Our Catl,olic IIeritage in Texas
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great river and had been totally unaware of the fact. It seems strange that not once did they evince curiosity to investigate this mysterious stream that brought to sea so many tree trunks and brush, which accumu- lation should have suggested the idea that there was a mighty current back of it. They did not realize that the largest river in the North American continent had naturally built a great delta where its great stream spent itself. Wilkinson, however, recanted after his return to Veracruz and again stoutly maintained he h_ad told the truth in the first place. But he was no longer believed. The Fiscal agreed with Pez that the Englishman was an extraordinary liar, who had invented the whole tale to save his neck_. He recommended that his case be carefully investigated and that the severest punishment be inflicted upon him. To the credit of Spain, he was given a fair trial and later condemned to the galleys. 20 Searc/1 for La Salle from tl,e nortliern frontier. While diligent search was being made along the coast, plans were formulated and put into execution to try to find and expel the intruders from the northern frontiers of New Spain. It will be remembered that in October, 1685, shortly after Admiral Palacios recommended the organization of the first maritime expedition, he also suggested that it might be advisable to organize a land expedition for the same purpose to set out either from Tampico or from some northern outpost. Admiral Palacios repeated the suggestion to the viceroy on several occasions. Finally, on November 19, 1685, the viceroy requested the officials at Veracruz to make suggestions in regard to a land expedition. 21 A council was held at Veracruz and after due deliberation, it was found that there was no person who was acquainted with the land along the coast to undertake an expedition in search of the French settlement. It was learned, however, that the town of Monterrey, located on the northern frontier of New Spain, was said to be only a few days' journey from the Bay of Espiritu Santo. From this city an expedition had been undertaken some years before in search of salines which had been dis- covered on certain streams said to flow into the bay where the French colony was supposed to have been established. The Junta, therefore, sug- gested to the viceroy in their report that the logical person to undertake ZORespuesta Fiscal, May s, 1688, in / bid. 21Palacios to the Viceroy, November 14, 1685; Decreto del Virrey, in Testimonio de los Autos, y diligencias fechas, A .G. I., A11diencia de Mi:r:ico, 61-6-20, pp. 48-60.
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