Tejas," not only with His Excellency but with some of the members of the A1,diencia. He declared to the viceroy and to such officials as cared to listen to him, that it was the unanimous opinion of all the missionaries, and par- ticularly of Father Margil, that the success of their work in Texas depended greatly on the character of the soldiers that were sent to guard 28The details summarized in this paragraph have been gathered from various sources, the principal ones being Testimonio a favor de Nicolas Flores, ProviflCia.s lnternas, Vol. 32; Pena, Diario y derrotero, original draft, San Franci.sco el Gralldd Arc/zive; Diferentes Autos y otres providencias dictadas por el Governador Marques de San Miguel de Aguayo, 1719-1720. Saltillo Arc/Jives, Vol. I, 178-192. 29Buckley says "He apparently took possession of his office December 19, 1719, giving as a reason that Alarcon went out of office on this day, but Aguayo him- self says that he took possession in October. Testimonio a favor de Nicolas Flores, Provincias lnternas, Vol. 32.
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