Padre Mariano Peyeras, Franciscan mission president, supported McCulloch + WILLIAM HARTNELL with June 17, 1822 document sent to all missions from Mision la Soledad

+++  Both the Governor and the influential Franciscan, Father Mariano Payeras (president of all the missions), became persuaded by Hartnell’s eloquence that “a new world opens for us” with the advent of the first foreign firm to seek residence in California.  Since the padres had been the earliest and most industrious colonizers, by now their missions were centers of agricultural activity.  The friars exercised universal influence over townspeople no less than the humble mission Indians, and Payeras’ support proved invaluable.  Each mission received a copy of a unique document, dated June 17, 1822, at Mision la Soledad (translation from Spanish):  ++  ’Viva Jesus ++  Reverend Fathers, Apostolic Preachers and Ministers of our Missions from San Antonio to San Diego:  My respected fathers and esteemed brothers: I notify you all that by the authority of the Governor, Messrs. Hugh McCulloch, a Scotchman,  and William Hartnell, an Englishman, both Protestants and partners of the English merchant, John Begg established in Lima, presented themselves before me.  The object of the aforesaid gentlemen is to enter into a commercial contract for three years with all this Province; the provisions give promise of advantages to both contracting parties.’  ++  Payeras enumerates these provisions and explains the advantages, first announcing that “every mission is free to accept or reject this agreement, but whoever accepts it must sign for three years.”  With the Governor and the traders, the astute Franciscan has worked out a scale of prices for local produce, considerably higher than Begg’s estimate.  But times have changed since Cavenecia’s monopoly of the hide and tallow trade, and North Americans already have wedged into the market.  ++  Meeting with understanding of current conditions, particularly on the part of Hartnell, causes the friar to assure his ‘confreres’ that “they will listen with pleasure to all our reverences . . . . that they will do their best for the benefit of the missions and besides they are looking for the favor of the Missions.”  … [Thus ends most of page 35 of the second chapter of Dakin's 'The Lives of William Hartnell] …  +++