In private and public expenditures he was extremely economical, but not penurious.
In cases where the officers had to contribute money for parties and entertainments, he always gave a double share, because of his allowance of double rations.

During our frequent journeys, I was always caterer, and paid all the bills.

In settling with him he required a written statement of the items of account, but never disputed one of them.

During our time, California was, as now, full of a bold, enterprising, and speculative set of men, who were engaged in every sort of game to make money.

I know that Colonel-Mason was beset by them to use his position to make a fortune for himself and his friends; but he never bought land or town-lots, because, he said, it was his place to hold the public estate for the Government as free and unencumbered by claims as possible; and when I wanted him to stop the public-land sales in San Francisco, San Jose, etc., he would not; for, although he did not believe the titles given by the alcaldes worth a cent, yet they aided to settle the towns and public lands, and he thought, on the whole, the Government would be benefited thereby.