Tlie Organization of Mission Life, 1722-1728
17.7
proceed to La Bahia del Espiritu Santo where they intended to embark for Veracruz. They were Pedro Rosel, former ensign of one of the com- panies stationed in Louisiana; Pedro Barroy, former paymaster of troops in New Orleans, and Francisco Martin, a former ensign in Flanders and more recently secretary on board one of the French company's ships. Per- mission was accordingly granted to them on April 8, to proceed without molestation. 10 Just why it took them almost four months to travel from Los Adaes to La Bahia is not clear, but on August 24, 1723, the three Frenchmen presented themselves with their passports to Captain Domingo Ramon, who was then still living. He informed them that there would be no vessel in port for ten months. Unwilling to wait that long they decided to proceed to Mexico City overland. The next place they went seems to have been Mazapil, and from there they traveled to Monclova, on Sep- tember 13. Governor Blas de la Garza Falcon, who suspected them of being spies, sent them under guard from there to Mexico City. They reached Saltillo on October 25, and finally arrived in Mexico City on December 18, 1723. 11 Aguayo, who was in Mexico City at the time, had been notified in advance by Captain Nicolas Flores regarding the Frenchmen who were on the way to the capital. On November 23, 1723, the Marquis made a long report to the viceroy on various matters concerning Texas and referring to the Frenchmen among other things, he stated that in his opinion they were spies or traders who had stealthily introduced themselves into the province. The dilatory and aimless manner in which they traveled from Los Adaes to Mexico seemed to lend color to this suspicion. 12 ·when the matter was referred to the Auditor, Juan de Olivan Rebolledo, he sug- gested to the viceroy on January 27, 1724, that efforts should be made to ascertain the character of the Frenchmen and to determine their pur- pose. He also recommended that it would be well for the viceroy to order that they be formally examined and if guilty of espionage, that they be sent to Spain by the first vessel sailing from Veracruz. In the meantime he advised that the prisoners, for such they were now, be placed in one of the cells of the C abildo. 13 lOA. G. N., Provi11cias /11ter11as, Vol. 18 I. 11/bid., Vol. 181, 275-278. 12Summary of Aguayo's report, November 23, I 723. A. G. N., Provincias I nternas, Vol. I 8 x. 13 Opinion of the Auditor, January 27, 1724. A. G. N., Provincias /nternas Vol. 181. >
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