was appointed December 16, 1835, to succeed Figueroa, apparently before that officer's death was known, and arrived at Santa Bárbara on the Leonor, as I suppose, after the middle of April 1836, the exact date being unknown.[1] Beyond the facts that Chico was a diputado, and that members of his family in Guanajuato had taken a somewhat prominent part in the revolutionary struggle, I know nothing of the man before his arrival in California. As we know, the people had a strong feeling against Mexican officials as a class, and were opposed to centralism so far as they had any political opinions; it is also stated that letters and newspapers from Mexico had given Chico an unfavorable reputation in respect of both political and private character;[2] yet I do not think there was any prejudice against him or his politics that would have proved a serious obstacle to a man skilled in the art of gaining popularity.
Having spent a few days at Santa Bárbara at the house of Carlos Carrillo, whom he had known in Mexico,[3] Don Mariano started north by land, escorted by about eighteen soldiers, and accompanied by Jacob P. Leese, the company also including, I presume, Doña Cruz, a woman introduced by the governor as his niece, of whom more anon. He arrived at the capital May
- ↑ Aug. 1, 1835, J. A. Carrillo wrote to his brother Cárlos from Mex. that Figueroa's course was disapproved, and a successor — name not given — would sail on the Leonor. Vallejo, Doc., MS., iii. 183. The date of appointment may hare been Dec. 15th, as an order of minister Tornel to deliver the command to him seems to bear that date. Sup. Govt St. Pap., MS., xi. 2-3. The date is given as Dec. 16th in Dept. St. Pap., S. José, MS., iv. 109; and Id., Ben. Mil., lxxxi. 16. The permission of congress had to be asked for his appointment on account of his being a congressman. Dec. 24th, $400 had been advanced 'for account of secret expenditures,' and $2,000 on account of his salary. Id., xxxi. 11-12, 16. I have no date for the arrival of the Leonor, except that she anchored at S. F. on May 19th. Pinto, Doc., MS., i. 30-1. Several writers mention the fact that Chico landed at Sta Bárbara.
- ↑ Osio, Hist Cal., MS., 249-51; Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 47; Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 78-80.
- ↑ Mrs Ord, Ocurrencias, MS., 90, says that she — then Mrs Jimeno — was ill of a fever when Chico called at the house of her father, Capt. Guerra. He insisted on seeing the sick woman, and she was told later that in her delirium she had made some rather queer remarks to the governor. Hittell, Hist. S. F., 81, on the authority of Leese, mentions Chico's stay at Carrillo's house and his consultations with Guerra.
