The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 25, July 1921 - April, 1922 Page: 184

The So'uthwestern Historical Quarterly

presidio of Espiritu Santo.25 The name "Refugio" was trans-
ferred to the new locality, and has been perpetuated in the mod-
ern town of the same name, founded in the same general vicinity.26
Father Silva continued to give his personal attention to the
enterprise, and in spite of continued difficulties in the way of
lack of funds and supplies the mission establishment slowly took
on its typical form. Near the end of 1795 Refugio appears to
have been permanently established at its new location and in
regular operation, there being eighty-two Indians on the mission
roll.27
Four years had been required to effect this last feeble mis-
sionary movement in Texas. What had been accomplished fell
far short of the original aims of Father Silva, who had endeav-
ored to keep faith with the lamented Fray Margil de Jesus.
Nuestra Sefiora del Refugio continued to exist, however, through-
out the remainder of the colonial period. Its failure to achieve
important results was due not to the neglect of those who had
labored for its establishment, but to the utter helplessness of the
failing Spanish monarchy to lend its support. In its humble
way, nevertheless, the mission served to propagate the doctrines
of Christianity and civilization among the natives of the coast
region, and its record may well be cited as a further evidence of
the enterprise and ever fervent piety of the pioneers of the Church
in the Spanish Southwest.
2Nava to the king, October 6, 1795 (Guadalajara, 104-1-1).
26See map accompanying Bolton's Texas in the Middle Eighteenth Cen-
fury. The date given on the map is obviously incorrect.
" Cortez to Munioz, October 23, 1795 (Bfxar Archives).

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