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ALVARADO'S RULE — TROUBLES IN THE SOUTH.

tion; namely, the conduct of Becher, supercargo of the Mexican vessels Catalina and Leonor, which was thought to be sufficiently suspicious to justify a seizure of his property and credits at San Francisco, to the amount of $11,000. It was believed that the government might justly use this property for its defence, should it prove that Becher had promoted hostile acts.^[1]

At the end of January Vallejo put his brother Salvador in command at Sonoma, and early in February marched with fifty men to Monterey.^[2] His avowed purpose was to watch the progress of affairs in the south, and to protect the government from certain persons whose conduct had given rise to suspicions of active infidelity, especially at San Juan. It was during this visit that he wrote to Alvarado to have quarters prepared for one hundred men whom he had ready to send down by sea. I do not suppose he had any real intention of going to the south, but it was thought the statement, supported by the known departure from Sonoma, would help Alvarado.^[3] The nature of the plots at San Juan is not very clearly revealed; but before Vallejo's arrival a number of convicts had been disarmed by William R. Garner, Quintin Ortega, and Mariano Castro; and arms had also been seized at various ranchos. Vallejo caused the

↑ Jan. 12th, 20th, V. to Alvarado, in Vallejo, Doc., MS., iv. 56-7. March 17th, A. to V. Fears much from Becher's hostility, since he has discovered our plans to buy two vessels with which to operate against the centralists. He pretends to clear for Callao, but it is feared he will touch at a Mexican port with bad reports. Castro will watch him at S. Diego. Id., iv. 216. Oct. 27th, Richardson, Becher's agent, has received order to cancel attachment of $5,000. Id., iv. 341.
↑ Jan. 30th, instr. to Capt. Salvador Vallejo. Should any Mex. force appear, he was to assure the foe that the northern Californians would maintain their rights if they had to destroy all the property they possessed. Vallejo, Doc., MS., iv. 17. On Jan. 24th, the general had announced his purpose to go to Monterey. Id., iv. 59.
↑ Feb. 21st, V. to A., in Vallejo, Doc., MS., iv. 66; S. Diego, Arch., MS., 170. Feb. 20th, the gen. had addressed the gov. on the importance of reorganizing the presidial companies. Vallejo, Ordenes. Glad to hear of success, but warns A. to beware of Los Angeles. Vallejo, Doc., MS., iv. 65. Feb. 25th, urges the necessity of looking out for the northern towns as of much greater importance than those of the south. Id., iv. 75.

[1] Jan. 12th, 20th, V. to Alvarado, in Vallejo, Doc., MS., iv. 56-7. March 17th, A. to V. Fears much from Becher's hostility, since he has discovered our plans to buy two vessels with which to operate against the centralists. He pretends to clear for Callao, but it is feared he will touch at a Mexican port with bad reports. Castro will watch him at S. Diego. Id., iv. 216. Oct. 27th, Richardson, Becher's agent, has received order to cancel attachment of $5,000. Id., iv. 341.

[2] Jan. 30th, instr. to Capt. Salvador Vallejo. Should any Mex. force appear, he was to assure the foe that the northern Californians would maintain their rights if they had to destroy all the property they possessed. Vallejo, Doc., MS., iv. 17. On Jan. 24th, the general had announced his purpose to go to Monterey. Id., iv. 59.

[3] Feb. 21st, V. to A., in Vallejo, Doc., MS., iv. 66; S. Diego, Arch., MS., 170. Feb. 20th, the gen. had addressed the gov. on the importance of reorganizing the presidial companies. Vallejo, Ordenes. Glad to hear of success, but warns A. to beware of Los Angeles. Vallejo, Doc., MS., iv. 65. Feb. 25th, urges the necessity of looking out for the northern towns as of much greater importance than those of the south. Id., iv. 75.

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