Rivera's Inspection and Removal of Missions to San Antonio 237
study of the actual cost of the goods and supplies and their transporta- tion to the various posts. 28 Abolition of Presidio de los T ejas. The viceroy lost no time in put- ting in force the recommendations of Rivera with regard to Texas. On April 26, 1729, he issued a decree ordering the official abolition of the Presidio of Nuestra Senora de los Dolores de los Tejas, originally estab- lished in 1716 by Ramon. The governor was instructed to notify the captain and the twenty-four soldiers of their discharge, which was to be effective immediately. The men were to be paid their salaries, however, to June 30, but they were not to be incorporated in any other garrison after that date or per~itted to reenlist.zt Although expected, the official notice, nevertheless, caused widespread consternation to the afflicted mis- sionaries, who foresaw the ruin of their labors among these friendly Indians at a time when after so many hardships they were about to see the fruits of their efforts. Protest of tlze Queretaran missionaries. On July 20, 1729, the Padres of the three missions in the vicinity of the presidio met at Mission Con- cepcion and, after discussing the situation, decided to write a memorial to the viceroy in an attempt to persuade him in regard to the necessity of continuing the garrison. The soldiers should never have been with- drawn, they declared, considering that this presidio was sixty leagues from Los Adaes and one hundred and fifty from San Antonio de Valero. I ts extinction left the missions without protection against the Indians, who, on seeing the soldiers removed and the Padres alone in their midst, would become insolent and would commit many petty thefts. It should be kept in mind, they pointed out, that all of the natives in this region possessed guns and rifles obtained from the French and had a ready sup- ply of powder from the same source. The guard of two soldiers assigned to each one of the missions from the Presidio de los Adaes was totally inadequate, when the distance to the post from which reenforcements would have to be sent in case of hostilities, was considered. His Excel- lency could consult Don Fernando Perez de Almazan, former governor of the province, in Mexico City, to find out whether it was practical for the garrisons at San Antonio or La Bahia to render assistance in case of danger to the missions of Los Tejas, as suggested by Rivera. 21 /bid. 1 'Decreto del Virey Casafuerte, Mexico, April 26, 17::9. In Sa" Fra1'ciJco ,l Grande Arcl1i11es, Vol. 3, p. 4.
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