The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 15, July 1911 - April, 1912 Page: 8
382 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Texas Historical Association Quarterly
Antonio when they met Alarc6n' just starting for Espiritu Santo
and eastern Texas. Father Espinosa, thinking it best to be
present at the visitation of the missions under his charge, returned
to eastern Texas, by way of Espiritu Santo, with Alarc6n, leaving
Father Mathias to bear the mission to thle home government.2
The latter sped on to Mexico, where he arrived in November,
1718, and remained till February, 1719. The burden of his com-
plaint to the home government as summarized by Espinosa was:
"The manifest risk of losing that province [Texas], on account
of the proximity of the French, who were penetrating [adjacent
lands] with new settlements, and had a fortification with many
people and arms on the Cadodacho River; that information was
had that they were settling the banks of the Palizada [the Mis-
sissippi] in force; and that it was to be feared on good grounds
that they would attach the Texas Indians to their side, because
they fondled them much, giving them firearms in exchange for
horses."8 Father Mathias's mission was successful as far as or-
ders for relief of the situation were concerned, but ineffective as
far as action went. The viceroy, to the end that the Indians
might be subjugated and the French restrained, ordered that Span-
ish families should be sought and sent to Texas to form villas;
issued a despatch authorizing the syndic to collect the alms which
the king set aside for missionaries; and ordered that alms be col-
lected from the royal treasury at Zacatecas. But nothing was
drone, and the Texas missionary left the capital in disgust for
Zacatecas, February, 1719.4
II. THE RETREAT OF THE SPANISH FROM EASTERN TEXAS (1719)
AND ITS CAUSE
1. The Breach of Peace in Europe, January, 1719.-The pro-
verbially slow working of the Spanish governmental authorities
allowed time for the fulfillment of the prophecies and the justifi-
cation of the fears of the missionaries. Before anything was done
'A recently acquired diary of Alarc6n's expedition into Texas, by Fray
Pedro Perez de Mezqufa, shows that between April and the latter part of
June Alarc6n several times attempted to send aid to the missionaries of
eastern Texas, but was prevented by the swollen rivers.-IH. E. B.
2Espinosa, Chronica, 450.
'Ibid.
"Ibid.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 15, July 1911 - April, 1912, periodical, 1912; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101056/m1/12/?rotate=270: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.