Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/703

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SAN MIGUEL.
685

rapid. The mission was secularized in 1836 by Ignacio Coronel; and Inocente García was the administrator in 1837-40. The inventory of transfer showed a valuation, not including church property, of $82,000, which in the middle of 1839 had been reduced to $75,000. There were several ranchos with buildings, and two large vineyards, none of the lands being granted to private ownership during the decade. The


    Castro being appointed comisionado, and the Ind. manifesting a preference for the old system. Nothing done. This vol., p. 306-8. 1833. Jan., P. Cabot to gov., announcing election of native alcaldes and regidores. Gomez, Doc., MS., 22. Feb., a large quantity of growing wheat destroyed by flood. Vallejo, Doc., MS., xxxi. 4. Mrs Ord, Occurrencias, MS., 69, visiting the mission this year noted the prevalent prosperity and the large amount of property, there being a notable change for the worse at her next visit two years later. Lat. and long. as taken by Douglas. This vol., p. 404. 1836. June 30th, secularization considered in the diputacion. Leg. Rec., MS, iii. 23. July 14th, Ignacio Coronel put in charge, probably as comisionado, at $600 salary: Coronel, Doc., MS., 189. Sept. 30th, P. Moreno writes that on the coming of the admin. all property was distributed among the Ind. except the grain, and of that they carried off more than half. Guerra, Doc., MS., vii. 4. Oct. 16th, P. Abella writes that P. Moreno refuses, very properly, to render accounts; and the govt seems disposed to bother the padres in every possible way. Carrillo (J.), Doc., MS., 37. 1837. Inocente García takes possession as administrator by inventory. March 30th, Mariano Bonilla served as his clerk. García, Hechos, MS., 73-4, relates that on one occasion a party of men under Isaac Graham forced the doors of the monjería, after which G. abolished the institution, leaving each family to care for their women. G. says he raised large crops until he found it was of no use, as there was no market and there was more food than the Ind. could eat. He gives many details in a confused way about S. Miguel affairs. The Ind. were addicted to theft and could not be controlled. Hechos, 57 et seq. 1838. P. Moreno complains bitterly of his poverty and the disappearance of the mission property. Guerra, Doc., MS., viii. 2-3. 1839. García still admin., but Bonilla acting in June-July. Monterey, Arch., MS., ix. 12; St. Pap., Miss., MS., x. 18. Hartnell's visit was early in Aug. His reports do not indicate a bad state of affairs, though there was a dispute pending about some blankets which the Ind. claimed not to have been distributed; and at their request he dismissed the majordomo at S. Simeon, Manuel Ortega. The Ind. wished to have no administrator and to be left with the padre — anything for a change. They were also afraid of losing their lands at S. Simeon, Asuncion, Paso de Robles, and Sta Rosa; but they were willing to spare La Estrella, Cholam, Güegüero, and Cáñamo. Orders were given to investigate the case of men said to be 'cuereando' or killing cattle for their hides on the mission lands; also permission for P. Moreno to cultivate the Huerta de Asuncion on his own account. In Nov, there were complaints from the admin. that the Ind. were running away, and from the padres that García was not obeying the visitador's instructions, flogging the Ind. excessively, and otherwise interfering with the padre's prerogatives, Hartnell, Diario, MS., 25-7, 34, 47-8, 83-4. Aug., a majordomo poisoned by two Ind., who were arrested for the murder. St. Pap., Miss., MS., x. 18. Hartnell's instructions for the administrator, including repairs, concentration of industries, payment of debts, etc. Id., viii. 17-20. 1840. No record. Hartnell was here in Sept. but says nothing of mission affairs. Diario, MS., 93.