captain of the
San Antonio, Don Miguel del Pino, his second in command, together with
the crew, assembled to establish a presidio and mission. The father
president chanted the mass and preached from the Gospel, while the
musical deficiency was made good by repeated discharges from the guns
of the San Antonio and volleys from the muskets of the soldiers. At the
conclusion of the religious ceremonies, Don Gaspar de Portola, governor
of the Californias, took possession of the country in the name of his
majesty Don Carlos III, King of Spain, and the presidio and mission of
San Carlos de Borromeo de Monterey were founded and established, the
first presidio and second mission in California.

In accord with the orders of the visitador-general, Portola now
delivered to Lieutenant Fages, as comandante of California, the command
of the new establishments, sailed on the San Antonio, July 9th, for San
Blas, and California knew him no more.

DATA REGARDING DON GASPAR DE PORTOLA AFTER HE LEFT CALIFORNIA

By E. J. Molera

Portola and Costanso sailed, on July 9, 1770, for Mexico, to give to
the viceroy an account of their discoveries. Costanso remained in the
capital and took part in several engineering works, among others, the
map of the Valley of Mexico and its drainage. Diligent search instituted
by the writer in Mexico and Spain regarding Portola's further history,
has so far discovered little beyond the fact that the commander's
return to the capital was followed by promotion from Captain to
Lieutenant-Colonel in the Royal Spanish Army, and his appointment as
Governor of Puebla, February 23, 1777.

In the municipal archives of the city of Puebla, on page 33 of the folio
covering the years 1776-1783, is the following description of Portola's
taking possession of the office as Governor of that city and state:

"Possession of Governor Portola."

"In the session (meeting of February 23d, 1777), the council saw a royal
title of Political and Military Governor of this city granted by his
Majesty to Senor Don Gaspar de Portola, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Royal
Army, and also a superior order of his Excellency the Viceroy, Governor,
and Captain General of this New Spain, in which is stated that said
title has been forwarded."

"The President of the Council, standing and uncovered, took the title in
his hand and kissed it and put it over his head, being a letter from
the king, our master, and said that he would obey and