ifornia never to return, sailing from San Diego May 14th, on the Catalina. There is no record that he subsequently appeared in public life; but in 1856 he was practising his profession as engineer in Mexico, and is reported to have died before 1871. With this officer's record during his residence of eight years and more in California, the reader of the preceding chapters is acquainted, and it is not necessary to indulge largely in repetitions; nevertheless, I append a biographical résumé.[1] Echeandía we have found to be
- ↑ Of José María Echeandía before he came to California nothing is known beyond the fact that he held the rank of lieut-colonel of engineers, and was probably connected with a college of engineers in Mexico. He fairly represented Mexican republicans of the better class. His appointment was in Jan. 1825. He sailed from S. Blas in June, remained at Loreto until Oct., arrived at S. Diego in Oct., and in Nov. received the command from Luis Argüello. See chap. i., this vol., on his arrival; chap. ii, on his political acts in 1826-30, including his visits to the north, his quarrel with Gonzalez, and his complaints and offers of resignation; chap. iii. on his quarrels with Herrera; chap. iv. on his mission policy and controversies with the padres; and chap. vii.-viii. on his acts after giving up the command to Victoria on Jan. 31, 1831. Also chap. xi. for additional particulars of his secularization policy. Echeandía was probably under 40 years of age in 1825. In person he was tall, slight, and well formed, with fair complexion, hair not quite black, scanty beard – some say his hair and eyes were light, among them Ignacio del Valle — and a pleasing face and expression. His health was very delicate. In his speech he affected the Castilian pronunciation, noticeably in giving the 'll,' 'c,' and 'z' their proper sounds. The following items from various sources show something of his character. Gonzalez, Experiencias, MS., 27, notes his affability to private soldiers. Valle, Lo Pasailo de Cal., MS., 7-8, says he was so absent-minded as sometimes to ask his secretary what his own name was before signing a document. J. J. Vallejo, Reminiscencias, 103-108, calls him a capricious despot, who would carry out a whim without regard to results. David Spence, Hist. Notes, MS., 15, asserts that he had no energy. Torre, Reminiscencias, MS., 22, speaks of him as popular but over-indulgent and careless. Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., ii. 46-7, 51, 110-13, 116-17, and Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., ii. 111, 140, 146-7, 166, are inclined to praise Echeandía in extravagant terms, mainly on account of his somewhat radical republicanism. Pio Pico, Hist. Cal., MS., 21, pronounces him affable but apathetic. Shea, Cath. Missions, 109, quotes Alfred Robinson as calling him 'the scourge of California, and instigator of vice, who sowed seeds of dishonor not to be extirpated while a mission remains to be robbed.' Tuthill, Hist. Cal., 130, says 'he was contracted in his views, despotic in the exercise of his powers, and selfish in his relations with foreigners.' Lieut Romualdo Pacheco alludes to him as his worst enemy, but incapable of injuring any one. Gale, writing to Cooper, Vallejo, Doc., MS., xxix. 104, calls him a man of undecided character, trying to please everybody.
June 6, 1832, orders for E. to report at Mexico. Sup. Govt St. Pap., MS., viii. 40. Oct. 30, 1833, orders to investigate his services in order to reach a decision about his pay. Id., xxi. 8. In April 1828 he wrote to Guerra in Mexico to pay his mother $100 without letting his wife know anything of it. March 13, 1833, the comisario general alludes to an allowance of $100 to María Salcedo, Echeandía's wife. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Com. and Treas., MS., ii. 65. Sailed from S. Diego, May 14, 1833. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS.,
