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440 in his own house under the protection of a guard. This critical state of affairs lasted several days, perhaps more than a week. As early as July 15th, orders were sent to the southern troops to come to Monterey; on the 23d came the Leonidas with news of Santa Anna's defeat and capture in Texas, on which topic a flamingly patriotic proclamation was issued next day to the Californians; and on the 27th affairs had apparently approached a crisis, since on that day the governor suspended Cosme Peña, a prominent counsellor of his foes, from his office of asesor, and sent new and urgent orders for the troops to come by forced marches to the capital.

No reënforcements made their appearance. Indian ravages on the Sonoma frontier and at San Diego served Vallejo and Portilla as convenient excuses for not promptly obeying the orders of their chief. The popular feeling at Monterey was more turbulent than ever, or at least was made to appear so to the governor, by advisers who desired to increase his fears. At last, on July 29th, he sent a communication to the diputacion, stating that as there was great popular excitement on account of his suspension of the alcalde and asesor, as bodies of men were in arms near the town, and as he had no physical or moral support, he had determined to go to Mexico at once. The