Rivera recommends closing of Texas presidio, and virrey marques de Casafuerte heeds his advice (4/26/1729). Franciscans (8/20-1729) eloquently defend need for presidio, however, arguing that San Francisco, Concepcion and San Joseph missions would be lost without it. Missionaries state Rivera made inspection of Texas presidios during driest season in 13 years and so was misled about ease of travel. They ask that it be reestablished with 50 men instead of 25. Gobernador Mediavilla y Ascona (8/31/1729) supports missionaries, noting that Rivera's recommendations had reduced Texas military by 75 plazas- 40 from Aldaes presidio, 25 from Texas presidio, 10 from San Antonio presidio. Gobernador argues that distances too great, Indians too well armed with French guns, powder for presidios of San Antonio and Bahia de Espiritu Santo to be sufficient. Paredes gathers all above documents together, summarizes Franciscan position and sends representacion to comisario general. (T. Sheridan) (1977)