Our Catholic Hmtage in Texas
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possession of this strategic area. Toledo was given money to return to Cuba and a letter to William Shaler, special agent of the United States in Havana. The purpose of the mission can easily be inferred.• It was during this visit in Washington that Gutierrez met Toledo. The Mexican envoy was favorably impressed by the earnest and enthusiastic Cuban champion of liberty. Gutierrez' "Diary" described Toledo as "a man of great talents, passionately devoted to the cause of Mexican liberty ... worthy of recompense at the hands of the Mexican nation.'" Before departing for Texas, Gutierrez saw much of Toledo both in Washington and later in Philadelphia. Their friendship, however, was destined to end in tragedy. Two other interesting characters whom Gutierrez met were to exercise less fofluence on his schemes. A few days before the meeting with Toledo, three liberal members of Congress took him in their carriage to meet Telesforo Orea, envoy from Venezuela. He had been in Washington for almost a year and had the distinction of being the first representative from a Spanish-American country to seek aid and recognition from the United States. Gutierrez did not take a liking to him. His haughty and arrogant manner antagonized the simple frontiersman from the Rio Grande. The numerous proposals of help made by Orea, Gutierrez re- fused.10 The other patriot with whom he became acquainted was Ira Allen, a veteran of the American Revolution. Allen was a liberal, interested in Spanish-American commerce, and an ardent advocate of independence. He kept in close touch with the Secretary of St3:te. He seems to have been well acquainted with Monroe. Allen's house in Philadelphia served as headquarters for Spanish-American agents.11 Gutierrez arrived in Phila- delphia on January 7, 1813, on his way to New Orleans, armed with a letter of introduction to Allen. He was agreeably surprised to find Toledo still in Philadelphia. . During his stay there his relations with Toledo became more intimate. In view of the fact that conditions in Cuba had changed and that Toledo had been advised by his friends to postpone his trip, they agreed that Toledo should remain near the Government of the United States in the interest of the Mexican Revolutionists and Gutierrez should return to his country and put into effect the plans they had discussed for the establish- 1/ bid., I, :102. 'Gutierrez, o'I, cit., 76-77. 1•tbid., 71-76; Garza, a,. cit., 28-35. 11 James B. Wilbur, /,-a 8. Allen, Founder of Vermont, 1751-1814, II, 441-444.
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