WILLIAM HARTNELL swore allegiance to Mexico in 1830 in order to own land

+++  Hartnell’s books he borrowed with avidity, and from Hartnell’s brain elicited a great deal of information on the history, politics, and customs of the country.  Most of this he wrote into the perenially popular ‘Life in California.’  ++  Robinson always was grateful to Gale for having introduced him to the de la Guerras in Santa Barbara.  Of that first visit he recorded:  ++  ’The most stately house in the place at this time belonged to the ‘diputado’ to Mexico, Don Jose de la Guerra y Noriega.  Gale having in his possession some presents for the family, we proceeded thither at once.  Here we partook of chocolate with the lady of the house, Dona Maria Antonia, whist her daughters eagerly distributed the several gifts.  The old lady, a fine motherly, good woman, had acquired by her deportment and affectionate manner towards stranger the esteem of all who knew who.’  ++  Few women have been more besought as a mother-in-law.  ++  Of all the people Don Alfredo met, and of the groups which made him welcome up and down the coast and inland along ‘El Camino Real,’ he felt most at home, immediately and ever after, with the de la Guerras in Santa Barbara and their English son-in-law in Monterey.  Hartnell’s intimate circle admitted Robinson to friendship, originally because of Don Guillermo, but later because of Don Alfredo’s own qualifications.  ++  It became Hartnell’s custom to consult the Yankee trader about business matters.  Ever since the departure of Tivy and the return of the Farm to its rightful owner, Don Guillermo had been exploring the possibilities of acquiring land for himself.  Handicapped by lack of funds, he finally worked out a proposition, advised by Robinson and David Spence, which he felt might be a lifesaver in his present desperate position.  ++  The first step toward owning land in California was to become naturalized.  This Hartnell did, in 1830, swearing allegiance to Mexico at some cost to his British pride.  But there was no alternative.  An unnaturalized resident stood no chance of securing a land grant from an intensely nationalistic absentee government. .  . .  +++