Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/30

12 hijo del país called upon to rule California, and he filled most creditably a position which was by no means free from difficulties. Had the rival candidate, José de la Guerra, been chosen, it is hard to point out in what way he could have ruled more wisely. Argüello's education was in some respects deficient, being simply what his father could give him in his presidio home; but in every position which he occupied he showed much practical common sense if no extraordinary ability. He was much less strict than his father, or than most of the old Spanish officers, in his regard for the letter of national law; he was sometimes reproved when comandante for his concessions to foreigners, and especially to the Russians; and when he became governor, he still continued his innovations in S. Diego in Nov. 1825, I think he remained for some time in the south with his brother, Don Santiago. On April 15, 1826, Echcandía ordered his pay as comandante to cease, the reason not being explained. Dept Rec., MS., iv. 31. On May 20th Echeandía ordered him to S. Francisco to take command of his company. Id., v. 46. Aug. 8, 1827, the minister of war was informed that Argüello claimed the commission of lieutentant-colonel that had been given him by Iturbide. Id., v. 128. Oct. 7, 1828, Echeandía relieved Argüello of his command in consideration of ill health; and on Nov. 20th he was ordered to Monterey 'for the good of the service.' Id., vi. 109, 138. His purchase of the Rover, his enterprise in the China trade, and the resulting lawsuits with Capt. Cooper, the only notable events of his later life, are noticed in other chapters.

Argüello's military record down to the end of 1828 gives him 29 years, 3 months, and 27 days of service, with an addition of 11 years and 11 days for campaigns. Echcandía appends the following notes: 'Courage, proved; ability, more than average; military conduct, indifferent; health, broken; loyalty, supposed faithful. His services merit all consideration, but his conduct is now loose, doubtless from excessive drinking. He was suspended from command for reasons presented to the supreme government on Feb. 15, 1528.' St. Pap., Sac., MS., xi. 5-7. He died at San Francisco on March 27, 1830, at 1:30 A. M., at the age of 46 years, and was interred in the mission cemetery next day by P. Esténega. ''S. Francisco, Lib. Mision, MS., 73-4; Vallejo, Doc.,'' MS., xx. 165. Mariano Estrada was the executor of the estate, S. José, Arch., MS., i. 36, which five years after his death was in debt to the missions to the extent of over $1,000. ''Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Com. and Treas.,'' MS., iii. 76-7; S. Francisco, Cuentas, MS., v. 1. To his widow, Doña Soledal, was left the rancho of Las Pulgas, and notwithstanding the depredations of lawyers and squatters, she was in easy circumstances until her death in 1874. None of the sons of Don Luis ever acquired any prominence in public life. The Californian writers, almost without exception, speak in the highest terms of Argüello's honesty, ability, and kindness of heart: See ''Alvarado, Hist. Cal.,'' MS. ii. 102-4; ''Vallejo, Hist. Cal.,'' MS.,i. 327-30; ii. 42-3; ''Osio, Hist. Cal., MS., 5-21, 57; Amador, Mem., MS., 81-3; Castro, Rel.,'' MS.. 13-14; Ávila, Cosas, MS., 22; Romero, Mem., MS., 10; Machado, Lo Pasado, MS., 21; Spence's Notes, MS., 14; ''Hayes' Em. Notes, MS., 505; Sta Bárbara Press, Oct. 24, 1874; S. Diego Union,'' Oct. 29, 1874.