local authorities from executing Chico's orders.[1] The popular version ascribes Chico's 'persecution of Duran to the latter's refusal to punish the padres Jimeno, and to his denunciation of the governor's vices; but the dates and tenor of the two original documents cited will suggest to the reader very many discrepancies in all that is said by Californians about this, like every other part of Chico's rule.
The governor's popularity at the capital had not increased during his absence, and he soon became involved in the final troubles of his Californian experience. These troubles are stated with great unanimity by those who write from memory to have grown out of a scandalous liaison between José María Castañares, a clerk in the custom-house, and Doña Ildefonsa, wife of the sub-comisario, José María Herrera. This causa célebre is fully recorded in the archives, many of the original papers being in my possession. The record is bulky, and most of the details,
- ↑ Valdés, Mem., MS., 24; Janssens, Vida, MS., 65; Gonzalez, Experiencias, MS., 32; Pinto, Apuntaciones, MS., 17. Mrs Ord, Ocurrencias, MS., 93-7, says that two officers came to Sta B. from the north to arrest Duran, arriving in the night. Domingo Carrillo warned Capt. Guerra; and narrator with a little brother was sent to warn P. Duran, who replied: 'Tell the patriarch to have no fear; blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.' The agents of Chico gave Duran some days for preparation, and then he went to the beach in a carriage. All the women of the place crowded about the carriage, and declared that the padre should not go on board the vessel. When a climax of cries and tears and general excitement had been reached, the men, hitherto concealed in a sauzalito near by, came up to support the women; and Duran, against his own desire, real or pretended, was taken home. Sta Bárbara for the first time was in open revolt against the govt. Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 79-86, tells us that Capt. Guerra, knowing that Duran was to be exiled, and not being at liberty to divulge the secret, called his young son, and gave him money to go and buy all the eggs he could get for P. Duran, who was to be sent away, but it was a great secret, and must be told to nobody. Of course the youngster told everybody, as was his custom with all secrets — and also so as to get the eggs for nothing and pocket the money — and when the soldiers went to make the arrest, they found Duran surrounded by a crowd of women, who declared they would defend him with their lives. The soldiers did not dare to make the attack, and Chico was notified that he must send Mexican soldiers to take the padre! Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 120-4, states, as does Alvarado, that Duran's chief offence was having preached against the governor's immorality. Chico was furious, and prepared to send an armed force to make his authority respected at Sta B.; but was dissuaded, or prevented by his other troubles, from carrying out his plan.
