The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 23, July 1919 - April, 1920 Page: 63

Texas in 1820

Xavier, another on the Brazos, another on the Tortuga, another
on the Trinity, and the last at Nacogdoches on the frontier of
the United States. It would be well for the Province of Coahuila
to settle or protect-by means of one or two presidios-the un-
settled or unprotected country from San Saba to the villa of San
Fernando de Agua Verde, as much for its own safety as for that
of the two remaining provinces, the Colony [of Nueva Santander]
and Nuevo Le6n.
3d. This line established, it is proper that the coasts of the Bay
of San Bernardo be protected by one or two presidios which could
be, and should be, established at Atascocito and half way between
the Brazos and the Colorado rivers.
4th. For all these establishments, there are judged to be very
indispensable and very necessary two thousand soldiers, with full
pay and other necessary supplies, in order to attract to the settle-
ment all kinds of people useful in these lands.
5th. To all these new establishments, as advantageous as well
as fitted for the peace and safety of this and the three neighbor-
ing settlements [the settlers] should give assistance, in order that
they may be effective, since they would be interested parties in the
benefits which must accrue to them, contributing aid according
to their means, so that in the future the evils which they are now
suffering may not be experienced. [To all these new establish-
ments], it is very advisable that there be sent out as garrisons the
three flying sqaudrons of the Colony [of Nueva Santander], [the
flying squadron] of Laredo, and that from Punta Lampasas, the
presidial companies of Monclova, and Rio Grande, the veteran
companies of Bexar and Bahia del Espiritu Santo, and the flying
squadron of San Carlos de Parras--composing the total number
of - troops and the remainder to the number of 2000 should
be selected from the militia of the Colony [of Nueva Santander]
and Nueva Reyno de Le6n.
6th. [We recommend] that the Port of Matagorda be aided,
protected, and developed with everything necessary, in accordance
with the royal orders promulgated by means of proclamations
within and without the kingdom in the year 1805--the original
of which should be in the archives of the captaincy general which
was located at Chihuahua, from whence it may be secured. The
copy of the royal order which was published here was lost during