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Ottr Catholic Heritage in Texas
recommendation of the Marques de Rubi on account of the indifference of the natives. When he finally arrived in Texas again, the deplorable conditions he found at Refugio did not discourage him. They only increased his determination to secure the material support needed for the success of the enterprise. He and his successors at Refugio never doubted for a moment the sincerity of the natives in their desire to become Christians. Confident that the king would support his project, he decided that since the viceroy had no longer jurisdiction in the matter, he would now appeal to the governor, and through him to the commandant general for additional funds to carry out the program along the ambitious lines of his original plan. Accordingly, on September 21, 1793, he made formal request to the governor for four thousand pesos. With .this sum he obligated himself to erect a permanent church, quarters for the missionaries, and all other necessary buildings, such as a granary and shops ; to secure one thousand cows with calves, fifty mares, twenty yoke of oxen, twenty-five horses, and the mules required for the mission. He explained that if the four thousand pesos were granted, he would not expect another cent from the royal treasury other than the appropriation for the corn and beef consumed by the neophytes during the first year. Father Garza had originally estimated the cost would be thirteen thousand, he declared, but in view of the materials already gathered and the start made, Father Silva felt confident that the sum indicated in his petition would suffice. He urged the prompt approval of the expenditure to insure the success of the enterprise." Unwitable nature of original location. Nine months were to elapse before action was taken on the new petition of Silva. In the meantime, both missionaries and civil officials became convinced that the site chosen at Muelle Viejo, also called Cayo del Refugio, which appears to have been a short distance from Mission Bay in Calhoun County, was unsuitable. Corporal Juan Jose Farias had succeeded Rodriguez as commander of the mission guard. On September 13 Governor Munoz sent Jose Manuel Castro with a detachment of troops to relieve the soldiers at Refugio, many of whom had been sick. Castro arrived on September 18. He found "Munoz to Pedro Nava, January :26, 1793; Pedro Nava to the Viceroy, November 6, 1794. A. G. !., Audiencia de Guadalajara, 104-1-1 (Dunn Transcripts, 1794- 1798, pp. 43-44; 56-57); Manuel Silva to Munoz, September :21, 1793. Bexar Arcnives.
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