Our Catliolic Heritage in Texas
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passport, but to save a subordinate embarrassment, he consented to send it as requested by Guadiana. 1 s Governor Cordero, in the meantime, had gone to La Bahia, and left Simon de Herrera in command at San Antonio with special instructions to notify him at once if anything important developed. Great was his surprise on his return at 11 o'clock the night of August IO, to learn that only two hours before, a messenger had arrived from Nacogdoches with the report of D'Alvimar's arrival at that post, as well as with D'Alvimar's letter and other documents. Cordero hastened to send copies of everything to Commandant General Salcedo the following morning; he explained that the order of July 12 had not been received in San Antonio until July 30, and that he relayed it the same day to Nacog- doches. Guadiana evidently had not received it by August 5, the day of D'Alvimar's arrival. Fortunately, Guadiana had acted in accord with the spirit of the order. Cordero now asked Salcedo to instruct him what course to follow in view of the circumstances. At the same time he informed Guadiana that he had forwarded all the documents to the commandant general, and until he received further instructions, he was to guard D'Alvimar closely and not permit him to leave. 16 D'Alvimar's assertion that the disposition of his case would take forever if referred to the commandant general, proved prophetic. Instead of immediately ordering his arrest or expulsion, Salcedo submitted the case to his asesor and auditor of war for an opinion. This official, after a thorough study of all the documents transmitted by the governor, gave his report on August 23, 1808. The appearance of the French officer on the Spanish frontier at this time, he asserted, assumed extraordinary significance in view of the political crisis that had developed in Madrid. He was amazed that D'Alvimar did not have a Spanish passport and the more so, because the visitor could boast that he had visited many other Spanish possessions without one. If his mission were legitimate, there was no reason for his not having a Spanish passport. The scientific mission to the equator, he recalled, had been provided with a passport from the Court of Madrid, as had the distinguished scientist, Baron de Humboldt, during his recent visit. It seemed more than a mere coincidence, the a11dito1· pointed out, that the original orders to D'Alvimar to embark for the United States ISD' Alvirnar to Cordero, August 9, 1808. Nacogdoches Arc/1ives, XI, pp. 98-1 o I. 16Cordero to N. Salcedo, August 11, 1808; Cordero to Guadiana, August 12, 1808. Nacogdoches Archives, XI, pp. 101-102.
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