north, and the change was therefore somewhat less abrupt. Of the gradual decadence, not much more rapid than it had been before 1834, as of the minor troubles and controversies and complaints, we have but the most fragmentary record.
Padre Antonio Peyri at the end of 1831 left San Luis Rey, an establishment which he had founded and in 33 years of faithful service had brought to the front rank of California missions, and quit the country in company with the exiled Governor Victoria. He was one of the most prominent Fernandinos, though he chose to devote his energies mainly to his local task; and he was unwilling to remain and witness the overthrow of all his plans, being grievously disappointed at Victoria's failure to establish what he had foolishly hoped would prove a new régime for the missions.[1] After Peyri's departure
- ↑ Antonio Peyri was born Jan. 10, 1769, at Porrera, Catalonia, Spain; took the Franciscan robe in the convent at Reus Oct. 25, 1787; sailed from Cádiz May 8, 1795; and left his college in Mex. for Cal. March 1, 1796, arriving in July. He served two years at San Luis Obispo, and in 1798 was a founder of San Luis Rey, where, and at the branch establishment of S. Antonio de Pala, he served continuously thereafter. By his superiors he was accredited with distinguished merit as a manager, but not with fitness for high office. Autobiog. Autog. de los Padres, MS.; Sarría, Informe sobre los Frailes 1817, MS.; Arch. Sta B., MS., iii. 123-4. He was less unfriendly than most Spanish friars to the republic, and took the required oath in 1826; but in the same year petitioned the president of Mex. to relieve him of his mission administration. Arch. Arzob., MS., v. pt i. 23. In 1829 he demanded his passports, being as a Spaniard include in the law of March 20th, and though offered exemption by the governor, insisted in his demand, asserting that he was an old man no longer fit for service. Id., 56-7. He obtained from the Mex. authorities permission to retire with full payment of past stipend. Guerra, Doc., MS., vi. 145, 148. The padre sailed on the Pocahontas Jan. 17, 1832, from S. Diego for Mazatlan on his way to Mexico; see p. 210, this vol. The tradition is that he had to leave S. Luis secretly, and that his neophytes, 500 strong, hastened to S. Diego to prevent his departure, arriving only in time to receive his blessing from the receding ship. Bidwell, Cal., MS., 185-7, learned from one of the Indians who aided his departure that he kneeled on the hill and prayed for the mission as his last act. Peyri took with him from the mission funds about $3,000, the amount of stipend due him, as he wrote to Capt. Guerra. He is accused by the republican foes of Victoria of having contributed large sums to support the latter's cause, and of having carried away secretly, hidden in barrels of grain and olives, other large amounts in gold and silver. Pio Pico, Hist. Cal., MS., 159-60, learned from Juan Mariner, a Catalan trusted by Peyri, that the padre took 32 barrels of olives, each containing money. Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., ii. 156-9, makes it 14 bbls of flour, and says the S. Blas customs offi-
