CHAPTER VI
PREPARING TO WEATHER THE STORM, 1790-1800
With communication established between distant Santa Fe, St. Louis, Natchez, Natchitoches, Nacogdoches, and San Antonio, Spanish officials turned their attention to other measures of defence. The new policy- appeasement of the native tribes at all costs--discussed in a previous chapter, 1 revealed the urgency of strengthening Spain's weak hold on her far-flung northern frontier against the impact of the American pioneer. Texas assumed an importance not equalled by any of the Interior Provinces in the approaching struggle for supremacy. The necessity of connecting Texas with Louisiana, as well as with the other provinces of New Spain, by stronger economic ties, occupied the attention of officials in the closing years of the century. This interest, in addition to the growing pressure of the English and the Americans upon Louisiana, and the instability of ancient monarchies in Europe resulting from the pro- found changes brought about by the advance of the French Revolution, combined to arouse the Spaniards in the Interior Provinces to desperate efforts to prepare against the approaching storm. The boundary between Texas and Louisiana had never been clearly defined prior to the unsolicited cession of the French province. Subsequent to its acquisition, the boundary ceased for a few years to be a matter of great importance, but gained considerably in significance towards the last decade of the eighteenth century. In February, 1790, the viceroy had recommended that a careful exploration of the coast line from San Bernardo Bay to the mouth of the Mississippi be undertaken, and that a commission be appointed to determine the boundary between the two provinces. The purpose was to extend the limits of Louisiana to the Sabine River, and to open a port on the Texas coast for trade. The king, who was deeply interested in the encouragement of trade as a source of royal revenue, readily assented and issued orders for the recommendation to be carried out. But Viceroy Revillagigedo replied in April, 1791, that he had suspended the execution of the order to acquaint His Majesty with the facts involved. He explained that the undertaking would require that commissioners be sent Tlze qttestion of tlze Louisiana frontier.
lSee Chapter IV.
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