011r C atl10lic Heritage in Texas
58
became a bit resentful and retained the intruders in Santa Fe as artisans. But when still others continued to come, officials became apprehensive and sent the uninvited guests as prisoners to Mexico with a report that the French-Comanche alliance was dangerous. Feuilli and Chapuis were then sent to Spain for trial in 1754. They were preceded by those who came in 1751. 19 When these incidents are coupled to the recent investigation concerning the boundary between Louisiana and Texas, conducted by Governor Barrios, and the discovery of Blancpain and his companions in the Orcoquisac country, it is not strange that the viceroy and his advisors should have viewed the situation with some alarm. Relative promptness was revealed by the Auditor, Don Domingo Valcarcel, who made his report to the viceroy on February Ir, 1755. After briefly summarizing the evidence presented by Governor Barrios, he emphasized the serious menace of the proposed settlement on the Trinity of fifty French families, who, accompanied by a chaplain, were to be sent by Lacreau from New Orleans. The suggestions of the governor to forestall such a grave contingency should be put into effect without delay. The incidents of 1752 and 1754 in New Mexico clearly pointed out the determination of the French to penetrate the dominion of Spain in America, and the alliance recently made with the Comanches and the Jumanos made the approach by way of the Pecos feasible. They could not be permitted to gain a foothold also on the coast region. A Spanish settlement should promptly be established on the Trinity. With reference to the governor's proposal that settlers for this purpose might be recruited in Los Adaes, Valcarcel was of the opinion that it would be best to enlist families from outside of Texas rather than weaken Los Adaes, which itself was a frontier outpost with Natchitoches dangerously near it. He heartily endorsed the immediate establishment of a presidia, a mission. and a civil settlement, and recommended that the Fiscal be asked to make an early report. But the mission should not become a source of misunder- standing and friction between officials. It might be advisable, he thought, to place the new establishment in the care of Jesuit missionaries.zo 19 Autos !hos. sre. Averiguar que rurnbo han traido Ires franzeses que llegaron al pueblo de Taos . .. A.G. iJI., Pruvincias lnternas, Vol. 37, and Testimonio de los autos fechos a consulta del govor. del Nuevo Mexico sobre haber llegado dos franzeses ..., A.G. M., PrO'llincias /11ter11as, Vol. 34. See also Bolton, Texas in the Afiddle Eighteent/1 Cmt11ry, pp. 66-68. 20 Dictamen del Auditor, February 11, 1755. A.G. I., A11die11cia de Guadalajara, 103-6-23 (Dunn Transcripts, 1756), pp. 39-46. Copy also in San Francisco el Grande Arc/1ive, Vol. 6, pp. 19-25.
., . I i
I , I I
Powered by FlippingBook