fun at the Padre Presidente’s expense.  In addition to the two Missions named, one other, dedicated to San Diego, was first to be established.  By the ninth of January, 1769, the “San Carlos” was ready.  Confessions were heard, masses said, the communion administered, and Galvez made a rousing speech.  Then Serra formally blessed the undertaking, cordially embraced Fray Parron, to whom the spiritual care of the vessel was intrusted, the sails were lowered, and off started the first division of the party that meant so much to the future California.  In another vessel Galvez went along until the “San Carlos” doubled the point and started northward, when, with gladness in his heart and songs on his lips, he returned to still further prosecute his work.

The fifteenth of February the “San Antonio,” under the command of Perez, was ready and started.  Now the land expeditions must be moved.  Rivera had gathered his stock, etc., at Santa Maria, the most northern of the Missions, but finding scant pasturage there, he had moved eight or ten leagues farther north to a place called by the Indians Velicata.  Fray Juan Crespi was sent to join Rivera, and Fray Lasuen met him at Santa Maria in order to bestow the apostolic blessing ere the journey began, and on March 24 Lasuen stood at Velicata and saw the little band of pilgrims start northward for the land of the gentiles, driving their herds before them.  What a procession it must have been!  The animals, driven by Indians under the direction of soldiers and priests, straggling along or dashing wildly forward as such creatures are wont to do!  Here, as well as in the starting of the “San Carlos” and “San Antonio,” is a great scene for an artist, and some day canvases worthy the subjects should be placed in the California State Capitol at Sacramento.

Governor Portola was already on his way north, but Serra was delayed by an ulcerated foot and leg, and, besides, he had not yet gathered together all the Mission supplies he needed, so it was May 15 before this division finally left Velicata.  The day before leaving, Serra established the Mission of San Fernando at the place of their departure, and left Padre Campa in charge.

Padre Serra’s diary, kept in his own handwriting during this trip from Loreto to San Diego, is now in the Edward E. Ayer Library in Chicago.  Some of his expressions are most striking.  In one place, speaking of Captain Rivera’s going from Mission to Mission to take from them “whatever he might choose of what was in them for the founding of the new Missions,” he says:  “Thus he did; and altho it was with a somewhat heavy hand, it was undergone for God and the king.”