about 80 per cent. Evidently there were but slight traces of former prosperity; and matters were not mended by the interference of a quarrelsome friar and frequent changes in the administration. Manuel Crespo was the comisionado for secularization in 1835, and the successive administrators were Mariano Soberanes, José M. Ramirez, José M. Andrade, José Ábrego, José M. Villavicencio, and Jesus Pico ad int. Padre Mercado was loud and constant in his complaints and charges, especially against Ramirez, who was exonerated after a formal investigation; and the Indians were always discontented and unmanageable.
The venerable friar and ex-prefect Vicente Francisco Sarría died at Soledad in 1835;[1] and from that
- ↑ Vicente Francisco Sarría was a Biscayan, born in Nov. 1767, at S.
courage. The result was the acquittal of Ramirez, with an earnest admonition to him and Mercado to work harmoniously for the good of the mission. Dept. St. Pap., B. M., MS., lxxxi. 33, 48-78; Leg. Rec., MS., ii. 7-12. Yet, as we have seen, a change of administrators was made in Sept. with a view to promote harmony. 1837. Ábrego was replaced by José M. Villavicencio on Sept. 1st. St. Pap. Miss., MS., viii. 29. García, Hechos, MS., 72-3, relates that the Ind. rose against Ábrego, accusing him of sending off hides and tallow, and giving them nothing. Ábrego was besieged in his house, but released by García who came from S. Miguel with 30 men. There is nothing in the records about this affair; nor are there any of P. Mercado's complaints extant for this year. 1838. Villavicencio was succeeded on Oct. 15th by Jesus Pico, with José M. Aguilar as clerk. St. Pap. Miss., MS., viii. 30-1; Pico, Pap., Mis., MS., 48. 1839. Pico, Acont., MS., 53-4, says he merely acted ad int. during the absence of Capt. Villavicencio in the south. He says the padre was arrogant and himself quick-tempered, and they quarrelled at first; but soon became friends and associates in cock-fighting and gambling. April-May, P. Mercado and Angel Ramirez arrested for plots against the govt. This vol., p. 586-7. Aug. 6th-7th. Hartnell found the mission accounts in a sad state of confusion, and the Ind. much discontented, complaining of harsh treatment, and that of all the produce sent away and the effects received they get nothing but threats and blows. They wished to live without any admin., and were very bitter against the incumbent. (Pico or Villavicencio? H. also names José Ant. Rodriguez as the man who gave up the administration to the incumbent.) Diego Félix was majordomo, and he made charges against the administrator. The Ind. also complained of a bad man de razon living at S. Bernabé, who had given venereal disease to many of the mission women. Hartnell's instructions required the admin. to expel all gente de razon not employed by the mission, and to seek a new majordomo with a smaller family. Hartnell, Diario, MS., 27-8, 34, 47-8, 51, 54; St. Pap., Miss., MS., viii. 31-2. 1840. Vicente Moraga seems to have succeeded Pico in the temporary management under Villavicencio, who on June 20th orders M. not to deliver the property to Hartnell when he comes. He proposes to give up nothing till his own claims are paid. If his (V.'s) wife needs anything, she is to have it, if the mission has to be sold to pay for it! Guerra, Doc., MS.; ii. 192-3; Vallejo, Doc., MS., xxxiii. 81. There is no record of the result. Aug. 5th, P. Gutierrez writes to Hartnell that the mission is advancing every day toward complete destruction. Id., ix. 214.
