Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/588

570 If Alvarado was not very seriously alarmed at the flight of Don Cárlos, he was indeed troubled by letters from the north announcing the partial defection of no less a personage than General Vallejo. José Antonio Carrillo had utilized the time of his imprisonment at Sonoma by holding long interviews with the general, and had succeeded in convincing that dignitary of his good faith, and of the genuineness of his brother's appointment. So Vallejo stated in his letters of August 10th-11th, and in them advised the recognition of Don Cárlos, or at least the holding of a convention at Santa Clara with a view to such recognition. Of the real motives for delay in giving up the command, he said little or nothing. The point of his long and able argument addressed to Alvarado was to this effect: Carrillo's title being valid, it would be necessary to yield sooner or later; Alvarado and his associates had from the first good faith disclaimed any purpose to retain the command; with all his triumphs he had been so fully occupied in quelling revolts, that he had had no time to introduce needed reforms; experience proved there was no hope for a cessation of sectional iroubles; to yield voluntarily while in the full tide of success would not only be flattering to their own pride, make a good impression in Mexico, and check