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Our Catl,olic Heritage in T e:xa.s
that the removal could be carried out without additional cost to the king. 34 With the aid of the governor, the country along the Colo_rado was explored and a site for the three missions selected. The details of the exploration and findings, as well as the moving, are indeed meager, but all evidence seems to indicate that by July 27, 1730, they were tempo- rarily established on this river. At this time the governor reported to the viceroy he had complied with his orders and given all assistance in his power to the missionaries. But apparently either the location chosen was not entirely to the liking of the Padres, or perhaps the Indians were not as inclined to be congregated in the new missions as had been expected. The fact is that at the same time the governor made his report, Father Fray Miguel Sevillano sent a new petition to the viceroy for per- mission to move to the San Antonio River. He pointed out the disad- vantages of the site recently chosen and now occupied and how much more a~visable it would be to select the place best suited for missionary activity. Removal of Queretaran missions to San Antonio. This, he again assured His Excellency, would not involve any additional expense and would result in the benefit of the king, by making these Christian labors for souls more fruitful. 35 The matter was once more referred to Rivera, who, on September 22, 1730, again recommended that the request be granted and that instructions be issued to the Governor of Texas to lend every assistance for the second removal, provided, however, that there be no cost to the royal treasury. 56 Governor Mediavilla y Azcona gladly carried out the orders. "He exe- cuted them with such kindness," declares Espinosa, "that he personally inspected the banks of various rivers, explored the land, and did not omit any efforts to attain the purpose so ardently sought by the mis- sionaries. After examining all the sites, together with Father President Fray Gabriel de Vergara, convenient locations, such as were desired, were discovered on the banks of the San Antonio River." By May 4, 173r, the three missions had been established on the spots chosen. Each had been placed along the river at easy distances from one another, all 3'Memorial del Pe. Fray Miguel Sevillano de Paredes to the King, November 12, 1729, Archivo del Colegio de la Santa Cmz de Q11eretaro, r7r6-r749; Rivera to the Viceroy, May 26, 1731, A.G. N., Provincias lnternas, Vol. 236. 35/ bid.; Fr. Perez de Mezquia to the Viceroy, August 8, I 7 3 I, in / bid. 36/ bid.; Fr. Perez de Mezquia to the Viceroy, August 8, x 7 3 I, in / bid.
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