174 CALIFORNIA. 



receiving the arrears of pay that were due them. The governor, 

 with becoming energy, put down this disturbance, and restored 

 order. 



In 1831, Echandia was succeeded by Don Manuel Victoria, who 

 changed the whole policy of his predecessor. He became at once, 

 from his tyrannical conduct, extremely unpopular, and in the first 

 year of his administration was so severely wounded in a skirmish at 

 Los Angelos as to be incapable of continuing in the command. The 

 insurrection, of which this skirmish was an incident, was the most 

 serious that had occurred. It owed its formidable character, as was 

 believed, to the aid which the foreigners gave the Californians : 

 this was the first time the former had interfered with the affairs of 

 the country. 



After this event, General Figueroa, who was sent to rule over Upper 

 California, by his mild yet firm deportment, reconciled opinions, and 

 put down all opposition. His administration is still spoken of as 

 having been conducted with great ability and moderation. By his 

 recommendation, the supreme government had sent out a colony of 

 two hundred labourers and agriculturists, of which the country was 

 much in want, to Monterey ; but instead of their being what Figueroa 

 had asked for, or such as were reported to have been sent, they turned 

 out to be mere idlers, who had been living at the public expense. The 

 arrival of this colony produced the most unhappy effects, and with 

 them arose an enmity between the Californians and Mexicans, that 

 has acquired additional acrimony from the favour shown the latter 

 by the succeeding governors. Figueroa died in 1835, greatly re- 

 gretted by all : his death proved a great loss to the country, for, had 

 he lived, things would probably have turned out favourably. 



Colonel Chico, the next in command, succeeded Figueroa, but was 

 ill-suited for the situation, and the contrast between him and his pre- 

 decessor was too perceptible for him to give satisfaction ; his conduct 

 towards the inhabitants tended to increase the unfavourable impres- 

 sions he had first made. It was not long before a dispute arose 

 between him and the supreme judge of the district, upon the question 

 as to which of them the chief authority belonged. Parties became 

 very violent, and Chico determined to put down all opposition by mili- 

 tary force. This course gave great dissatisfaction, and, coupled with 

 his arbitrary conduct towards the inhabitants and the missions, created 

 a determination to resist him, if he did not resign. A letter was written 

 to him to that effect, upon which he felt himself compelled to deliver 



