to the mercy of the vandal and relic hunter. In 1852 the tile roof fell
in, and all the tiles, save about a thousand, were either then broken,
or afterwards stolen. The rains and storms beating in soon brought
enough sand to form a lodgment for seeds, and ere long a dense growth of
grass and weeds covered the dust of California's great apostle.

In _Glimpses of California_ by H.H., Mr. Sandham, the artist, has a
picture which well illustrates the original spring of the roof and curve
of the walls. There were three buttresses, _from which_ sprang the roof
arches. The curves of the walls were made by increasing the thickness
at the top, as can be seen from the window spaces on each side, which
still remain in their original condition. The building is about one
hundred and fifty feet long by thirty feet wide.

In 1868 Rev. Angelo D. Cassanova became the pastor of the parish church
at Monterey, and though Serra's home Mission was then a complete mass of
ruins, he determined upon its preservation, at least from further
demolition. The first step was to clear away the debris that had
accumulated since its abandonment, and then to locate the graves of the
missionaries. On July 3, 1882, after due notice in the San Francisco
papers, over four hundred people assembled at San Carlos, the stone slab
was removed, and the bodies duly identified.

The discovery of the bodies of Serra, Crespi, Lopez, and Lasuen aroused
some sentiment and interest in Father Cassanova's plan of restoration;
and sufficient aid came to enable him properly to restore and roof the
building. On August 28, 1884, the rededication took place, and the
building was left as it is found to-day.

The old pulpit still remains. It is reached by steps from the sacristy
through a doorway in the main side wall. It is a small and unpretentious
structure of wood, with wooden sounding-board above. It rests upon a
solid stone pedestal, cut into appropriate shaft and mouldings. The door
is of solid oak, substantially built.

In the sacristy is a double lavatory of solid sandstone, hewn and
arranged for flowing water. It consists of two basins, one above the
other, the latter one well recessed. The lower basin is structurally
curved in front, and the whole piece is of good and artistic
workmanship.

In the neighborhood of San Carlos there are enough residents to make up
a small congregation, and it is the desire of Father Mestris, the
present priest at Monterey, to establ