Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/325

Rh Mexico are not known, but the spirit of the administration which he represented was favorable to the friars; and he understood perfectly not only the illegality of Echeandía's act, but its motive and the influence of Padrés in the matter. In the north the bando pas more or less fully published in January. The document with the proper instructions and requests was sent not only to local officials, but to the padre prefect and bishop, who were urged to instruct and prepare the friars for the change. The ayuntamiento of Monterey on the 8th chose a comisionado for each of the seven missions of the district. José Castro and Juan B. Alvarado were sent to San Miguel and San Luis Obispo respectively, where they read the decree and made speeches to the assembled neophytes. At San Luis, and probably at all the missions of the district, the comisarios were elected; but at San Miguel, after listening to the orators, the neophytes expressed a very decided preference for the padre and