The San Francisco call., 1896-07-05

diers not infrequently married Indian
women and thus the duties and the cares
of the fathers increased. Each pueblo or
settlement had its Alcalde, or Governor,
and matters civil and ecclesiastical gradu-
ally adjusted themselves. 1t was only on
rare occasions that ship entered the bay.
There was absolutely no commerce and
the only communication with the outside
world was through the transports whica
once or twice a year brought supplies from
Mexico and through the annual visit of
Spanish galleon on its return from the
East Indies. Couriers from Mexico came
overland twice year bringing and carry
ing letters and official communications.
In September, 1855, two French frigates
on an exploration for scientific ends came
to the bay and had a most cordial recep-
ton The commander, La Perouse, wrote
up the country, the mission and the
natives, with careful scientific observa-
tions.
But isolated as California was great 10y
atty to Spain was felt. They celebrated
all the great events of that country as best
they could when the news reached them,
and several times made liberal donation
to the ever empty Spanish exchequer.
Governors were appointed from Mexico,
and when one became tired or failed to
please he was succeeded by another. The
legend is often repeated that fifteen Gov
ernors of California lie buried in old Car
mel Mission. Life at the Preside was
gay, easy and in many ways attractive to
the Spanish heart. There were usually
about sixty men there, many of them with
-
maintained both there and in the pueblo.
Gambling and drinking were both held in
check, and but few crimes are recorded in
the mission period.
A mission was successfully started at
Santa Cruz in 1791 and a settlement
named Branciforte for the Viceroy of Mex
leo. The paternal Government helped
them in every way as usual. 1t is note
worthy that a fiouring-mill, run by water
power, was built at Branciforte in 1885,
Captain George Vancouver of England,
with two ships, came into the bay in these
days on his famous exploring tour around
the world, and was most Hospitality re-
ceived.
But after he was gone the loyal colon
lists began to suspect that the English
were spying out their weakness, and when
Vancouver returned they were decidedly
cool, which led Vancouver to enter in his
n otebook that the people of New Albion,
as he called California, according to
brakes naming, were an inferior set of
folks and would never improve till they
had some commerce with other nations.
In 1874 Don Diego Borica became Gov
ernor, and stirring, cheerful good ruler
he was. He wrote home charming letters
full of the praises of Monterey. "It is the
most peaceful country in the world,'' he
writes; zone can live better here than at
any European COURT The garrison was
full of good soldiers, the mission with
holy priests and gentle neophytes, accord
ing TO Borica. Spain de cided to strengthen
her California colonies, and Borica was
just the man for the work. More soldiers
and cannon were sent, and two vessels
cruised up and down as a sort of coast
guard. No foreign vessels were allowed to
send men ashore except for wood and
water.
And now came the first Yankee trading
vessel, the Otter, from Boston. They had
papers from General George Washington
and were we'll treated but the captain. it
is reported, secretly sent ashore some
convicts who had boarded his vessel at
some Mexican port. Borica was greatly
displeased, but the convicts were set to
work and did no harm. They may be an
cestors. for aught that appears, to some of
our first families.
1t was in these prosperous times that
the fine old partly stone church of Monte
rey was built. 1t has been greatly changed,
but is on the old foundation.
The pueblo of Monterey grew and i'm
proved and very cheerful life went on in
its homes. Little children were very nu-
merous, and in 1893 an order came from
Spain for the establishment of school in
each pueblo, and Borica set himself Wig
orously at the founding of schools.
He found in his quest for teachers that
only fourteen out of the fifty soldiers in
the Presidio could read or write. Finally
Jose Rodriguez, a soldier and carpenter,
in 1795 started the first public school in
Monterey. In these schools Christian doc
trine was the first thing to be taught, then
reading ana writing. The Government
furnished paper for copy-books, and as