Last A tte-mpts at Missionary Control of Indians
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been a sergeant in the palace guards in Mexico City. His private life before entering the order had not been particularly noted for virtue. After he joined the order he had shown no special ability. The guardian was convinced that Alberola was not the author of the memorials sent to the king and the viceroy, because the friar could not write anything but his name. Furthermore, he declared that the memorials were not in the handwriting of any. member of the College, for he had compared the calligraphy in them with the writing of the different members. Fray Alberola had never seen an Indian of the north nor had he had any experience in dealing with natives. He had not left the College more than once or twice, when he had been granted permission to take the baths near Mexico City. He had accompanied the bishop of Sonora as a personal attendant once and had been away a year with him. On his return, he had asked to be permitted to remain in the convent of Guada- lajara, but shortly aftenvards he changed his mind and begged to return to Zacatecas, where he was the cook. The report of Guardian Ignacio del Rio was signed by five members of the Discretorio, Fray Ignacio Maria Labaex, Fray Juan Jose Aguilar, Fray Jose Ramon Tejada, Fray Mariano Velasco, and Fray Jose Maria Garda. 70 In view of the report of the guardian of the College of Zacatecas, the Fiscales recommended to the viceroy that since it was proved that Alberola could not be the author of the memorials, it would be well to commission Fray Manuel Clavijo, residing in Zacatecas, to summon Bernardo de Portugal, mentioned in the plans presented, for questioning. The recommendation made on January 21, 1802, was immediately ordered carried into execution, and on January 25, Clavijo carefully interrogated Portugal. Confronted first with the original memorials, Portugal admitted readily that they were in his handwriting. He explained that the ideas were not his, however, because all he had done was to reduce to writing what Fray Alberola had dictated, leaving out many unnecessary repeti- tions. He was then asked to produce the rough drafts. He replied that he had torn them to pieces with the exception of a few pages which were still in possession of Fray A_lberola. He added that the first memorial, which had been sent directly to the· Secretary of the King to be presented to His Majesty, had not been written by. him. Questioned as to who had written the first plan, he answered he did not know. He declared that he had received no pay for writing the subsequent memo- 7 °Fray Ignacio del Rio, Guardian of Zacatecas, to Viceroy Felix Berenguer de Marquina, December 23, 1801. Ibid., pp. 79-90.
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