Our Catlwlic H e1·itage in Texas
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the king, and reminded him that the principal purpose of immigration was not to make it easy for the newcomers to reap the fruits of prede- cessors but rather to develop new lands. For the benefit of the new governor, he cited the case of Doctor Federico Zerban as illustrative of the kind of person who sought to settle in areas already developed. J:his interesting character Cordero placed in charge of the first military hospital in Texas, although he had to admit that he was compelled to make use of Zerba.n's services because there was no other physician available. Recently this American doctor had induced Jose Joaquin Ugarte, commander of Nacogdoches, to grant a certain Ramon de Legarreta some land at the Indian mounds, just across the Neches River. Fourteen months later, Zerban, contrary to law, had Legarreta transfer to himself title to this land ( 5 leagues square). Commandant General N. Salcedo instructed Governor M. de Salcedo, therefore, to nullify the grant immediately and inform the interested party that this action was to serve as an example to all others. Finally, he requested the governor to acquaint himself with the various land grant records in his office and to nullify all similar transactions. 60 There were only a few exceptions to the order requiring immigrants in San Antonio to be sent to Villa de Salcedo. Among them were Baron de Bastrop, and Daniel Boone; Lorenzo Reveque, who was too old to be sent back; Jose Rossi, who had established the first pottery shop in San Antonio; Carlos Marasen, who was employed as an interpreter; and Pedro Longueville, who had resided in San Antonio for many years. These instructions of the commandant general reversed his original decision that immigrants be settled in the interior, or at least near Spanish towns already well-established. He, likewise, changed his policy in regard to deserters. They were no longer to be permitted to enter the province as settlers unless they could produce satisfactory evidence of good moral character. 61 Evocative of sympathy as the com- mandant general's position may have been, his excessive caution was exasperating. Governor de Salcedo, like his fellow officials in Texas, grew restive under the ever-increasing restrictions designed to check immigration. New plans for defence. Bonavia had arrived at San Antonio in the meantime, on April 17. The new commander of the frontier was 60N. Salcedo to M. de Salcedo, April 2, 1809. Nacogdoches Archives, XI, pp. 235-238. 61N. Salcedo to Bonavia, May I 2, 1809. Bexar Archives.
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