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GUTIERREZ, CASTRO, AND ALVARADO.

larly the former, speak of the governor's immorality in establishing in his palacio a seraglio of Indian girls from San Gabriel; but their chief argument against him is based on his treatment of the diputacion. Not only, according to these gentlemen, did Gutierrez refuse to deliver the office of gefe político to the senior vocal, as was desired and expected, but he insulted that body through its president, sent to confer with him; said he "had no need of diputados of pen and voice while he had plenty of diputados of sword and gun;" and even gave orders to disperse the diputacion by force, so frightening the members that they did not dare to reassemble at Monterey.^[1]

The truth is, that Gutierrez, a Spaniard by birth though serving on the insurgent side during the revolution, was an inoffensive, easy-going, unpretentious, and not unpopular man. He was a faithful officer, of moderate ability, and of not very strict morals. He was neither dishonest, arrogant, nor arbitrary in his conduct. As a Mexican officer he was loyal to his national allegiance; he had no right according to the laws and his predecessor's instructions to turn over the civil command to the diputacion; and as a Spaniard he had to be somewhat more cautious respecting his conduct than if he had been born in Mexico.^[2]

↑ Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., iii., 112-24. With many details of his own interviews with the gov., and also the efforts of Angel Ramirez, Alvarado's friend, and having much influence over G. and all the Mexicans. Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 154, etc., agrees in the main with Alvarado's statements, he not having been at Monterey at the time.
↑ G. as remembered by the Californians was of medium height, rather stout, of light complexion, reddish hair, beard slightly sprinkled with gray, and with a cast in the right eye which caused him to be nicknamed 'El Tuerto.' He came to Mexico as a boy, and his first service was as a drummer. Torre, Remin., MS., 68-70, saw him give an exhibition of his skill as a drummer at a serenade on Figueroa's birthday. Abrego, in García, Apuntes, MS., appen., says that G. was one of 300 Spanish prisoners taken by Gen. Bravo, and whom he offered to liberate to save his father's life. The father was shot, but Bravo freed the men, most of whom, including the young drummer, remained in the insurgent ranks. He had served with Figueroa, was his intimate friend, and came to Cal. with him in Jan. 1833, as captain. His commission as lieut-colonel was dated July 18, 1833. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., lxxix. 79. In 1834-5 he was comisionado for the secularization of S. Gabriel. All else of his life in Cal. is contained in this chapter and the preceding. I know nothing of him after he left the country.

[1] Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., iii., 112-24. With many details of his own interviews with the gov., and also the efforts of Angel Ramirez, Alvarado's friend, and having much influence over G. and all the Mexicans. Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 154, etc., agrees in the main with Alvarado's statements, he not having been at Monterey at the time.

[2] G. as remembered by the Californians was of medium height, rather stout, of light complexion, reddish hair, beard slightly sprinkled with gray, and with a cast in the right eye which caused him to be nicknamed 'El Tuerto.' He came to Mexico as a boy, and his first service was as a drummer. Torre, Remin., MS., 68-70, saw him give an exhibition of his skill as a drummer at a serenade on Figueroa's birthday. Abrego, in García, Apuntes, MS., appen., says that G. was one of 300 Spanish prisoners taken by Gen. Bravo, and whom he offered to liberate to save his father's life. The father was shot, but Bravo freed the men, most of whom, including the young drummer, remained in the insurgent ranks. He had served with Figueroa, was his intimate friend, and came to Cal. with him in Jan. 1833, as captain. His commission as lieut-colonel was dated July 18, 1833. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., lxxix. 79. In 1834-5 he was comisionado for the secularization of S. Gabriel. All else of his life in Cal. is contained in this chapter and the preceding. I know nothing of him after he left the country.

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