[Translation from Spanish -- eighth grade level]

This Departmental Government has been informed of a foreign ship known as the Llama, which is captained by one Bancrof[t], also a foreigner. The foreign brig has been catching seal and other without the required permit, and its sailors have also been killing the cubs of both.

Sailors from this ship also come on shore with guns and cause damages that they do not pay for. They get away with not paying the owners of this land for the fish they kill because they do it in places where few people live.

Because of this, and in order to correct this class of abuse, the Government has required that you be hired as Principal Arbiter of the National Navy, in the branch of Otter Fishing. You must prevent these foreigners from taking seals and otters without permission from the Mexican Government. Do what you can to stop them, but use caution. If they resist, you may use force. You can also take control of the brig and put all of its crew under arrest by authority of this government.

                                                  Santa Barbara
  God and Liberty                                 January 27th, 1839 

  [signed]
  ALVARADO

  To - Mr. Allen Light