Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/482

464 Californians took peaceful possession of the presidio. The Mexican officials, having given up their arms, went to the house of a citizen to remain until their fate should be decided. The day was devoted mainly, like several following days, to festivities of triumph, in which everybody – except the Mexican officials perhaps – participated. I quote in continuation from the concluding portion of Alvarado's letter: "All the officers except Valle and Zamorano we have embarked to-day on the Clementine for Cape San Lúcas, also Herrera, Luis Castillo, a few soldiers, and some of the worst convicts ... There are no forces in the territory to resist us; on the contrary, they are waiting to join us. To-day Buelna and Villa start for Santa Bárbara to have sworn the bases of the new Californian government. The federalists will win in Mexico, and we shall remain, if fate be propitious, erected into a free and sovereign state. The officers and Gutierrez, ashamed of their aberrations and seeing liberty shine with honor, wept bitterly. Gutierrez sent a letter, confessing his faults, giving satisfaction, and expressing regret at leaving a country where he had intended to live forever. It is wonderful, uncle, with what order our expedition has been conducted. Everybody shouts vivas, for California is free!"

The Clementine sailed from Monterey on November 11th for Cape San Lúcas with about seventy passengers – enforced and voluntary exiles, including among the latter many of the Híjar and Padrés colony who were not contented in their new home. Gutierrez, Muñoz, Navarrete, and the two Estradas had been put on board the vessel four or five days before she sailed, and were the only officers who were really forced to leave the country. There was much feeling against Sub-comisario Herrera and Judge Castillo Negrete, but they would have been permitted to remain if they