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and New Mexico, which eventually were to lead enterprising American pioneers to the gates of Santa Fe. The retrocession of Louisiana to France and the purchase of this vast province by the United States had a profound effect on Texas. The filibustering activities of Nolan and his successors, the ambitious aims of Burr's conspiracy, the unscrupulous character of Wilkinson, American commander on the Louisiana frontier at the time, and the disturbing spirit of the western frontiersmen as re- flected in the public press, all contributed to arouse Spanish officials to make frantic efforts to safeguard Texas. The reaction of these events and circumstances are given in detail for the first time in the present volume and here are to be found the origins of foreign colonization in Texas, which are traceable to 1803. The spread of the ideas of the French Revolution and the direct inter- vention of Napoleon in Spain had its repercussion in Texas. The effect of this blow to Spanish authority in the peninsula and of the appearance of French agents in Texas, is, likewise, traced in detail and fitted into the general narrative to place in proper perspective the events that followed. Throughout the volume the aim has been to present the complete picture of the social, economic, and political conditions that underlie the main events that mark the end of the period of the Spanish regime by portray- ing realistically the personal considerations and human emotions that often determine the course of history. The author wishes to acknowledge his indebtedness to the Knights of Columbus, under whose auspices this work has been carried out; to Rev. Dr. Paul J. Foik, C.S.C., of St. Edward's University, for his unwavering enthusiasm and wise counsel to the very last day of his life; to Rev. James P. Gibbons, C.S.C., likewise of St. Edward's University, who succeeded the deceased chairman in his duties as editor, for a critical revision of the manuscript of the present volume; to Dr. Charles W. Hackett, Dr. Eugene C. Barker, Miss Winnie Allen, and E.W. Winkler, all of the University of Texas, for useful suggestions, friendly advice, and continued coopera- tion in checking materials and sources; to the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress for the courtesies extended to him while consulting source materials; and to Elisa, his wife, for uncomplaining endurance in checking details. C. E. CASTANEDA, University of Texas
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