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Show 106 PERSONAL ADVENTURES and generous in character, as the hidalgo should be. vV e had remained about twelve days in Monterey, during which time the ship Isabella had discharged part of her cargo, when our hopes of a little repose after our long voyage were suddenly disappointed by an order issued on parade, that, in consequence of the increasing disturbances in Lower California, companies C and D, with some sixty or eighty men from the detachment, were to embark on the 4th of March on board this vessel, and proceed to Lower California, to join the companies A and B, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Burton. At this time, ·we could ill be spared in Monterey, where the Americans still entertained apprehensions of a rising on the part of the population ; but, as the demand for our presence in the lower country was pressing, the lesser necessity yielded to the greater. Some of the tnarried men, who felt little disposition for active ser· vice, made strenuous efforts to obtain permission to remain, but the old Colonel knew his IN CALIFORNIA. 107 duty too well to listen to their representations. Orders were, however, given that the women should be left behind, and that, during the absence of their husbands, they should be supported by the Government. Captain N , who had been for some time under arrest for various little military peccadilloes, such, for instance, as shooting some Indians without the necessary forn1s, was now liberated, and pla~ed at the head of his company. His men would gladly have left him behind, but he was known to be an efficient officer, and the best disciplinarian in the force, ' having received a regular military education at West-Point. He was therefore considered well qualified to head the expedition, men of capacity being rare amongst us ; and I have reason to think the old Governor was far from being displeased at getting rid of him. We all embarked on the day appointed, and on getting on board, the lately arrived detachments were rather unpleasantly convinced that, if the mem hers of company D were not very old, they were, at all events, |