his policy toward them was highly liberal, even dangerously so. Before he became governor he had acquired some note by an exploring expedition into the unknown northern parts of California.—His sister, Concepcion (b. in San Francisco, Cal., in 1790; d. in Benecia in 1857), was noted for her romance with Rezánof, the first Russian explorer that showed definite designs upon any part of California. In 1806 Rezánof, in the interests of the Russian colony at Sitka, had resolved to open trade with the Californians, and to establish, if possible, a Russian colony in the territory. To further his ends, he became betrothed to the young Concepcion, hoping for personal aid from the influential Argüello family. He returned to Russia to get further government approval for his projects, and suddenly died while absent. Concepcion never married, and died, a nun, half a century later. Her social position gave her story prominence, and it has been used by Bret Harte in one of his best-known poems.
ARIAS, Francisco Gabino, Argentine
traveller, b. in Salto, Buenos Ayres; d. about 1808. In
1774, when a colonel in the army, he explored the
desert known as “Gran Chaco.” On 3 June, 1780,
he undertook an expedition having for its object
the pacification of the Indians, which lasted until
31 Jan., 1781, and in 1782 he explored the river
Bermejo, and proved that it flowed into the
Paraguay and not into the Parana, as had formerly been
supposed. He also gave valuable information about
the navigability of the river and the character of
the tribes living near it. His narrative of this
expedition was published by his son, Dr. José Antonio
Arias, by order of the government.
ARIAS DE BENAVIDES, Pedro (ah'-ree-as
day ben-ah-vee'-des), Spanish physician of the 16th
century, b. in Toro. He travelled extensively in
western America, and made curious and interesting
studies about the remedies used by the Indians
for wounds, ulcers, and some specific diseases. His
observations were published in Spain under the
title of “Secretos de chirurgía especial de las
enfermedades de morbo gállico y lamparones, y la
manera como se curan los indios de llagas y heridas,
con otros secretos hasta agora no escritos.” The
dates of his birth and death are not known.
ARILLAGA, Basilio Manuel, Mexican scholar,
b. about 1785 ; d. in August, 1867. Dr. Arillaga
was probably the most ervulite scholar that Mex-
ico has ever produced, and at various times had
under his tutorship the most eminent men of his
country. In 1865 the Abbe Testory, head chaplain
of the French forces, wrote a pamphlet in defence
of the nationalization of church property, in the
course of which he characterized the Mexican clergy
as ignorant and corrupt. Dr. Arillaga replied to
this attack in three pamphlets, which are master-
pieces of learning, statistics, wit, and sarcasm. Dr.
Arillaga was superior of the Jesuits in Mexico, and
rector of the college of San Ildefonso. He was ar-
rested by the liberal authorities, together with
Bishop Ormaechea, of Vera Cruz, and thrown into
the prison of San Ildefonso, where he died.
ARISMENDI, Juan Bautista, Venezuelan
general, b. in the island of ^largarita in 1786. He
was a captain when the revolution broke out. and
took command of the patriots and drove the Span-
ish Gen. Morillo from the island after a long con-
flict. He was one of the leaders that assembled a
provincial congress at Angostura on 20 July, 1817,
and put at the head of the government a trium-
virate of which Bolivar was a member. In 1819
he assisted Bolivar and Paez to drive Morillo from
New Granada and from the greater part of Venezuela. In Bolivar's absence the Angostura congress forced Zea, whom he had appointed vice-president, to resign, and chose Arismendi in his place. On his return Bolivar restored Zea and exiled Arismendi to Margarita. Notwithstanding this, Arismendi espoused the cause of Bolivar during the insurrection headed by Paez, in 1826, and rendered great service to the nation.
ARISTA, Mariano (ah-rees'-tah), Mexican gen-
eral, b. in the state of San Luis Potosi, 26 July,
1802 ; d. on board the English steamer " Tagus "
going from Lisbon to France, 7 Aug., 1855. Hav-
ing distinguished himself in the successive wars
that established first the independence of Mexico
and afterward the republican form of government,
he attained a
high position in
the Mexican ar-
my, and in 1836
was second in
command to
Santa Anna,
then general-in-
chief. By the
revolutions that
continually agi-
tated Mexico he
was twice de-
prived of his
command ; but
his military
knowledge was
indispensable to
every dominant
party, and he
was quickly re-
stored and pro-
moted. In the
war with the
United States
he connnanded
at Palo Alto
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and Resaca de la Palma; and after its close was appointed in June, 1848, minister of war under President Herrera. In 1850 he was elected presi- dent of Mexico, but he resigned that office 6 Jan., 1853, and retired to his farm, and was ban- ished soon afterward. In 1881 his remains were sent home to Mexico.
ARISTIZABAL, Gabriel de, Spanish admiral,
b. in Madrid in 1743 ; d. in 1805. In 1795 he con-
ceived and carried out the idea of transferring to
Havana the remains of Christopher Columbus,
which, with those of his son Diego, had been in the
cathedral of the city of Santo Domingo, in the
island of Santo Domingo, since 1536. Doubts
have arisen about the genuineness of these remains
through the alleged discovery, in 1877, in the same
cathedral, of what have been claimed to be the true
remains of Columbus.
ARMAND, Charles Trefin, Marquis de la Rouaire, Fi-ench soldier, b. in Fouc^eres, France, 14 April, 1751 ; d. near Lambelle, 30 Jan.. 1793. At an early age he entered the Garde du Corps in Paris, but fought a duel about an actress, was dismissed from the service, and in consequence left France.
Coming to the American colonies, he volunteered in the cause of the revolution, 10 May, 1777, and received from congress a commission as colonel under the name of Charles Armand. He participated in the engagement at Reil Bank, was with
Lafayette in New Jersey, and was active in Westchester CO., N. Y., opposing the forces of Simcoe, Emmerick, and Baremore, the latter of whom he captured near Kingsbridge, 8 Nov., 1770. The
following year his corps was incorporated with
