DON GUILLERMO reluctantly agreed with Brotherston + Begg to set up a beef salting project in Monterey

+++  From this time to the end of his life, travelers seldom failed to remark the strange circumstance of meeting in Monterey, that out-of-the-way, strictly Catholic community of his choice, a genial host who would speak to each in his own language, chuckle over Voltaire or other irreverent wits, and seem as well informed as the most recent visitor to the great capitals of Europe.  ++  Though Don Guillermo welcomed each interesting newcomer, he did not regard his daily life as dull or California as a place of exile.  The establishment of a home and raising of a family he took seriously; there were always the claims that friendship made upon him; and an international business kept his mind informed and alert.  ++  David Spence had written to him in Santa Barbara about the firm’s most recent employee.  And Hartnell’s first business appointment, his wedding journey done, was with the Irishman Tivy.  He seemed a genial fellow, even admissible to Don Guillermo’s circle of intimates.  Mr. Tivy had been sent out by Mr. Brotherston, aboard the ‘Junius.’  A master cooper, he was accompanied by two other Irishmen, John Wade, a cooper, and Lawrence Long, salter.  ++  The Liverpool partner wished to start McCulloch and Hartnell in the accessory business of salting beef, being assured of its success.  Mr. Brotherston did not intend that much capital be employed.  Early in 1824, Mr. Begg had submitted to the California company an estimate of expenses attached to such a project.  As usual, he was not reliably informed of local conditions, and the discovery of an error in his computations reduced any profit to the vanishing point.  It appeared that salt, casks, hoops, and staves all must be imported, as salt in the vicinity proved of an inferior quality (although plentiful), and Hartnell could not find wood which he considered suitable for casks.  ++  The resident manager was not enthusiastic about the project.  He pointed out that beef was entirely worthless for salting after the Indians had stripped it of all fat for tallow.  Sufficient usable meat would be available only with the expiration of the mission contract, when large quantities of tallow no longer need be shipped out of the country.  Against his better judgement, Hartnell agreed to set up an experimental branch of the business.  This was mainly to please Mr. Brotherston, who recently had done him the favor of accepting as a protege, to be educated in England, Juan de la Guerra, the eldest of Don Jose’s five sons.  +++