ceived from all directions; and at Monterey a meeting was held in May to pass formal resolutions and appoint a committee to wait on the gefe político, and urge the importance of sending the convicts back on the same ship that brought them.[1] The diputacion passed resolutions of similar purport in August, as has been noted in the legislative records; but meanwhile, in July, there had arrived the Leonor, Captain Fitch, with fifty more convicts, about whom we have less information than in the case of the first company.[2] With few exceptions, no attempt was made to confine the criminals; but they were distributed through the territory to earn their living under a surveillance of the local authorities, more nominal than real. A few escaped across the frontier; and of those who served out their time, a large part remained permanently in California, where some were the founders of respectable families.[3]
The sending of the convicts and the resulting discussions doubtless had an effect to embitter the feeling that was beginning to exist between Californians and Mexicans, particularly at Monterey, where the quarrel between Gonzalez and Estrada had originated a sentiment of hostility which outlasted the Mexican power in California. At the celebration of the independence on September 16, 1830, a free fight is said to
- ↑ May 1, 1830, resolutions signed by Juan Malarin, Mariano Soberanes, José Castro, Antonio Osio, Juan B. Alvarado, Abel Stearns, Juan Cooper, David Spence, and Wm Hartnell. 10 articles subsequently approved by Echeandía. Dept. St. Pap., S. José, MS., v. 34-5. May 30th, alcalde (?) of Monterey to governor, speaks of the excitement caused by the arrival, the greater because of the part taken by convicts in the Solis revolt; and begs in the name of the citizens that they be not permitted to land. St. Pap., Sac., MS., x. 89-90.
- ↑ July 21, 1830, arrival of the Leonor at S. Diego, where 23 of the convicts remained. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Cust.-H., MS., iii. 54; Dept. Rec., MS., viii. 83. In the Atleta, Apr. 1, 1830, it is stated that Gen. Berdejo levied a tax of $3 on such presidiarios as wished for freedom, and many destined for California were set at liberty.
- ↑ According to Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., ii. 69-73, Echeandía excused the Mex. govt for sending convicts, on the ground of ignorance. 'El Gobierno ignoraba que existiesen familias decentes y de educacion en la peninsula,' he said to Lieut. Sanchez. A squad of soldiers came as a guard of this last as of the first convict band. These soldiers seem to have been sent back to the south soon. Alf. Antonio Nieto commanded the last squad.
