Page 2 if t BOOK V THE K^EXICAN QOVERNORS CHAPTER I SOLA AMD ARGUELLO (iHE YOUMGER) Pace The idea which rendered Mexican independence acceptable to Sola Page 43 Junta of chief officers; how independence and thie empire were sworn., to Page 44 Division of the empire; CaUfomia*s place in it; Sola diputado to the imperial cortes ...,...,.......^ Page 44 The fir^t provincial dep.ut^tio9 and how composed Page 45 Ibirbide*s investment with the imperial purple; rumors consequent upon it Page 45 The imperial ordejr of Guadalupe and how instituted; history of the Aztec virgin, Nuestra Sefiprade Guadalupe. 4^ Ennoblement of the Iturbide family; proclamation of Agustin I in California Page 48 Fall of the empire and execution of Iturbide Page 48 The Mexican republic and how it ori^nated Page 49 Withdrawal of Sola, the last Spanish and first Mexican governor of the Cali- iornias..^. ..,....,..•• Page 50 Iaiis Antonio Arguello, secpnd Mexican governor « Page 51 How and why Arguello, when comandante of San Francisco, built a launch and navigated the bay Page 51 How he was called to account by Sola Page 53 Remarkable meeting between the governor and the comandante Page 54 Subsequept reciprocal acts of service Page 55 Removal of Avgpello from San Francisco to Monterey and his difficulties in carrying on the government Page 55 Position of lh^ misficHUki f * « Page 56 Aftion of tbe.pfpviacial deputation as to the change of national government Page 57 The new " Plan de Gobiemo." adopted for California Page 57 U'OBtbreak of a wide-spread Indian conspiracy Page 58 Attack on Saata loes and how Father Uria defended himself .,* Page 59 Progress of the fight; burning of the mission, and how the Indians were driven oflf Page 60 Attack on and burning of Purlsima and the heroic defense of Tiburcio Tapin Page 60 How a truce was effected and the whites marched to Santa Inez Page 61 viii. Pac:e The fight at Santa Barbara; its circumstances and results Page 62 Jose Mariano Estrada's campaign and '* gloriosa accion "' Page 62 Portilla's campaign in the Tulare country Page 63 ^/Effect of the defeat of the conspiracy; how the Indians found it impossible to give back the Christianity they had incautiously accepted Page 64 CHAPTER II. ARGUELT.O (CONTINUED) Reception of the constitution of the Mexican republic Page 65 Hostile attitude of the missionaries Page 66 The general quiet disturl>ed by the apj>earance of a Spanish war vessel Page 67 Capitulation and surrender of the ship Asia and brig Constante Page 67 How the crew of the Constante made a votive offering to the virgin Page 68 Strange conduct of the captain of the Spanish brig Aguila Page 69 Foreigners in California and how received; Gilroy and others Page 70 The continued jealousy against Americans and Russians Page 70 National legislation against foreigners Page 71 Change of feeling in California; Hartnell, Richardson and Cooper Page 72 Cooper's employment by the government Page 73 Establishment of mercantile houses by foreigners; the hide business Page 73 Marriages of Californian women with foreigners Page 74 Intrusion of foreign ideas and heretical books and papers Page 74 Ecclesiastical edict against waltzing and how it was disregarded Page 75 How and why Father Martinez hurled the curse of excommunication against Corporal Avila Page 76 Avila's fright and Argucllo's amusement; revocation of the anathema Page 77 Arguello's report on the general condition of affairs; news of a successor Page 77 The Mazatlan and San Bias troops in California 7g Arguello's proclamation against robbers and burglars Page 79 Severity of punishments prescribed; its reasons and effects Page 79 Arguello's visit to San Diego to meet his successor; three governors at one time Page 80 Resumption by Arguello of his office of comandante; his quarrel with Estudiiio about the removal of the archives Page 80 His last troubles and death Page 81 CHAPTER III. ECHEANDIA Jose Maria de Echeandia, third Mexican governor; the instructions he received Page 82 His journey to California and arrival at San Diego Page 83 His head-quarters at that place; convocation of missionaries and its results Page 83 The recusant clergy and their continual opposition to the republican constitution Page 84 National legislation against Spaniards; the expulsion act Page 86 Echeandia's action in reference to the expulsion of Spaniards Page 86 The Spanish missionaries: who were for and who against the government Page 86 Popular opposition in California to the expulsion act Page 87 Census of 1826; character of the population; attempts to make California a penal colony Page 88 Elections of 1827 and new territorial deputation Page 89 xii. CHAPTER VII FIGUEROA Pace Jose Figueroa; his previous life i6o His appointment as sixth Mexican governor of Alta California; manifold instruc- tions i6i His journey from Mexico to Acapulco and preparatory studies of Californian affairs Page 162 Proclamation to his troops Page 163 Voyage from Acapulco to Cape San Lucas Page 163 Rise of Santa Anna and how it occasioned a revolt among Figueroa's soldiers Page 164 How the rebels went back to San Bias Page 164 Figueroa^s second proclamation; fate of the rebels Page 165 His enthusiastic anticipations about California i His arrival at Monterey; £cheandia*s letter of welcome to him i Figueroa's friendly reply Page 167 How he was welcomed by Zamorano and placed in possession of the government Page 167 His significant suggestion to Echeandia Page 168 Thanksgiving mass; general amnesty; watch over Echeandia's conduct Page 168 Figueroa's satisfaction Page 169 Departure of Echeandia from California 1 70 Figueroa's ill health and desire to be relieved 1 70 His able, active and minutely attenlive management of affairs Page 170 Note of alarm sounded by Father Gutierrez against the Russians and Americans Page 171 Action with reference to the Russians; Vallejo*s **con todo disfmulo y sag.ici- dad " commission Page 172 Figueroa*s letter to the Russian comandante 1 73 ,^^^allejo's report; denunciation of the missionary treatment of the Indians Page 174 His account of the Russians and the objects of their settlement Page 174 Their mills,- ship-building, vessels, manufactures, population, and buildings at Fort Ross Page 175 General character of the Russians in California Page 175 Decline of alarm about the Russians; Father Vasquez del Mercado's attempt to revive it; Figueroa*s quietus to the clamor 1 76 CBold charges against Father Vasquez del Mer<:ado for murdering Indians Page 176 Figueroa's determined opposition to missionary cruelties Page 177 Political affairs in Mexico; the Plan of Zavaleta 1 78 Figueroa's address and glorification of Santa Anna Page 178 Elections of 1833 and new territorial deputation 1 79 CHAPTER VIII FIGUEROA (continued) V Secularization of the missions iSi Earlier secularization movements; Spanish decree of 1813; Echeandia's plan; Mexican decree of 1833 Page 181 The "Pious Fund " of the Californias Page 182 Calculation of its amount 1S2 Legislation in reference to it i S3 ^ Figueroa's plan of secularization and his presentation of it in the deputation Page 183