106 THE EXPULSION OF THE JESUITS. [1767 



posed to be enjoyed, by the Jesuits ; and the governments of Spain 

 and Portugal, though always opposed to each other, were equally 

 mistrustful as to the objects and proceedings of that order in the 

 New World. Suspicions were entertained at Lisbon and at Madrid 

 that those proceedings were not dictated solely by religious or phil- 

 anthropic motives ; but that the Jesuits aspired to the separation 

 and exclusive control of the greater part, if not of the whole, of 

 Southern America : and these suspicions were increased by the 

 successful stand which they made in Paraguay, at the head of the 

 natives, against the division of that province, and the transfer of a 

 portion of its territory to Portugal, agreeably to the treaty concluded 

 between the latter kingdom and Spain, in 1750. This act drew 

 down upon the order the hatred of the subtle and fearless marquis 

 de Pombal, who then ruled Portugal with a rod of steel ; from that 

 moment he devoted himself to its destruction, and, his plans having 

 been disposed with care and secrecy, all its members were expelled 

 from the Portuguese dominions, without difficulty, in 1759. In 

 France, the Jesuits were soon after entirely overthrown by the 

 agency of the duke de Choiseul, the minister, and madame de Pom- 

 padour, the mistress of Louis XV. ; and on the 2d of April, 1767, 

 a decree was unexpectedly issued by King Charles III. of Spain, 

 at the instigation of the celebrated count de Aranda, for their im- 

 mediate banishment from the Spanish territories. This decree was 

 executed without delay in every part of the empire. In Mexico, 

 the Jesuits, to the number of several hundreds, were, in July 

 following, arrested and sent off to Europe ; and a strong military 

 force was at the same time despatched to California, under the 

 command of Don Gaspar de Portola, who found no difficulty in 

 tearing a few old priests from the arms of their wailing converts. 



Thus ended the rule of the Jesuits in California. That their 

 efforts were attended with good cannot be denied ; for those who 

 were the immediate objects of their care, were certainly rendered 

 happier, more comfortable, and more free from vice, than they would 

 otherwise have been. Unfortunately, however, the aborigines of 

 California are among the most indolent and brutish of the human 

 race ; with minds as sterile and unimprovable as the soil of their 

 peninsula. By constant watchfulness, by the judicious administra- 

 tion of rewards as well as punishments, by the removal of all evil 

 examples, and, above all, by studiously practising themselves what 

 they recommended to others, the benevolent, wise, and persevering 

 Jesuits did indeed introduce a certain degree of civilization, or 



