Rivera's Inspection and Removal of Missions to San Antonio 239
and memorials were referred to Brigadier Pedro de Rivera, who was now the private counselor of the viceroy in all matters pertaining to the fron- tier outposts. Proposed location on tlze Colorado. On October 29, I 729, he wrote a long report answering the various objections raised by the petitioners against the extinction of the presidio and concluded by recommending that if the missionaries of Concepcion, San Francisco, and San Jose felt they could not carry on their work any longer in East Texas unless the old garrison was restored, they should be permitted to move to a more suitable and congenial locality. He suggested that a convenient place might be found along the banks of the Colorado River, which he called the San Marcos ; 32 that the river should be explored with this purpose in view; and that if a favorable location was discovered, the missionaries should be instructed to move to the new site. The Governor of Texas, Mediavilla y Azcona, should be ordered to assist the Padres in the removal, aiding them both in the exploration and the transportation of all the property of the missions and their persons. All this was to be done without cost to the royal treasury." The recommendations were approved by the viceroy and dispatches with the necessary instructions were sent to the Governor of Texas and to the missionaries. It seems that at this time it was also planned to move the Presidio of La Bahia to the Colorado River, to afford ade- quate protection to the missions which were going to be established there. In order to preserve the identity of the original presidio, this was to maintain its old name in its new location. Great hopes were enter- tained for success both by the officials and the undismayed Franciscans. The Indian nations along the Colorado were thought to be more peace- ful and docile and the country better suited for the establishment of set- tlements and the raising of crops. On October 18, Father Miguel Sevil- lano de Paredes agreed to the proposed plan and assured the viceroy JZHackett, P;c/rardo's Treatise 011 tire Limits of Louis;allD and Te.ras, I, 490-491. Quoting Buckley, the editor says "As Aguayo had not recognized the present San Marcos as such, he carried the name over to the next large river, and applied it to the Colorado. To Rivera this last named river was likewise the San Marcos ( Diario, entry for August 23, 1727)." 33Rivera to the Viceroy, May 26, 1731, A.G. N., Pro-,.1i11c;as /11/ernas, Vol. 236; Espinosa, Clrronica, I, 458-459.
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