The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 8, July 1904 - April, 1905 Page: 29

Bonilla's Brief Compendium.

and, with a view to becoming a citizen in the Spanish dominions,
he went to Mobila to get his goods, which he transported in four-
teen packs.
Accusation was made against this unfortunate man that he had
brought in through the Rio de Nachitoches, or Colorado,1 four frig-
ates laden with contraband goods. It was charged against him that
he held familiar intercourse with the Indians,2 that they loved him
dearly, and that he knew their vernacular.
These calumnies found support in the information given by the
Governor of Pansacola, Don Gregorio Salinas, that some French-
men3 had come to his presidio, with much stock, publishing [the
fact] that they had penetrated to Coaguila. As a result of all this,
His Excellency the Viceroy, the Marques de Valero, who had just
taken charge of Nueva Espafia, ordered San Denis brought a pris-
oner to this capital; but after a searching inquiry [into his proceed-
ings], they found only the above-mentioned fourteen bales.
Report of this occurrence was made to the King, and in a royal
cedula of the thirtieth of January, seventeen hundred and nineteen,
his Majesty ordered, in the case of San Denis, that his goods be re-
turned to him, and that he be compelled to establish himself with
his wife in Guatemala; in the case of his uncle Ramon, that he be
removed from the Presidio of San Juan Bautista [del Rio Grande],
and be given another place (destino) far away from possibility of
communication with the French; the latter, however, died a natural
death in the said Presidio of San Juan Bautista *del Rio Grande*
in the year seventeen hundred and twenty-four; and after all we
shall see Mr. de San Denis commandant of the Post of Nachi-
toches in the year seventeen hundred and nineteen.4
'Red River.
2"Among whom he had been for periods of time, some of four months"
(Test., Sec. 29).
a"That the Frenchman who had left Mobila in the year seventeen hun-
dred and thirteen had returned thither with much stock, publishing that
they had penetrated to Coahuila" (Test., Sec. 29).
'As has been stated, the true date is 1721. The Rev. Edmond J. P.
Schmitt (TimE QUARTERLY, I 206) cites a letter of Saint-Denis', written
in 1735, reprinted in Margry, VI 238. The Testimonio (Sec. 31), whose