History of California, Volume II, Part 29

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 826

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281

CHAMISSO AND CHORIS.

birth, was the naturalist of the expedition, and served also in California as interpreter. His narrative of events as well as of his observations on the state of the country, is more complete than that of the com- mander, to say nothing of his valuable remarks on natural history. His conclusions, however, respect- ing Spanish institutions, are substantially the same as those of Kotzebue. 45 The third book written in con- nection with this voyage was composed of lithograph illustrations from drawings by M. Louis Choris, painter of the expedition, with a descriptive text by the artist, Chamisso, and others. The text is very interesting, and like the drawings largely devoted to the Indians of the mission.46

45 Chamisso, Riese um die Welt, 2 vols., being tom. iii. iv. of Chamisso, Werke, Berlin, 1856. The matter on California is in tom. i., p. 129-41, and tom. ii., p. 30. Tom. ii. is subsequently the same as the Remarks and Opinions attached to the English edition of Kotzebue's Voyage. The narra- tive of the visit to San Francisco is well translated by Miss Georgie McElroy in the Overland Monthly, x. 201-8. The following quotations are taken from the Remarks and Opinions, iii. 38-51: 'Melancholy feelings attend our offer- ing a few words on the Spanish settlements on this coast. With an avari- cious thirst for possession, Spain extends her territory here merely because she envies others the room. She maintains her presidios at a great expense, and tries, by the prohibition of all trade, to force ready money back to its source. But a little liberty would make California the granary and market of the northern coasts of these seas, and the general resort of the ships which navigate them.' 'Yet California lies without industry, trade, and naviga- tion, desert and unpeopled.' 'Only a smuggling trade, which the new gov- ernor has tried to suppress, furnishes this province with the most indispensa- ble articles. Spain has given way in the affair of Nootka. England and the U. S., without regarding its vain territorial possessions, are now negotiating about the colony at the month of the Columbia; and the Russ. Am. Co. have still a settlement a few leagues north of San Francisco.' The work of converting heathen 'has been here injudiciously begun and ill-executed. The pious Franciscans are not skilled in the arts and trades which they ought to exercise and teach, nor in any of the languages spoken by the nations to whom they are sent. They are monks, exactly like those in the convents of Europe.' 'The contempt which the missionaries have for the people to whom they are sent seems to us, considering their pious occupation, a very unfor- tunate circumstance. None of them appear to have troubled themselves about their history, customs, religions, or languages.' 'We observed with regret that the best understanding does not exist between the missions and the presidio. The fathers consider themselves as the first in this country, and the presidios merely for its protection.' 'The presidio accused the mis- sion of not endeavoring to relieve their wants.' Chamisso gives considerable information about the Indians, including the names of 18 tribes around San Francisco. He also gives some local items elsewhere utilized.

46 Choris, Voyage Pittoresque autour du Monde, Paris, 1822, folio. There are 10 plates and 13 pages of text relating to California. The plates are: 1, coast views, entrance of S. F"co Bay; 2, presidio; 3, Indian dance, with view

282

MARITIME AFFAIRS AND CONTRABAND TRADE.

The Pacific ports of South America being more or less blockaded by the Buenos Aires insurgents, no trading vessels came from Lima or Callao this year,47 though they resumed their trips later. The regular memoria ship, however, made its appearance in 1816 for the first time since 1810. It was the San Carlos, arriving at Monterey late in October, and bringing a cargo of damaged supplies and war stores.48 Of two American vessels which entered California ports on their way to or from Sitka, in addition to those already mentioned, we know nothing beyond the fact that the Sultan or Sultana touched at Monterey in August,4) and the Atala or Atlas, Captain Kelly, from Boston, at Santa Bárbara late in November,50 leaving one American settler.51

No supply-ship came in 1817; but two vessels brought goods from Lima to exchange for tallow as before. These were the San Antonio, Captain Cave- necia, and the Hermosa Mexicana, supercargo Genoa y Aguirre, which arrived at Monterey in August52 and

of mission; 4, Indian games; 5, grizzly bear; 6-7, Indian faces; 8, arms and implements; 9, balza; 11, sea-hon; 12, head-dress of Indians; 13, Indian hunters.

47 April 20, 1816, Capt. Cavenecia, Lima, to Guerra. Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., vi. 124.

48 Nov. 6, 1816, Sola to viceroy. Prov. Rec., MS., ix. 153. Kotzebue men- tions the arrival during his stay.

49 Prov. Rec., MS., ix. 141; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 23. Taylor, Discov. and Found., i. No. 12, in an imperfect list of vessels trading on the coast from 1810 to 1814, includes the Sultan, Capt. Reynolds, and the Avon, Capt. Whit- temore. Osio, Hist. Cal., MS., 14-17, 28-9, names the Sultana, Capt. Isaac, and Urbana, Capt. Raynaldo; but he couples their arrival with that of the Mercury, and with Capt. Davis' otter-hunting exploits about San Francisco in a manner in which chronology and fact go for nothing.

50 Dec. 2, 1816, Sola to Guerra, the vessel ordered to Monterey. Prov. Rec., MS., xi. 42. Passport dated Boston, July 15, 1815, countersigned at Santa Bárbara, Dec. 7, 1816. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xix. 189-90; Dept. St. Pap., MS., iv. 158. June-July, a large Boston ship off San Carlos caused great fear. Arch Arzob., MS., iii. pt. i. 49-50, 60. Afterward off Santa Bár- bara in July. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 109.

51 Danicl Call, an American carpenter, age 17, who married and remained. Dep. St. Pap., MS., iv. 156-8. According to the newspapers Capt. Wmn O'Neil came to Cal. from China this year. Santa Cruz Sentinel, Sept. 18, 1875.

52 Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 154-5, 172, 186, 202; Prov. Rec., MS., ix. 171-3; S. José, Arch., MS., iii. 19. Cavenecia was owner, but perhaps not on

283

THE TALLOW TRADE.

September respectively. Sola favored the exporta- tion of the tallow, of which there was a surplus of over 1,250 tons in the country according to his state- ment. He wished the missions to furnish fifty tons to each presidio to be exchanged for articles which the soldiers needed; but the friars showed no enthu- siasm for such a plan, preferring to trade directly with the Lima ships, or ship the tallow to Mexico on their own account; 53 yet there is no indication that there was any difficulty in obtaining cargoes either for these vessels or for the Cazadora from Panamá, which came to Monterey in September, and remained on the coast until December.44 The coming of two ves- sels, the Paz y Religion and the Bastany, from Tepic on the same business was announced, with the proba- bility that many others might be despatched; but none seem to have come this year.55 The Russian visits of the year were that of Padushkin on the Chirikof to San Francisco and Monterey in the spring, and that of Hagemeister on the Kutusof to San Fran- cisco in the autumn, both bringing goods and taking away grain. 56

Sola made no attempt to carry out the viceroy's orders by using force against the Russians; but in his report of January 2, 1817, explained the utter impos- sibility of accomplishing anything without strong reinforcements, and the absurdity of expecting such reinforcements from New Galicia. He also expressed himself very freely respecting the danger to be appre-

board of the San Antonio this trip. She remained until November. The Mexicana paid $582 export duties which should have been paid at Callao. This was according to law and was a convenience to California. See also Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 244-5; iv. 1.

53 Prov. Rec., MS., xi. 49. Sola to Guerra. The danger of an attack from the Buenos Aires insurgents was given as a reason for getting rid of the sur- plus tallow as quickly as possible. See also Arch. Sta. B., MS., vi. 61-3; Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 245-6.

5+ Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 180, 197; Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 1. July 12, 1816, viceroy to Sola, trade between Panamá and the Pacific ports of New Spain strictly forbidden. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 124.

53 June 4th, 27th, Pedro Negrete, Tepic, to Guerra. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 185, 199. A contract with settlers for tallow is alluded to.

56 See chap. xiv. of this volume.

284

MARITIME AFFAIRS AND CONTRABAND TRADE.

hended from the Anglo-American vessels, and declared that the province could not be in any sense protected against probable hostile designs of foreign powers, unless two companies of infantry, with field artillery, and an armed cruiser were stationed permanently on the coast.57 No English craft appeared. Orders came from Viceroy Apodaca that the British ship Good Hope must be confiscated whether engaged in contra- band trade or not, apparently on account of some irregularity of conduct at Mazatlan,58 but Captain Ramsay did not show himself.

The American contrabandistas and Aleut otter- hunters left but slight trace of their presence on the coast this year, if they came at all, as is indicated by occasional allusions in official correspondence.53 These allusions show that Sola had no faith in the honesty

57 Sola, Informe General, 1817, MS.

58 Nov. 16, 1817, viceroy to Sola. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 216-18. The Buena Esperanza was bound from Bengal to the Russian settlements.

59 In February Guerra explains to Sola the careful precautions he always takes on the arrival of foreign vessels to examine their papers, etc., though he labors under difficulties through not understanding the language. Will continue his precautions, and will report arrivals before furnishing supplies, though he reminds the governor that vessels cannot lie long at anchor at Santa Bárbara without danger from storms. Other communications from the same source and apparently of about the same date mention the escape of some Kadiaks to the islands, and the presence of boats from an American vessel engaged in taking otter. He asks for authority to send out an expedition against them. Guerra, Doc. IIist. Cal., MS., iii. 69-72. In a letter of April 12th, Padre Amorós explains to the governor some of his ideas of trade to the effect that foreigners being also children of God and in a sense brethren of the Spaniards, it was not generous or honorable to charge them a maximum price-like $8, $12, or $15, for a cow worth $4-and find fault with them for not selling goods at the minimum, especially as the trade was beneficial to the country and might be lost by bad policy. Id., vii. 12-14. July 28th an American ship left four men-three Americans and a Spaniard-at San Luis Obispo. They were to be put at work at Santa Barbara and watched, to prevent intercourse with people at the presidio. Id., iii. 236, 241. Thomas Lester, an English sailor who settled in California, is said to have deserted from a vessel in 1817. Dept. St. Pap., MS .. xix. 24-9. Davis, Glimpses, MS , 241-2, says that the Boston ship Eagle, Wm. H. Davis, master, visited Cali- fornia in 1817 or 1818, and twice later. July 30th, Padre Arroyo assures Sola that the friars of San Juan Bautista will not allow foreigners to observe the country. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 145. Alvarado remembers that some smugglers were tried at Monterey in 1817. The sumario ought to be in the archives. Ilist. Cal., MS., i. 180. In November Sola chided Argüello of San Francisco very severely both in an official and private letter for his slowness in reporting the arrival of vessels and for his permission of contraband trade; 'for you cannot make me believe you were ignorant of it.' Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 211-14.

285

WILCOX AND THE 'CAMINANTE.'

and zeal with which Argüello at San Francisco and Guerra at Santa Barbara exerted themselves to pre- vent illicit commerce. Affairs at Monterey came more immediately under the governor's own eye, and San Diego the smugglers seem to have neglected altogether in these days.

The presence of one American vessel, however, is definitely recorded, that of the Traveller, translated by the Spaniards into Caminante, Captain James Smith Wilcox. This schooner came from Sitka, made some repairs at Bodega in December 1816, and ar- rived at Santa Bárbara on January 20, 1817.60 Wil- cox, said to be a brother of the United States consul at Canton, was furnished with supplies to satisfy the more pressing wants of the crew, and good-naturedly consented to wait for more until the governor could be consulted, whereupon he bought additional pro- visions to the extent of $656 for cash.61 Then in Feb- ruary he went up to Monterey and sold $700 worth of cloth for the soldiers. Juan B. Alvarado, then a school-boy, gives an amusing account of the Yankee captain's arrival. One spring morning the sentinel from Point Pinos came rushing in with the news of an approaching sail. Drums beat the alarm, soldiers mounted their horses, artillerymen and militia rushed to man the castillo, and balls were brought from the casemate. Families made ready for flight, while Co- mandante Estudillo mounted a high rock, equipped with telescope, trumpet, and flag-book, all in about fifteen minutes. To the inquiry "¿ qué buque?" as the schooner approached the shore came the reply "no sabe español." Ordered to come ashore the stranger landed and was escorted by the cavalry to the presence of Sola who awaited his approach clad in full uniform and asked his business. Through an interpreter it was learned that the captain had goods to sell, and

60 In Prov. Rec., MS., xi. 45, the date is given as Jan. Sth; and Sola calls the vessel the Traulin. See also Id., ix. 154.

61 Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cul., MS., iii. 71-2.

286

MARITIME AFFAIRS AND CONTRABAND TRADE.

Sola was about to dismiss him when somebody sug- gested he might be the spy of some foreign power, and it was decided to hold a council of war. Mean- while the Yankee, an exceedingly tall and lean speci- men of the race, clothed in black with a swallow-tail coat and tall fur hat, stood under arrest in the middle of the plaza, wiping his perspiring face with a large red handkerchief, while all the women and boys of the capital came as near as they dared to get a look at this bold foreigner who thus dared to invade the Spanish realm. The ludicrous aspect of the situation was not diminished when the noon bell rang and the prisoner was required to kneel in the dust and un- cover his bald head. Yet the council could find no sufficient evidence that he was a spy.62 Wilcox not only sold his cloth, but was trusted to carry south the portions allotted to Santa Bárbara and San Diego, having apparently made himself very popular with the Californians. He left Santa Bárbara on March 16th for San Diego and Baja California, leaving two men who were sick and wished to become Catholics.63

In June Wilcox returned from Loreto and remained until September, touching more than once at each place on the coast from Santa Cruz to San Diego, enjoying the full confidence of the authorities, and making himself generally useful by transporting sup- plies and lumber from point to point in his Caminante. If he indulged in contraband trade he did it very carefully and excited no suspicion. The only privi- leges refused him were those of buying otter-skins and travelling by land in defiance of the law. He finally carried away the four American prisoners of the pre- ceding year, but whether he took also the two men he had left before does not appear.64 He was also al-

62 Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., i. 125-32. The author does not say that this 'Capitan Colorado' was Wilcox, and in fact there are some details of the story as narrated that do not apply very well to him; but there was no other captain who arrived at this time so far as I can learn, and the story is too good to lose. 63 Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 74. The names of the men are given as Est and Yems. Est was perhaps Thomas Lester.

64 Guerra, Doc. ITist. Cal., MS., iii. 249. The four prisoners were those

287

ROQUEFEUIL'S VISIT.

lowed to take a cargo of grain at San Diego for Lo- reto. In this latter port the Traveller was seized on October 30th, by the treasury official Francisco Ra- mirez, who managed to steal a considerable amount of property before the vessel was released, as it soon was through the influence of Sola and Argüello, the latter being now governor of Baja California. It is from the letters written by Wilcox, chiefly at Guay- mas while seeking reparation for the wrongs done him, that most of my information respecting his voy- ages is derived.65

The merchantman Bordelais anchored at San Fran- cisco on August 5th, being the first vessel carrying the French flag that had ever entered the port. She was commanded by Lieutenant Camille de Roquefeuil of the French navy, though the voyage was a private and purely commercial venture to the Pacific and round the world undertaken by a merchant of Bor- deaux. Roquefeuil came direct from Chile and Peru, having in the former country rendered important aid

mentioned in note 48. May 9th the commander at Santa Cruz notifies Sola that a vessel has anchored and wants wood and water. Arch. Arzob., MS., iii. pt. i. 133. This could not be Wilcox's vessel if the date is correct, and may suggest some light on Alvarado's 'capitan colorado.' Wilcox took in Cali- fornia a draft for $6,946 75, which was not paid, at least not promptly, at Gua- dalajara. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 189.

65 Wilcox, Cartas varias sobre sus riages en la goleta Caminante, 1817, MS. Jan. 7, 18IS, Gov. Cordero, of Sonora, informs Sola that the Caminante has been confiscated, together with all property belonging to Wilcox wherever it may be found in Spanish dominions. Id., xx. 219. In another letter evidently from Wilcox, dated October 2d, at Loreto, it is stated that the vessel was taken on September 30th, by a 'desesperado de Lima llamado Francisco Ra- mirez,' aided by the patron and two 'malvados' whom the governor had forced him to take on board at Sta Bárbara. Himself, Don Guillermo (often men- tioned in the correspondence, but I cannot tell who he was), and five sailors had been put on shore immediately after the capture. Arch. Arzob., MS., iii. pt. i. 145. Early in April 1818 an attempt to take Wilcox's schooner out of Guaymas by an American vessel is mentioned, some men having been killed on both sides. Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., vi. 87. Capt. Wilcox wished to marry Doña Concepcion Argüello, heroine of the Rezánof romance, and he was at one time very near success in his wooing; but at last the lady declined the offer. Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 237-8; vi. 131-2. March 8, 1822, the secretary of foreign relations reported that a patent had been issued to Wilcox to introduce steam engines in Mexico for the drainage of mines. Mexico, Mem. Relaciones, 1822, p. 11. Sept. 18, 1822, Wilcox writes that he is U. S. consul in Mexico, and intends to do business on a large scale with California, monopolizing the trade in hides and horns. Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., vi. 134.

2SS

MARITIME AFFAIRS AND CONTRABAND TRADE.

to the Spanish victims of the revolution by trans- porting them to a place of safety. He was hospitably treated during his stay of nine days by Argüello, Moraga, and Father Abella; and he seems not to have met the slightest obstacle in trading his goods for produce, or even for the few otter-skins that were on hand.66

The 16th of October, after a trip to Nootka and a call at Ross, the Bordelais returned for further barter, being obliged to remain till November 20th waiting for the recovery of the crew, four of whom were cared for at the mission, and one of whom, the boatswain Renom, died there. Two men also deserted but were re-taken. 67 After a trip to the Marquesas and again to the north coasts, Roquefeuil made his appearance for a third time at San Francisco on September 20th, 1818, remaining just one month.68 He counted on obtaining produce with which to fill a contract made in Sitka, and he did obtain it through Luis Argüello's usual disregard for the governor's instructions; for Sola, when he learned that the expedition was purely a commercial one, directed that she must submit to the regulations and be content with the supplies absolutely needed for the voyage; though he subse-

16 Roquefeuil, A Voyage round the World, between the years 1816-19, by M. Camille de Roquefeuil, in the ship Le Bordelais, London, 1823, Svo, 112 pages. This first visit to San Francisco is described on pp. 23-7. Aug. 8th, Roquefenil to Sola enclosing a letter of recommendation from Cavenecia of Lima, and asking for friendly consideration on account of French sympathy for the Spaniards in Chile. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 208-9. Sept. 10th, Sola to vice- roy, announcing the visit, and stating that Roquefeuil left 4 Englishmen (?) on his departure. Prov. Rec., MS., ix. 171. Slight allusions to the visit in Morineau, Notice, 66; Browne's L. Cal., 42; Nouv. An. des Voy., xviii. 240-54.

G7 Roquefeuil's Voyage, 39-40. One of the two deserters, named Ostein, was accused of an attempt at mutiny and the author disposes of him after his re-arrest by saying: 'In the night, the ship was rid of Ostein; his removal gave general satisfaction to the crew,' leaving his exact fate to the imagina- tion of the reader. Sola mentions the presence of a French bark for 9 days, and hier sailing to the north-west. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 180. Oct. 25th, Roque- fenil to Sola (in French) asks permission to ship a couple of foreign seamen, being short-handed. Id., xx. 187. If this request was granted, it disposes of two of the foreign residents, one being perhaps Mason.

68 Roquefeuil's Voyage, 105-10. A fire on the mountains near Cape Men- docino explained to this navigator what La Perouse had probably mistaken for an active volcano-an error repeated perhaps by Chamisso.

289

FOREIGN SETTLERS.

quently consented to the sale of produce for money, and, according to Roquefeuil, even consented finally to much more satisfactory terms.69

When Roquefeuil embarked from San Francisco finally for Sitka and the Islands on November 20th, he left two men at the mission who were too ill to proceed on their voyage.70 He also brought to Cali- fornia two young men, natives of Spain, whom he does not mention, unless possibly one of them may have been one of the two sick sailors, but who afterward became somewhat prominent and respected citizens of the province, where they both died at an advanced age. One was José Fernandez, who, according to his own statement, "took passage" in the Bordelais from Lima; and the other was Antonio María Suñol, who, having shipped as a sailor for the round trip, could not land with Fernandez as he wished when the ves- sel first arrived, and was therefore under the necessity of running away when she came back.71 The French navigator's observations respecting the country as re- ported in his narrative are slight. He noted the rapid decrease of the otters all along the coast; learned that Argüello had explored the river 'San Sacra- mento' fifty leagues from its mouth; was perhaps the first writer to mention the annual floods of that river;

69 Sept. 22, 1818, Sola to Argüello containing the usual instructions, to be enforced in the case of the Bordelais. St. Pap. Sac., MS., ii. 94 6. This Roquefeuil says, Toy. 106, arrived on the 25th, and was answered by an ex- planation of the purity of the trader's intentions and his belief that some enemy had lied about him. Sept. 26th, Sola to Argüello, consenting to trade for money, duties being paid, and no padres or citizens being allowed to have anything to do in the matter. St. Pap. Sac., MS., ii. 94-6. This came on the 28th and was regarded by Roquefeuil, Voy. 108, as 'vague' and 'tolerably satisfactory.' A circular from Argüello to the padres to furnish grain was not obeyed; but on Oct. 9th, a courier came in from Sola with 'despatches en- tirely satisfactory' and the process of loading went on rapidly. The total amount of trade on the three visits was $6,356, of which $130 was paid in money.

70 One of them was perhaps Ignacio Thomas, described as an Englishman left at San Francisco from the Bordelais, who remained for 11 years and more. Dept. St. Pap., MS., xix. (12).

11 Fernandez, Cosas de Cal., MS., 67-70; Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., i. 179- 82. Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., i. 132-46, mentions the arrival at Monterey late in 1817 of a man-of-war pretending to be English on a scientific expedi- tion, but really one of Bouchard's ships. This is probably an error.

HIST. CAL., VOL. II. 19

290

MARITIME AFFAIRS AND CONTRABAND TRADE.

was told of the exploits of the Kadiaks in their bi- darkas, and learned of " the terrible decrease of the native race in the missions of the two Californias." I append a map of the western regions including Cali- fornia made in 1818. It peculiarities are self-explan- atory.72

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History of California, Volume II, Part 29

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe Publication date: 1885 Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers Number of Pages: 826

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 826