Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/616

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ALVARADO'S RULE – POLITICAL EVENTS.

About this time the chief, Solano, conceived the project of making a visit to Monterey with an escort of Indian braves. He had been invited by Alvarado in 1836 to pay him a visit, and had promised to do so; but his action at this time was doubtless prompted by Vallejo, who thought it well to frighten the potentates of the capital with a hint at his reserve power. He of course had no real intention of inflicting on the people of Monterey a large force of Indians; but he perhaps at first exaggerated the number to be sent.^[1] In the middle of October, the general announced that Solano had asked and received permission to visit the capital with eighty Indians. I do not know if the visit was made; but if so, it was probably with a smaller number, who formed part of the general's escort, as he was at San Francisco October 22d and 23d, en route to Monterey.^[2]

Having arrived at the capital, Vallejo asked for an interview with the acting-governor – it does not appear that he had any communication personally with Al-

is time to bring them to their senses. Id., viii. 78. Sept. 8th, V. to gov. Desires a conference at Sta Clara. Id., viii. 84. Sept. 24th, Jimeno, being about to turn over the office, cannot grant the interview; besides, a gov. has no right to leave the capital. Id., viii. 171. Oct. 9th, J. A. Carrillo to V. The political condition promises nothing but misfortune. Thinks of selling his property and leaving the country. He is always suspected, and even his private letters are not safe. Id., viii. 199.

↑ Sept. 3d, Pablo de la Guerra, in the name of his own and other Sta Bárbara families, protests against V.'s proposed sending of Solano with 2,000 Indians. He begs V. not to run such a risk for the sake of frightening Alvarado. Vallejo, Doc., MS., viii. 73. Oct. 2d, Salv. Vallejo to Guerra. Has urged his brother in vain not to send Solano to Monterey. Hopes to influence Solano, however, not to take more than 1,000 Indians. Id., viii. 192. These letters purport to be copies of originals, and are in the handwriting of a man whom I have often detected in questionable practices. Doubtless the numbers are pure inventions, and the dates are suspicious. Possibly the whole is a forgery, but it is not unlikely that Vallejo may have made a threat and used large figures.
↑ Oct. 16th, V. to Alvarado, announcing Solano's departure. Vallejo, Doc., MS., viii. 216. Ochenta in the original is changed clumsily into ochocientos by the same genius mentioned in the last note. Document also in Dept. St. Pap., MS., iv. 282. Proofs of V.'s trip and presence at S. Francisco on Oct. 22d-3d, and indications that he had 31 men in all. Vallejo, Doc., MS., viii. 210, 223, 225. Dorotea Valdés, Reminis., MS., 7-8, claims to remember Solano's visit at Monterey. Fernandez, Cosas de Cal., MS., 96, 101-3, remembers his passing through S. José with hundreds (!) of Indians. He says Solano kept his men in very good order, but both he and V. acted in a very proud, arrogant manner.

[1] Sept. 3d, Pablo de la Guerra, in the name of his own and other Sta Bárbara families, protests against V.'s proposed sending of Solano with 2,000 Indians. He begs V. not to run such a risk for the sake of frightening Alvarado. Vallejo, Doc., MS., viii. 73. Oct. 2d, Salv. Vallejo to Guerra. Has urged his brother in vain not to send Solano to Monterey. Hopes to influence Solano, however, not to take more than 1,000 Indians. Id., viii. 192. These letters purport to be copies of originals, and are in the handwriting of a man whom I have often detected in questionable practices. Doubtless the numbers are pure inventions, and the dates are suspicious. Possibly the whole is a forgery, but it is not unlikely that Vallejo may have made a threat and used large figures.

[2] Oct. 16th, V. to Alvarado, announcing Solano's departure. Vallejo, Doc., MS., viii. 216. Ochenta in the original is changed clumsily into ochocientos by the same genius mentioned in the last note. Document also in Dept. St. Pap., MS., iv. 282. Proofs of V.'s trip and presence at S. Francisco on Oct. 22d-3d, and indications that he had 31 men in all. Vallejo, Doc., MS., viii. 210, 223, 225. Dorotea Valdés, Reminis., MS., 7-8, claims to remember Solano's visit at Monterey. Fernandez, Cosas de Cal., MS., 96, 101-3, remembers his passing through S. José with hundreds (!) of Indians. He says Solano kept his men in very good order, but both he and V. acted in a very proud, arrogant manner.

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