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TBXAS STATE LIBRARY
also looking to the subjugation of Texas, and was making, at this period, his Head Quarters at Galvezton Island.- · Aury-a Frenchman by birth- was naval commander in the patriot servise with the rank of comodore; and in addition to this station, he had received the appointment of Governor of Texas and commander of its armies, conferred upon him by Don Jose J\Ianuel Herrera, while the latter was in New-Orleans as resident embassador of the RevoI-u~ tipnary Government in the days of Moreles. Aury had recruited about one hundred. and fifty men, when he was joined by Perry. His object was to invade La Bahia and San Antonio, and take forcible possession of the Country. The troops were placed under the Command of Perry; and all the preparations for the campaign were nearly completed, when a difficulty arose between the two adventurers, which change the whole plan of operations, and gave a new direction to the enterprise. The difficulty was occasioned by the arrival of General Mina. Xavier Mina-with the exception of his Uncle Francisco de Espos y Mina-was probably one of the most distinguished and popular Guerilla warriors in the fierce and sanguinary conflicts of the Penen- sula. At the early age of 18 he forsook his books at Saragosa, and buckled on his sword in defense of his invaded country. At the head of his hardy mountaneers, he soon rendered himself an object of gen- eral attention and of univirsal admiration; His exploits were indeed extraordinary for a youth-daring brilliant and confounding to the foe.- Nor were his personal accomplishments less remarkable than his military genius. Graceful in manners, generous in temper, cap~ tivating in address, and chivaleric to a fault, he was the theme of all praise and the idol of all hearts. But he was not exempt from mis- fortune. He was captured at an early period of the contest, and was detained in Paris as a prisoner, suffering from hardships, until the fall of Napoleon in 1814. On his return to the land of his nativity whose soil he had so nobly defen'ded against its invaders, he was doomed, like almost all the genuine patriots of the country, to experience the persecutions and proscription of his perfidious and perjured Monarch; for as soon as this treacherous and tiranical monster was restored to liberty and the throne of Spain, instead of redeeming the pledges he had given, and fulfilling the hopes which he had inspired in favor of a Constitutional and limited monarchy, he commenced a war of exter- mination against the Constitutional party, and indeed against all who had evinced any decided predelictions for a just, rational and restricted· government. Among the special objects of his vengeance were the two Minas, who had rendered themselves no less conspicuous for their vin- dication of liberal principles than for their astonishing career in arms. After a vain attempt which they made in Navarr to re-establish the Constitution they were forced to fly their country, and seek security in foreign lands. They were finally compelled, by the persecutions of the despot, to fly their country and seek security in foreign lands. They retired to Great Britain, where they were well received; and where the younger one had a liberal pension allowed him by the gov- ernment. Espoz returned to Spain in 1819 on the restoration of the Constitution- fled after its overthrow- and returned again as soon as the queen succeeded to the throne, arid to9k command of the forces
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