and well dressed, the apartments tidy, the
workshops, granaries, and storehouses comfortable and in good keeping."

[Illustration: RUINS Of MISSION SAN ANTONIO DE PADUA.]

[Illustration: DUTTON HOTEL, JOLON. On the old stage route between San
Francisco and Los Angeles, near Mission San Antonio de Padua.]

[Illustration: RUINED CORRIDORS AT SAN ANTONIO DE PADUA.]

In 1834 Cabot retired to give place to Padre Jesus Maria Vasquez del
Mercado, one of the newly arrived Franciscans from Zacatecas. In this
year the neophyte population had dwindled to 567, and five years later
Visitador Hartwell found only 270 living at the Mission and its
adjoining ranches. It is possible, however, that there were fully as
many more living at a distance of whom he gained no knowledge, as the
official report for 1840 gives 500 neophytes.

Manuel Crespo was the comisionado for secularization in 1835, and he and
Padre Mercado had no happy times together. Mercado made it so unpleasant
that six other administrators were appointed in order to please him, but
it was a vain attempt. As a consequence, the Indians felt the
disturbances and discord, and became discontented and unmanageable.

In 1843, according to Governor Micheltorena's order of March 29, the
temporal control of the Mission was restored to the padre. But, though
the order was a kindly one, and relieved the padre from the interference
of officious, meddling, inefficient, and dishonest "administrators," it
was too late to effect any real service.

As far as I can learn, Pico's plan did not affect San Antonio, and it
was not one of those sold by him in 1845-1846. In 1848 Padre Doroteo
Ambris was in charge as curate. For thirty years he remained here, true
to his calling, an entirely different kind of man from the quarrelsome,
arrogant, drinking, and gambling Mercado. He finally died at San
Antonio, and was buried in the Mission he guarded so well.

In 1904 the California Historic Landmarks League (Inc.) undertook the
preservation of San Antonio, but little has yet been accomplished. Much
more should speedily be done, if the walls are to be kept from falling.

CHAPTER XIII

SAN GABRIEL, ARCANGEL

We have already seen that San Gabriel, the fourth Mission, was founded
September 8, 1771. The natives gave cheerful assistance in bringing
timber, erecting the wooden buildings, covering them with tules, and
constructing the stockade enclosure which surrounded them. They also
brought