Three days of carnival followed, but on the second day
Governor Sola withdrew from the festivities, made the Stations of the
Cross[5] which the fathers had erected between Monterey and Carmelo, and
on reaching San Carlos of Carmelo was shown to the tombs of Junipero
Serra, Juan Crespi and Francisco de Laseun. Here the Governor knelt and
remained long in prayer.
In California Sola found a pleasing contrast from the conditions of
affairs he had seen during his sojourn in Mexico. In that country clouds
of revolt against Spanish rule were rapidly gathering. California he
found intensely loyal to the Crown. The neophytes and converted Indians
greatly touched his generous soul, and the beauty of the country
delighted him. Sola was in office eight years; his work was well done,
and if California was lost to Spain under his administration, no less
credit can be given to his ability and high principals of honor. Many
times did Sola quell disturbances from revolutionary vessels which
landed in Monterey from Mexico, and several attacks from pirates, and
many a noble act is recorded of this loyal governor as well as of the no
less loyal Spanish subjects of the Province.
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