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Our Catliolic II eritage i11 T e:xas
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It will be well to quote in full the order for the abandonment of east Texas. "Having already provided for the suppression of the Presidio of San Saba in order to establish another one under the same name on the banks of the Rio del Norte, and the two of Orcoquisac and Los Adaes being useless at present, I command the Governor of Texas and the officers of these two presidios to dismantle them and to abandon their sites at once. The few settlers found in their vicinity are to be moved to the Villa de San Antonio de Bejar or its suburbs, where l order that they be given lands for their establishment and subsistence. The useless missions of Nacogdoches, Ais, and others which have been maintained without Indians under the protection of the said presidios are to be suppressed. The remaining officers and soldiers are to be disbanded, their salaries and the allowances of the missionaries being discontinued in favor of my royal treasury." 14 Appointment of a Comandante Inspector. On January 20, 1773, Viceroy Bucareli informed the Governor of Texas that the king had appointed Don Hugo Oconor Conza11da11te Inspector of Presidios, with the rank of colonel. The ability and energy displayed by this excellent officer during his sojourn in Texas had not passed unperceived. Four days later the viceroy notified Ripperda that the new regulations had arrived. He advised him to keep peace with both the Apaches and the northern tribes and to prevent all trade with Natchitoches until the provisions of the king's order were transmitted to him. Not until March 4 did Bucareli send him a copy of the regulations. At this time he explained that since Oconor was already engaged in the removal of the presidios in Nueva Vizcaya and Coahuila and would· have to go immediately to Sonora, he would be unable to attend to the changes ordered in Texas. For this reason the viceroy was informing Oconor to delegate to Ripperda the necessary authority for him to put into effect the changes in his province, subject to the approval of the Inspector and with the under- standing that the governor would consult him in case any questions arose. For the moment the contemplated campaign against the Apaches should be ignored and all energies directed to the abandonment of east Texas, the establishment of its settlers in San Antonio, and the restoration of harmony with the Cabildo. 15 At the same time he wrote to Ripperda, the viceroy sent detailed Ufbid., 108-109. >SViceroy to Ripperda, January 20, 24, and March 4, 1773. A. G. M. Provinc;as /nternas, Vol. 100, pt. 2, pp. 387, 403, 439-440.
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