THE ROMANCE OF MONTEREY 29
welfare of his people; and he measurably succeeded in doing both. Under his rule, Spain regained much of her old-time governmental efficiency. In 1765, Jose de Galvez, a far-seeing statesman
of unusual
ability, was
sent to Mexico as Visitador-General—Inspector General —with large powers. In 1766, the Marques Francisco de Croix was made Viceroy of Mexico. He was an able man of high character, and he and Galvez labored in perfect
harmony. The long deferred, but always expected, activities of rival nations directed toward the Pacific had already begun to take on tangible form, and as a consequence, Madrid
awakened,
and Galvez
and Croix became energetically active. Especially and immediately feared were England and Russia, and the remedy prescribed by Galvez and Croix was the rediscovery of the Harbor of Monterey, and the prompt establishment colony.
there
of a
Spanish
Facsimile
Signature Jose de Galvez
It was just at this time that the Missions in Lower California passed out of the hands of the Jesuits and were placed in charge of the Franciscans, at whose head was a priest of unusual character and extraordinary qualities named Junipero Serra. He had been chosen for leadership because of his known peculiar fitness for the work needed in this new field. He was appointed without being asked whether he would accept, and without an
