reached Callao in June, and subsequently arrived safely in Madrid, whence he wrote to his friends in California. There were those who believed that he carried away a large amount of money, an exploit which, if actually accomplished, considering the circumstances of his departure, surpassed in brilliancy all his previous deeds as a contrabandista.[1] Even if, as I suppose, he carried little or no gold at his departure, it is not probable that so shrewd a man of business had neglected in past years to make some provision for future comfort.
The most important problem affecting the missions was that of secularization; but it hardly assumed a controversial aspect during this period. The missions, as the reader is well aware, had never been intended as permanent institutions, but only as temporary schools to fit savage gentiles for Christian citizenship. The missionaries themselves never denied this in theory, but practically nullified the principle, and claimed perpetuity for their establishments by always affirming, no matter whether the spiritual conquest dated back five or fifty years, that the Indians were not yet fitted to become citizens. This was, moreover, always true, even if it was a virtual confession that the mission system was a failure, and it presented serious difficulties in the way of secularization. The córtes of Spain had decreed, however, in 1813, that all missions ten years after foundation must be changed into pueblos, subject to secular authority both in civil and religious affairs,[2] and the success of independence made the
- ↑ Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., ii. 96-100, says that he was the officer who took Martinez on board. He walked very slowly, but as he was old and corpulent, was not hurried. When they were alone in the cabin the padre said: 'Perhaps you thought me drunk. Not so, my son, but see here' – proceeding to show that his clothing was heavily lined with gold! The young alférez was glad to know that the friar had made provision for a rainy day, and promised to keep his secret.
- ↑ See chap. xviii., vol. ii., for the decree of Sept. 13, 1813, and subsequent developments in Cal.
and J. I. Mancisidor sailed in the same vessel. Feb. 6th, Echeandía's order to arrest Martinez. Dept. Rec., MS., viii. 16. March 9th, E. announces the sentence to Prefect Sarría. Id., viii. 27.
