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Frenclz. Intervention i1z. Spain, and Its Reaction in Texas
Culebra Island. It was impossible, of course, to expect him to leave his family and effects there, and he asked permission to continue to Matagorda Bay, where he could effect a landing. As his explan~tion seemed plausible and his request fair, the commander of Atascosito, without consulting either Salcedo or Cordero gave him permission to proceed to Matagorda. When he did report to the governor, Cordero readily approved of his action and issued instructions for the settle- ment of De la Rosa either at Villa de Salcedo or San Marcos. 38 Not so, the commandant general. Salcedo immediately recalled the applicant's previous record; he suspected that his flimsy excuses were a ruse to introduce contraband goods through the unauthorized Port of Matagorda. He wrote to Cordero at once to express his doubts about the true intent of De la Rosa and to make the observation that he could not have come from New Orleans, unless he had evaded the American embargo now in force. In view of the circumstances, Salcedo ordered him arrested, his goods seized, and the case reported to the king for his decision. But by the time the orders reached Atascosito, De la Rosa had long since departed. Two months passed without news of him. Then one day he reappeared at Atascosito with a touching story of misfortune. He recounted to the astounded commander that shortly after sailing from Culebra Island, he had been blown off his course by a terrific storm which swept him all the way to Campeche. After many hardships, he had succeeded in making his way back to Matagorda Bay, where he had left his ship and come in search of food for his "starving people." Unaware that in two months De la Rosa could have been all the way to the coast of Yucatan and back to New Orleans for fresh supplies and contraband goods, the gullible commander, instead of detaining him, sympathized with him and permitted him to depart again for his ship. Not until April 8 did he finally enter Matagorda Bay and present the papers he had secured from Vidal to justify his large supply of contraband goods. De la Rosa explained that in order to immigrate to Texas he had been obliged to dispose of his extensive property and many slaves. But since it was not possible to secure money, he had been forced to take merchandise and provisions to the value of 3,000 pesos, consular invoices for which had been furnished him. He intended to subsist on the sale of the goods while he was waiting for permission to settle. The cargo was checked and rechecked three times, and each 38 Cordero to M. de Salcedo, January 19, 1808. BJrar Arcniv11s.
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