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Our Catholic Heritage in Texas
carefully drawn and provided for every possible contingency. The stress placed in these secondary instructions on the fear of French aggression is the result of St. Denis' presence, imprisonment, and release in Mexico City from where he later fled, and a number of subsequent letters received from Diego and Domingo Ramon, as well as from the missionaries in East Texas, all of which magnify the activities of the French since the first establishment of the six missions and the presidio among the Tejas. Alarcon's investigation on the Rio Grande added somewhat to the appre- hension and to this, no doubt, is due the importance given in the final instructions to the immediate exploration of the Bay of Espiritu Santo and the strengthening of the presidio and missions in East Texas. There is no question that the missionaries had become anxious for relief in the fall of 1717, and this may account in part for the changed note in their communications concerning the French. In their first reports the fear of French aggressions was very vaguely suggested, but later it is played up considerably and the idea is left that they are at the mercy of the French, who may stir up the Indians at any time. They knew full well that this was the infallible bug-a-boo that would bring about immediate action, but they were ignorant of the fact that strenuous efforts had been made to send them relief in the winter of 1717, that this had been acci- dentally detained by the swollen condition of the rivers, and that Alarc6n's delay in setting out was not due to any lack of interest on the part of the officials. As a natural result of these conditions the idea of estab- lishing a mission and a civil settlement on the San Antonio River had become clear and definite. 27 Alarcon's instructions. Before proceeding to the founding of the Mission of San Antonio de Valero it will be well for us to make a brief summary of the instructions which Alarcon received on April 16. Their purpose is clearly stated at the outset. They were to guide him in .the introduction of the relief supplies and equipment and the establishment of the missions and towns thought most advisable for the conversion of the natives and the propagation of our faith, as well as for the extinction of French settlers and the promotion of the trade with New .Spain. 27The facts briefly summarized in this paragraph are to be found in the follow- ing documents: Hidalgo to Mesquia, October 6, 1716, Espinosa to the Viceroy, February 28, 1718, Diego Ramon to the viceroy, May 8, 1718, also May 30, 1718, Pr01lin&ias /nternas, Vol. 181; Diego Ramon to the Viceroy, May 2, 1717; Salinas Varona to the Viceroy, February x S, 17 x 7, Olivares to Alarcon, June S, 1717, A.G. I., Audie~ia de Me%i&o, 61-6-35 (Dunn Transcripts).
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