Our Catliolic Heritage in Texas
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amazement at such effrontery, declared that for years he had been visiting Spanish colonies and had never been subjected to such an insult. He presented documents to prove that he had served on various missions in the Spanish possessions; his passport in French astonished Guadiana, for it had "not a word in Spanish." D'Alvimar had come without servants or officers, not from New Orleans, as expected, but directly from Baton Rouge. The French agent volunteered the information that he had landed in Philadelphia; that he had waited there several months for instructions; and that he had received orders from the Emperor to proceed without delay to Mexico City. He explained that his overland trip to Nacogdoches was to avoid possible delays which might arise out of the American embargo and the tense Franco-American relations that had developed since his departure from Europe. Guadiana was highly impressed by the tone and bearing of Napoleon's emissary. His instruc- tions of May 27, however, compelled him to inform the Frenchman that, since he could not exhibit a passport from the Spanish Court, he would have to return to the United States. D'Alvimar replied that he could not possibly turn back, because his orders were to proceed to Mexico without delay. Sympathizing with Guadiana for being charged with the execution of such unreasonable instructions, he deigned to concede a point and wait in Nacogdoches for permission to proceed on his mission. Guadiana lost no time in reporting D'Alvimar's case to Cordero and asked to be advised immediately. 12 Impatient by nature, and bored with the monotony of squalid, frontier Nacogdoches, D'Alvimar wrote to Governor Cordero on August 9. He gave him a detailed account of his mission, and expressed in vigorous terms his displeasure at the delay. He informed Cordero that it would be futile to try to stop him. To Cordero he, likewise, manifested sur- prise at the unfriendly reception accorded him-an experience to which he had never before been subjected. He went on to state that he had left France in December, 1807, for the United States, there to await further orders. He admitted that he had done some travelling in the United States until he received instructions to report to the viceroy of Mexico in all haste. Fearful of a Franco-American rupture which might prevent him from reaching his destination, he had left his entourage behind and proceeded as fast as possible to the Spanish frontier. Be- cause of the close relations existing between Spain and France, he had hoped to find a friendly welcome. He protested that he would never
12 Guadiana to Cordero, August 5, 1808. Nacogdoc/,es Arcl1ives, XI, pp. 96-98.
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