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Our Cat/1olic Heritage in Texas
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their transportation would be less expensive and more convenient than if these were taken from the Canary Islands. 45 The viceroy had informed the.king in a long report sent on March,10, 1719, of the measures he had adopted to prevent the introduction of French merchandise. He assured the king that immediate steps would be taken to put into effect the orders of June of the previous year; that a fort would be built on San Bernardo Bay as soon as possible; and that orders had already been given for the establishment of a post among the Cado- dachos. He offered to drive the French out of Louisiana if the king so desired, and asked that a large number of families be sent from Spain to replace the French. 46 By his cedttla of November 1, 1719, the king approved all that had been done and the measures now being contem- plated to prevent the French from occupying any part of the Gulf coast or penetrating his dominions. Due to the war, it was impossible at this time, he declared, to send the families suggested, but this matter would be given due consideration as soon as the war was over. He closed the order by saying that "since Mobile, Massacra, and the rest of the terri- tory belonging to my royal 'crown is now occupied by the French with no right whatsoever, you, the viceroy, shall make the necessary provisions to cause them to abandon it, dislodging them from it." 47 But soon after, the king changed his mind, it seems, and ordered the viceroy not to attack the French in Louisiana but to confine himself to the reoccupation of the lost Province of Texas. French deserters were to be admitted into the royal service and settlers who swore allegiance to the king were to be ·allowed to establish themselves in the Spanish settlements. It was these last instructions that caused the viceroy to modify his orders to Aguayo at the last minute. In a letter to the king, sent on August 17, 1720, the viceroy told him that although the suspension of arms had altered the intent of previous orders, he had, nevertheless, instructed the Marquis of Aguayo to establish a presidio among the Cadodachos, to increase the forces in Texas, and to occupy the Bay of San Bernardo. 41 On March 16, 1721, the king approved everything the viceroy had done and the instruc- tions given Aguayo as reported on August 8, 1720, adding that not- withstanding the peace negotiations, if the French made any movement 4SRoyal Cedula of April 22, 1719, Historia. Vol. 298. 46This report was based chiefly on the accomplishments of Alarcon as reported by him immediately after his return to San Antonio early in l 7 l 9.
47Royal Cedula of November I, 1719. Historia, Vol. 298. "Royal Ced11/a of March 16, 1721. llistoria, Vol. 298.
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