Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/228

210 About December 20th, Victoria left San Gabriel. On his way south he spent some days at San Luis Rey with Padre Antonio Peyri, who decided to leave California with the fallen governor. Meanwhile Juan Bandini at San Diego made a contract with John Bradshaw and Supercargo Thomas Shaw of the American ship Pocahontas to carry Victoria to Mazatlan for $1,600 in silver, to be paid before setting sail; and the exile, arriving on the 27th, went immediately on board the ship, which did not sail, however, for twenty days. I have before me an autograph letter addressed by Victoria to Captain Guerra on the 31st from on board the Pocahontas still in port, in which he expresses confidence that his own acts will meet the approval of the national government, and that relief for the ills that afflict California will not be long delayed. His wounds were rapidly healing, and but for grief at the fate of his compadre Pacheco and the bereavement of the widow, he would be a happy man. He urged Guerra to keep his friends the Carrillos if possible from accepting the new plan. The vessel sailed on January 17, 1832, with Victoria and two servants, Padre Peyri and several neophyte boys, and Alférez Rodrigo del Pliego. On February 5th,