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pen or fill it up with the dead bodies, and the remainder run over them and escape, in which case the party is obliged to leave the place, as the stench arising from the putrid carcasses would be insupportable, and in addition to this, the pen would not receive others. But should they succeed in driving in a few, say two or three hundred, they select the handsomest and youngest, noose them, and take them into a small inclosure, then turn out the others... . They subdue them by degrees, and finally break them to submit to the saddle and bridle. For this business I presume there is no nation in the world superior to the Spaniards of Texas." 49 Celestino Sant-Maxent appealed in 1801 to Governor Elguezabal in San Antonio for permission to take to Louisiana a large number of horses which he had employed in the transportation of baggage from Puebla to Rancho del Palo Blanco, near Mier. In the petition he explained that he was a captain in the Louisiana regiment stationed in New Orleans, that he had taken his mother to the city of Puebla by way of Vera Cruz, but that he had been granted permission by the viceroy to return by land. He wished to continue his journey from Palo Blanco to New Orleans by way of Espiritu Santo and he desired permission to proceed to his desti- nation with his horses. Nava readily agreed to the request in view of the circumstances.so Fatleer Juan Brady requests -permission to move to Texas. On October 29, 1800, Father Juan Brady, a Carmelite, requested permission to move to Texas from Baton Rouge. In his petition he included a certificate from the bishop of New Orleans in which it was set forth that he had studied in Spain and had come to New Orleans in 1795 with a royal patent to serve in the missions. After his arrival in Louisiana he had been sent as curate to Natchez. He had also served as curate of the parish of El Sagrario. Prior to his coming he had been chaplain on one of His Majesty's ships. The bishop testified that he was capable and responsible, that he had good training in theology, knew Spanish, French, and English, and was a zealous priest. The permission was granted.s 1 Tlie retrocession of Louisiana. The success of Napoleon at Marengo on June 14, 1800, had forced Austria to make peace with France, and 49 /bid., 332. 5 °Celestino Sant-Maxent to Elguezabal, October 14, 1801; Nava to Elguezabal, November 11, 1801. Bexar Archives. 51 Testimony of the Bishop of New Orleans, October 1, I So I ; Juan Brady to the Bishop of New Orleans, October 29, 1800. Bexar Arc/lives.
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