172 CALIFORNIA. 



standing of the parties. To recover a debt by legal means, is consi- 

 dered as beyond a possibility, and creditors must wait until the debtor 

 is disposed to pay. Fortunately, and to the honour of the country, 

 a just claim is rarely or never denied ; and, until lately, the word of 

 a Californian was sufficient to insure the payment of claims on him ; 

 but, such has been the moral degradation to which the people have 

 fallen since the missions have been robbed by the authorities, and the 

 old priests driven out, that no reliance can be placed now upon their 

 promises, and all those who have of late trusted them, complain that 

 engagements are not regarded, and that it is next to impossible to 

 obtain any returns for goods that have been delivered. The state of 

 the country is, however, some excuse, as it has been impossible for any 

 one to make calculations under the existing anarchy and confusion. 



It was at first believed that the revolution which took place in 

 November 1836, would result in much immediate good to those who 

 effected it ; but such has not been the case. Foreigners unquestion- 

 ably performed a large part in planning and carrying the change out; 

 yet none have suffered so much by it as they have. 



Much of this derangement of business has grown out of the state 

 of the country for the last twenty years ; and, although its history 

 is of little importance, a succinct sketch of it may not be wholly 

 devoid of interest. The facts are derived both from Californian and 

 Mexican authorities, as well as from Americans ; and, although the 

 accounts frequently differ in some particulars, yet as to the main 

 points they agree. 



Previous to the year of the revolution by which California was 

 separated from old Spain (1823), the whole country may be said to 

 have been under the rale of the missions, and the padres who were at 

 their head had acquired a vast influence over the Indians, as well as 

 amongst the soldiery who were placed in the presidios as the guards 

 and protectors of the missions. There were twenty-one missions, and 

 only four presidios. The power of the governors was usually rather 

 nominal than real, and the troops, from being totally neglected, were 

 dependent upon the missions almost for their daily bread. For- 

 tunately for the country, the padres and rulers of the missions were 

 men well adapted for their calling : good managers, sincere Chris- 

 tians, they exerted a salutary influence over all in any way connected 

 with them, practising at the same time the proper virtues of their 

 calling, in order more effectually to inculcate them upon others. 

 These reverend men were all old Spaniards, and greatly attached to 



