Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/462

444 perhaps been led to say more in his defence than was justified by the facts. He was assuredly not the villain and fool that the Californians picture him, but he had no special fitness for his position, little executive ability, and no qualities perhaps much above the commonplace. He was an educated man, and his weaknesses were of the tongue rather than the pen. That he was hot-tempered and personally disagreeable can hardly be doubted, when no one has a word to say in his favor; but his annoyances were great: his foes have had most to do in fixing his reputation, and there were divers political and personal motives for reviling his memory during the next ten years. He seems to have been a man of about forty-five years, of medium height and slight form. His complexion was light, his black hair sprinkled with gray, and he generally wore spectacles. The troubles that resulted in his departure must be regarded as revolutionary, having been fomented by a clique who desired to get rid of him, and rejoiced that circumstances enabled them to effect their purpose without coming into open conflict with the national government, and thus to try their wings in easy flights.