The falling-off in neophyte population down to 1834, when there were 626 in the community, was much less marked than in the past decade; and in live-stock there was an actual gain, agricultural operations being also moderately successful to the end. After
Franciscan habit at Barcelona on April 14, 1779. Here he served from 1800 as predicador conventual and as comisario visitador of the 3d order. Leaving Cádiz in April, 1804, he reached the Mexican college in July, and in 1808 came to Cal. His missionary service was at S. Cárlos in 1808-9, San Juan Capistrano in 1809-13, San Luis Rey in 1814-16, Sta Bárbara in 1816-23, and S. Buenaventura in 1823-31. He was rated by his superiors as of medium ability. Autobiog. Autog. de los Padres, MS.; Payeras, Inf. de 1820, MS., 128; Sarría, Inf. sobre Frailes, 1817, MS., 50-1. He was a preacher of more than ordinary eloquence, but his usefulness as a missionary was seriously impaired by his broken health, on account of which he made frequent efforts from 1814 to obtain a passport for retirement, and which probably had much to do with a brusque manner and irritable temperament that made him generally unpopular. From 1824 he was blind. He took the oath of republican allegiance in 1826. His death occurred on Jan. 17, 1831, and he was buried next day in the S. Buenaventura church. S. Buen., Lib. Mis., MS., 25, 67.
Francisco Javier de la Concepcion Uría was born May 10, 1770, at 2 P. M. at Aizarna, villa de Sta Cruz de Cestona, province of Guipúzcoa, Spain. In Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 1-3, I have his original certificate of baptism. He became a Franciscan Jan. 13, 1789, at S. Sebastian; left Cádiz May 8, 1795; and came to Cal. in 1797. After serving at S. Fernando in 1797-1805, he retired to his college, but came back at the end of 1807, serving at Sta Cruz in 1808, Sta Inés in 1808-24, Soledad in 1824-8, and S. Buenaventura in 1828-34. Accredited by his superiors with distinguished merit and ability. Autobiog. Autog., MS.; Sarría, Inf., 1817, MS., 51-2; Payeras, Inf., 1820, MS., 129; Arch. Sta B., MS, x. 444. Padre Uría was stout in physique, jolly in manner, addicted to pleasantries and jokes, indulging sometimes in coarse language, kind-hearted and well liked though at times very quick-tempered. He was an excellent manager of temporal affairs, and was noted for his generosity, especially to the Indians. Some of his letters are found in Guerra, Doc., MS., ii. 155 et seq., besides business letters in other archives. Valdés, Mem., MS., 7-9, has something to say of him, and also Osio, Hist. Cal., MS., 62. From 1817 he was anxious to retire, but could not get his passport, though in 1826 he refused to take the oath of allegiance. In his last illness he went to Sta Bárbara, where he died at the house of Capt. Guerra in Nov. or Dec. 1834 and was buried in the vault of the mission church by P. Jimeno. Sta B., Lib. Mis., MS., 37.
Buenaventura Fortuni, or more correctly Fortuny, as he usually wrote it, was born at Moster, Cataluña, in Feb. 1774, and took the habit at Reus Oct. 30, 1792. He left Cádiz in May 1803, and came to Cal. in 1806. His ministry was at S. José in 1806-25, S. Antonio in 1825-6, S. Francisco Solano in 1826-33, S. Luis Rey in 1833-6, and S. Buenaventura in 1837-43. His superiors pronounced him an able, zealous, and faithful missionary. Autobiog. Autog. de los Padres, MS.; Sarría, Inf., 1817, MS., 70-1; Payeras, Inf., 1820, MS., p. 139. Valdés, Mem., MS., 9, describes the padre as of medium height and spare. He was a quiet unobtrusive man, careful in temporal management, moderate in his views and expressions, strict in religious duties, but indulgent to the Indians, and noted for his charitable disposition. In 1823 he refused to take the oath, but was respectful and obedient to the government. Like Uría he came to Sta Bárbara in his last days, and died at the residence of José Ant. Aguirre on Dec. 16, 1849. St. Pap., Mis., MS., ix. 49. His remains were deposited in the mission vault on the 15th. Sta B., Lib. Mis., MS., 38.
