DON GUILLERMO HARTNELL wrote Don Jose de la Guerra congratulating him having been ‘nominated delegate to the Mexican congress’

+++  On the heels of his British house guest came an equally interesting Frenchman, Auguste Duhaut-Cilly, commanding ‘Le Heros’ on a voyage of trade and exploration ‘autour du monde.’  Like Beechey, the French captain was a keen observer, and likewise left a written account of his travels which has been widely read and translated into languages other than his own.  Hartnell heard of Duhaut-Cilly’s appearance on the California coast about the time the ‘Blossom’ sailed for Sandwich.  On February 22 he wrote to Don Jose in Santa Barbara that “every moment we expect a French merchant vessel which planned yesterday to leave San Francisco.”  ++  A month later, after an opportunity of becoming well acquainted and performing friendly offices for the Frenchman, Don Guillermo wrote a letter of introduction to his father-in-law, recommending Duhaut-Cilly without reserve.  ++  Though warned by Mr. Begg “that it is the policy of France to have a possession in these seas,” and aware that the Frenchman might have a purpose similar to Captain Beechey’s the Englishman asked his father-in-law to offer unstinting hospitality to his new friend.  He truly liked the man, considering him “a gentleman of pleasing personality and many accomplishments.”  Of the meeting in Santa Barbara, Duhaut-Cilly himself says (translation from French):  ++  ’We went to see the commandant, Don Jose de la Guerra y Noriega.  He dwelt in the presidio, while waiting for the completion of quite a fine house he was having built without; and for which I was bringing him some beams I had taken on board at Monterey.  In Don Jose we found a well-informed and estimable man, surrounded by a large and charming family, from whom we had a gracious and hearty reception.  His large fortune and fine character were the cause of his enjoying a great influence in the country; and although he was a Spaniard, he had just been nominated delegate to the Mexican congress.  ++  Already Hartnell had sent congratulations to the old Spaniard, saying: “I have been exceedingly pleased to hear of the new honors conferred upon you by the nation.”  +++