William Hepworth Dixon, White Conquest: Volume 1

[75] swear by Vasquez, lads aspire to rival Vasquez. Every hybrid in California would be Vasquez if he had the talent and the mettle. Lives of Vasquez, Adventures of Vasquez, Captures of Vasquez, are written for the lowest grade of Mexican and Californian readers. Vallejo is but half a hero in the eyes of his countrymen. No one is sure of Vallejo; every one is sure of Vasquez. The general may live to make more treaties, and acquire fresh honours from the stranger; but the brigand's work on earth is done, and he is lying at San Jose in a patriot's cell, waiting for the sentence that will lay him in a patriot's grave.

In Mexican eyes, a brigand is a finer figure than a soldier. Vasquez, moreover, is no common bandit. He began his acts of violence in the name of an invaded country, and committed theft and murder in the cause of an outraged race. He robbed White men, and stripped the government mails. Some people think his schemes as vast in scope as they were bold in plan. By daring much, he sought to win the confidence of all the half-breed drovers, miners, and stockmen. It is said, his bands were companies which might have swollen to regiments.