Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/274

256 May 1st to the diputacion, Figueroa mentioned the plan for northern settlement, but said nothing to indicate that any actual progress had been made. The 14th of May, however, he sentenced a criminal to serve out his term of punishment "at the new establishment about to be founded at Santa Rosa." In June the rancho of Petaluma was granted by the governor to Vallejo, and the grant approved by the diputacion, this being virtually an end of the mission claim. . Respecting subsequent developments of 1834-5 in the Santa Rosa Valley, the records are not satisfactory; but Figueroa, hearing of the approach of a colony from Mexico, resolved to make some preparations for its reception, and naturally thought of the northern establishment, which he resolved to visit in person. All that we know positively of the trip is that he started late in August, extended his tour to Ross, examined the country, selected a site, and having left a small force on the frontier, returned to Monterey the 12th of September. To these facts there