Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/315

Rh beard, piercing eyes, protruding lip, and large prominent teeth. He is believed to have had a large admixture of Indian blood. In manner, he was extremely affable and fascinating, especially in his intercourse with inferiors. His favorite vice was gambling; and though there is some evidence that he had a family in Mexico, he kept a mistress, and left a natural daughter in California. He brought to the country a military reputation, considerable experience, good administrative abilities, and great skill in the arts by which personal popularity is acquired. His term of office in California was brief, and the circumstances of his rule were favorable. His enemies were for the most part men of straw; his partisans were then and later the controlling element of the population. Even the padres were forced by circumstances into a partial and negative support of his policy. Moreover, he did some really good work in organizing territorial and local government, and he made no serious errors. He was liberal in the matter of land grants and in his policy toward foreigners. He antagonized no class, but flattered all. Hence an enviable reputation, for the Californians have nothing but praise for the character and acts of Figueroa. He has been fortunate in his fame. Eulogy has been exaggerated; I think the man's acts and correspondence show traits of character that under less favorable circumstances would have given him a much less favorable record. Nevertheless, he is probably entitled to his position in history as the best Mexican governor ever sent to rule California. In several following chapters I