CALIFORNIA. 175 



over the reins of government into the hands of a successor, to avoid 

 the difficulties and dangers to which he would otherwise have been 

 liable. 



The next in command was Don Nicolas Gutierez, a lieutenant 

 colonel : under this officer tranquillity was apparently restored for a 

 time. 



During the preceding years, many foreigners had settled in Cali- 

 fornia, who had taken a part in its affairs. These included natives 

 of all countries ; and among them were to be found Americans, who 

 had led the lives of hunters and trappers, some of whom had been 

 living in the Rocky Mountains, and on the Columbia river, whilst 

 others had come from Mexico. These persons were naturally of a 

 restless disposition, and disposed to engage in any thing that would 

 produce excitement ; bold and reckless in their disposition, they could 

 not remain quiet under the turn things were taking in California, and 

 they now joined and instigated the party opposed to the governor. 

 They argued that California ought to form itself into a free state, by 

 declaring its independence of Mexico, which had not the power to 

 govern it. At that time any plausible arguments had weight with 

 so ignorant a people as the Californians, and this idea was rendered 

 acceptable by the ill-will they bore the Mexicans, and the obvious 

 want of legitimate power. The project of overturning the govern- 

 ment was also entertained by those who had previously held office, 

 and particularly by the administrador of the customs, Ramierez, and 

 Cosme Penne, a drunken lawyer, who was the assessor. They were 

 both Mexicans by birth, and belonged to the ultra liberals. With 

 them was joined the inspector, Alvarado, who was extremely popular 

 with the foreigners. The two former, knowing the ignorance that 

 prevailed among the Californians, constituted themselves leaders, and 

 expected, in the event of any change, to be benefited by it; but at the 

 same time they looked with some degree of mistrust and jealousy 

 upon the foreigners resident there. 



Under such circumstances, the least difficulty was sufficient to 

 bring about a revolution, and it was not long before one occurred that 

 caused an outbreak, and ended in the overthrow of the authorities. 

 About the beginning of November 1836, a dispute arose between 

 the governor and Alvarado, the inspector of the customs, who 

 was threatened with arrest. The popularity of Alvarado with the 

 foreigners caused them at once to take a warm interest in his behalf; 

 and, without inquiring into the right or wrong of the business, 



