History of California

Volume I

 

Table of Contents

Book I.
Early Voyages

Book II.
The Jesuits

Book III.
The Franciscans

Book IV.
The Spanish Governors

 

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Volume II

 

Table of Contents

Book V.
The Mexican Governors

Book VI.
The Last Mexican Governors

Book VII.
The Americans

 

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Volume III

 

Table of Contents

Book VIII.
Early Mining Times

Book IX.
Progress of San Francisco

Book X.
State Growth

 

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Volume IV

 

Table of Contents

Book XI.
Early State Administrations.

Book XII.
Later State Adminstrations

 

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PABLO VICENTE DE SOLA, the last governor of Alta California under the Spanish power, continued in office for a short time after the change of government and thus became the first governor under the Mexican administration. Though he had been violently opposed to the revolution and had even gone so far as to threaten to shoot down any one who should speak in favor of it, yet when Canon Agustin Fernandez de San Vicente, the commissioner from the imperial regency, arrived at Monterey and required his submission and transfer of allegiance, he immediately yielded; hauled down the Spanish flag, and raised the Mexican standard in its place. It had been a part of Iturbide's "Plan of Iguala" in establishing the empire, to offer the imperial crown to Fernando VII., king of Spain, provided he would accept it and make the city of Mexico his residence and capital, and, in case of his refusal, then to one of the Spanish infantes, Don Carlos or Don Francisco de Paula. This part of the scheme may have been, and probably was, a mere pretense on the part of the astute chieftain; but whether so or not, it had a powerful influence in rendering the empire popular and acceptable. The regency of Iturbide was founded upon this idea and the submission and adherence of Sola to the new government was based upon it as an integral part of what was called "independence."