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48

ECHEANDÍA’S RULE – POLITICAL AFFAIRS.

came, in September 1829, against the sending of any but 'useful' convicts, since California had no jails, and the local government could be responsible neither for the safety of the criminals nor for the morals of the community thus exposed to contamination.^[1] Of course this had no effect; and in February 1830 the María Ester brought up about eighty of the unwelcome colonists from Acapulco to San Diego. Captain Holmes was not allowed to land them in the governor's absence, and went on to Santa Bárbara in March. A sergeant and twelve soldiers were in charge of the convicts.^[2]

How to dispose of the new-comers was a question of much perplexity. Nobody wanted anything to do with them; and a month passed before any decision was reached, perhaps before they were landed at all; and then, late in April, thirty of the worst of them, and probably many more, were sent over to Santa Cruz Island with a supply of cattle and fish-hooks to get a living as best as they could; while the rest were set to work for private employers in the region of Santa Bárbara and Los Angeles.^[3] Protests were re-

↑ Sept. 18, 1829, E. to sup. govt. Dept. Rec., MS., vii. 38-40. In Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 897, I find an unsigned document dated Mexico, April 25, 1830, purporting to be addressed by the diputado of Cal to the sup. govt, in which the writer protests against the sending of convicts. If there is no error, this would indicate that Maitorena did make at least one honest effort to serve his constituents.
↑ The María Ester left Acapulco Dec. 19th, touched at S. Blas and S. Lúcas, and lost one convict on the voyage. The exact number varies from 77 to 83 in different documents. The Enriqueta was reported to be coming with more convicts. Dept. St. Pap., MS., ii. 133; Id., Cust.-H., i. 32-3; Id., Ben. Cust.-H., iii. 55-6; Dept. Rec., MS., viii. 25, 28, 50.
↑ Com. Carrillo's letters to the governor about landing the convicts on Sta Rosa Island in March-Apr. 1830. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., lxxxviii. 1-3. April 23d, the María Ester sailed for Sta Cruz Island with 31 of the number, the missions furnishing some tools, cattle, hooks, and a little grain. Carrillo (J.), Doc., MS., 22. March 18th, Echeandía to comandante of Monterey from S. Luis Obispo, explaining his plan to send – apparently all – the convicts to the islands. Dept. Rec., MS., viii. 29-32. Mrs. Ord, Ocurrencias, MS., 25-7, says the convicts were in a naked and very filthy condition on their arrival. Capt. Guerra furnished them with clothing, made a speech encouraging them to good conduct, and personally employed 8 or 10. At the islands a fire soon destroyed all they had, and after a time, getting no relief, they built rafts, and all came over to the main, landing at Carpintería. The narrator says that as a rule they became very good people. Nov. 2d, 13 of those sent to the island had returned and presented themselves to the comandante. Dept. Rec., MS., viii. 122.

[1] Sept. 18, 1829, E. to sup. govt. Dept. Rec., MS., vii. 38-40. In Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 897, I find an unsigned document dated Mexico, April 25, 1830, purporting to be addressed by the diputado of Cal to the sup. govt, in which the writer protests against the sending of convicts. If there is no error, this would indicate that Maitorena did make at least one honest effort to serve his constituents.

[2] The María Ester left Acapulco Dec. 19th, touched at S. Blas and S. Lúcas, and lost one convict on the voyage. The exact number varies from 77 to 83 in different documents. The Enriqueta was reported to be coming with more convicts. Dept. St. Pap., MS., ii. 133; Id., Cust.-H., i. 32-3; Id., Ben. Cust.-H., iii. 55-6; Dept. Rec., MS., viii. 25, 28, 50.

[3] Com. Carrillo's letters to the governor about landing the convicts on Sta Rosa Island in March-Apr. 1830. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., lxxxviii. 1-3. April 23d, the María Ester sailed for Sta Cruz Island with 31 of the number, the missions furnishing some tools, cattle, hooks, and a little grain. Carrillo (J.), Doc., MS., 22. March 18th, Echeandía to comandante of Monterey from S. Luis Obispo, explaining his plan to send – apparently all – the convicts to the islands. Dept. Rec., MS., viii. 29-32. Mrs. Ord, Ocurrencias, MS., 25-7, says the convicts were in a naked and very filthy condition on their arrival. Capt. Guerra furnished them with clothing, made a speech encouraging them to good conduct, and personally employed 8 or 10. At the islands a fire soon destroyed all they had, and after a time, getting no relief, they built rafts, and all came over to the main, landing at Carpintería. The narrator says that as a rule they became very good people. Nov. 2d, 13 of those sent to the island had returned and presented themselves to the comandante. Dept. Rec., MS., viii. 122.

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