History of California, Volume II, Part 3

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

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CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD OF EVENTS.

and his companions were put on shore, and in their joy at escape shouted, as Cleveland tells us, Viran los Americanos!

The Byrd hastened to San Quintin for repairs, arriving on the 24th. Of her adventures in the south something is said elsewhere.18 At San Quintin the adventurers met Brown with the Alexander; had and enjoyed much pleasant social intercourse with the Dominican friars, who were eager but not well provided for barter. They talked over the great battle of San Diego, in which, as they were glad to hear, no one had been hurt. They sailed for the Hawaiian Islands at the end of May. In China the skins were sold. Thus far the venture was a success, though subsequent events developed serious losses. Shaler made another trip in the Lelia Byrd, while Cleveland returned as a passenger to Boston on the Alert.19

At San Diego the corporal in command of the battery, José Velasquez, was subsequently put un- der arrest by Rodriguez for his action in the event just recorded, that is on commercial and not on mili- tary grounds. The bone of contention was the goods received in exchange for skins and confiscated. Velas- quez argued that there had been between his men and the Lelia merely a mutual exchange of gifts, and not trade at all. Of the result we know only that the confiscated goods were sold at auction for $212,

18 See Hist. North Mex. States, vol. ii., this series.

19 Cleveland's narrative was reprinted in the Sacramento Union of March 4, 1861. See Hayes' Mission Book, i. 181-7. May 1, 1803, Arrillaga has heard of the arrival of the Lelia Byrd. Prov. Rec., MS., xii. 20, 40. Sept. 7, 1803, viceroy to governor, has heard of the affair, which he seems to locate at San Francisco instead of San Diego, and is inclined to regret that the battery's fire did no more harm. He urges vigilance as usual. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xviii. 307. May 1803, Corporal Ruiz, of S. Vicente, to Gov., announces arrival of the two American vessels on pretence of repairs, one of them having come out of a fight at San Diego 'muy mal parado.' Ruiz did not know of the fight or he would not have allowed the vessel to anchor. Many padres went on board. He encloses a note from the captain, Shaler, making complaint against the commandant of San Diego. Arch. Arzob., MS., ii. 27. In Prov. Rec., MS., ix. 20-1, Capt. Shaler is named. No other name given by the Spaniards.

THE 'ALEXANDER.'

and that the proceeds seem to have been divided among the party that effected the capture.23

As we have seen, Cleveland heard of the Alex- ander at San Diego and subsequently met her at San Quintin. She arrived at San Diego February 26, 1803,21 Captain Brown demanding permission to re- main for a time that his men might be cured of scurvy. This was accorded for eight days by Rodri- guez, the sick were allowed to land at a distance from the fort to prevent contagion, and fresh provi- sions were also supplied. There may have been scurvy on board, but Brown's chief object was to carry on a contraband trade for otter-skins. In this he succeeded pretty well until on the night of March 3d Rodri- guez sent on board an officer who seized four hun- dred and ninety-one skins and deposited them in the government warehouse. Brown was then ordered to depart immediately and did so, but anchored on the 7th at Todos Santos on pretence of needing wood.22

20 April 9, 10, 1803, Velasquez to governor, in Prov. St. Pap., MS., xviii. 261-6. The writer corroborates substantially Rodriguez' account of the fight. June 19, 20, 1806, commandant of S. Diego to Gov., announcing sale of goods, and naming four men deserving to share the proceeds. Id., xix. 156-7. There are indications that the 40 otter-skins as well as the goods given for them were confiscated, that is that the Americans had to retire before receiving them.

21 July 19, 1802, passport signed by Juan Stoughton, Spanish consul for 'some of the New England States' at Boston, in favor of the fragata expedi- cionaria Alexander, Capt. Juan Brown, owners, Henrique Bassy & Co. and José Taylor of Boston. Aid to be rendered should she touch in any of the king's dominions. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xviii. 243. The custom-house records of Boston show that the Alexander was first cleared for the N. W. coasts in 1797 under Capt. Dodge. Boston in the N. W., MS., 76.

22 Rodriguez to governor, Marchi 10, 1803. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xviii. 243-5. April 21st, Arrillaga has heard of the affair and reported it to the vice- roy. The padre of San Luis Rey has written and asked for the return of 170 of the skins which his Indians had put on board; but this he refused, as such trade is unlawful. Prov. Rec., MS., xii, 19, 20. Aug. 17th and Sent. 16th, the V. R. has heard of the affair and urges renewed vigilance. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xviii. 303, 308. From records of 1806 it appears that the confis- cated skins rotted before they could be legally disposed of and were thrown into the sea. Id., xix. 145-6. Velasquez charged that Rodriguez accepted gifts from Brown and brought them off concealed in his clothing. Id., xviii. 265-6. Cleveland, who as we have seen was disappointed at his failure to buy the confiscated skins, puts the transactions with Brown in a dark light. He learned from Arce that the commandant 'without first demanding their surrender, boarded the ship with an armed force, made a search, and took away all the skins they could find, together with some merchandise.' 'Had Brown negotiated with the Commandant first, it is most probable he would

CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD OF EVENTS.

After his meeting with Shaler and Cleveland he left San Quintin in April for the Northwest Coast to apply for relief and obtain a contingent of trade wherever he could impose on the Spaniards for their own benefit and his. We next hear of him at San Juan Capistrano, still in search of provisions for his crew, but whether he was successful or not is not recorded.23

In May the Alexander appeared at San Francisco- the second American vessel to enterthe Golden Gate- where she remained seven days, and where the request for provisions and wood and water was of course granted, the captain's tactics and past actions not being officially known here. She sailed ostensibly for Bodega.24 On August 11th, however, she came back with a consort, claiming to be in great distress by reason of hardships arising from Indian hostilities on the northern coasts. But the commandant turned a deaf ear to Brown's pitiful, and possibly true, tale, reminding him that only four months before he had obtained provisions enough to support his crew of sixteen men for at least eight months, and ordering him to sail forthwith, as he did next day.25 The Alexander seems to have proceeded directly to Mon- terey, where better luck awaited her, since she obtained

have obtained the whole quantity, and at the same time have avoided the l:umilating predicament of having his ship taken possession of by the rabble.' He subsequently at San Quintin learned from Brown more details, which he does not give, 'of the rough manner in which he had been treated by the commandant at San Diego, which confirmed us in the propriety of the meas- ures we had pursued to avoid a similar treatment.' 'We had escaped similar dangers and were among a people remarkable for treachery and hostility to strangers'! Cleveland's Nar., i. 212-13, 216-17.

23 Prov. Rec., MS., xii. 21.

24 July 15, 1803, Arrillaga to Com. of San Francisco. Prov. Rec., MS., xii. 249. Brief mention of this visit in connection with a later one, in St. Pap., Miss, and Colon., MS., i. 84-7. In 1804 Macario Castro gave some testimony about trade with a ship at San Francisco in May, which I suppose may refer to this occasion. He saw plenty of people and plenty of foreign goods but knows nothing about any trade. He has no particular reason to sus- pect the commandant. The habilitado knows something about goods bought. José María said he had $500 and he came back with goods. Others are named who took a hand in the game. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xviii. 403-5.

25 Aug. 26th, Argüello to Arrillaga in St. Pap., Miss. and Colon, MS., i. 84-3.

ROWAN AND THE 'HAZARD.'

supplies and repaired her topmast and then was able to run away in the night without paying her bills.26

The vessel alluded to as having entered San Fran- cisco Bay with the Alexander on August 11th, is called by the Spaniards the Aser, Thomas Raben. I suppose her to have been the Hazard, James Rowan, which, as the reader will remember, was met by Cleve- land at Valparaiso the year before.27 There was no reason to refuse Rowan's request for aid, especially after he had sent in a written statement of damages received in the north, and Argüello had gone on board to satisfy himself that the statement was true, finding the ship badly riddled with bullets and much in need of water and wood.28 A stay of four days was therefore granted for refitting, on the express condition that there should be no intercourse with garrison or citizens. Argüello was impelled to be very cautious in this case, not only because of strict orders from Mexico,29 but because of the Hazard's fifty men and twenty-two guns of nine and twelve pounds calibre, besides twenty swivel-guns, and finally because all his cavalrymen but two were absent in the San José region. The Americans, however, behaved admirably, though the vessel remained twice as long as the allotted time on account of fogs and unfavorable winds. She sailed on the 19th, having paid for her supplies in cash.30

26 Aug. 18, 1803, Lient. Font to Argüello. Aug. 19th, reply. Argüello will try to arrest Brown if he comes to San Francisco. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xviii. 248. There is a reference also to her having anchored at Monterey on Sept. 3d; probably an error. Prov. Rec., MS., xi. 184.

27 In an article Americans at Sea, in Niles' Register, xviii. 418, the 'Hazard is said to have sailed (from Boston) Sept. 1799, under Swift, master, and Smith, mate, returning May 6, 1802; sailed again under same officers Sept. 1802, returning May 6, 1805; and sailed again under Smith, master, July 22, 1805, returning June 23, ISOS. This authority is not, however, reliable.

28 On Rowan's northern experience see Hist. Northwest Coast, i., this series. He brought to California an account not only of his own disasters, but those of the Boston at Nootka.

29 June 13, 1803, Arrillaga sends to the commandants orders issued by the viceroy on April 14, with royal order of Aug. 10, 1802, which called for redoubled precautious and strict compliance with the old regulations in view of the constantly increasing efforts of foreigners to carry on illicit trade in the Pacific. St. Pap., Sac., MS., ii. 59.

30 Argüello's report in St. Pap., Miss. and Colon, MS., i. 84-7. The arrival of the Alexander aud Hazard on this occasion has been noted by HIST. CAL., VOL. II. 2

CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD OF EVENTS.

Rowan subsequently made his appearance at Santa Bárbara in September, and succeeded in obtaining additional supplies; but at San Juan Capistrano, where he went next with the same pretext, he obtained nothing. Here he is said to have left a woman, who was sent to San Blas, and who was the cause of some irregularities on board the transport.31

It is not unlikely that the American captain suc- ceeded at one port or another in exchanging surrepti- tiously a portion of his cargo for otter-skins, though the records contain nothing definite on the subject. Meanwhile the strictest orders came from Mexico, for it was feared not only that officials might be remiss and that contraband trade might be carried on, but also that in case of war some hostile vessel might enter the Californian ports under pretence of being an American trader in distress.32 Notwithstanding the precautionary measures ordered it was deemed wise to reduce the military guard of California by withdrawing the company of Catalan volunteers, now numbering seventy officers and men, under the com- inand of Font. There is no correspondence extant to show the motive for this step at such a time, without any special attempt to replace the company. It is known, however, that infantry troops had not been deemed useful in this province. A portion of the

several writers, as Tuthill, Ilist. Cal., 118; Randolph, Oration, 310; Cronise, Nat. Wealth of Cal., 36-7; but they have generally erred in calling this the first instead of the third arrival of American vessels at S. Francisco; in pre- serving the name Aser; and in changing the date of arrival from the 11th to the Ist.

31 Dec. 23, 1883, viceroy to governor, in reply to report of Oct. 15th. The vessel is called the Anser, Capt. Rowen. St. Pap., Sac., MS., v. 83-4. Oct. Ist, Gov. to Com. of Sta Bárbara, calling the vessel Aser, Capt. Rowen, 26 guns and 32 men. Prov. Rec., xi. 97. Oct. 3d, Gov. to Rodriguez, is informed of the arrival, probably at San Juan. Id., xii. 23. Arrival of the Anzet. Id., ix. 29.

32 Governor to commandants with viceroy's instructions. Nov. Sth and Dec. 23d. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xviii. 284, 320; St. Pap., Sac., MS., v. 84; vi. 113. In the instructions of Viceroy Marquina to his successor Iturrigaray, in 1803, the frequent arrival of American vessels-to be well received accord- ing to treaty provisions-is noted, and fear is expressed that among these ves- sels carrying the American flag there may be some Englishmen engaged in smuggling(!). Virreyes, Instrucciones, 181.

DEPARTURE OF THE VOLUNTEERS.

company sailed in the autumn on the Princesa and Activo, the transports of the year; the rest probably departed the next year.33 Thus close the annals of 1803.

33 Departure of a detachment with their families. Prov. Rec., MS., ix. 32. Vague reference to approaching departure dated March 18, 1S03. Id., x. 18. The last invoice of supplies sent from Mexico for the company was April 30, 1803, after which there was a balance due it of $10,341. Pror. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xxx. 34. The old practice of sending one transport to the north and the other to the south with the memorias seems to have been abandoned in these years. The Princesa and Activo in company arrived at Monterey in Sept., were at Sta Bárbara from Sept. 29th to Oct. 22d, and subsequently touched at S. Diego. Prov. Rec., MS., xi. 98-9, 184-5; xii. 24. Two other Spanish vessels touched on the coast this year. On June 16th the sloop Horcasitas anchored at San Diego, her business not being recorded. On July 25th the ship Concepcion arrived at Sta Bárbara from Manila. She was commanded by Francisco Párraga, and left seven sick men. Prov. Rec., MS., xi. 97, 194; ix. 28; St. Pap., Sac., MS., vi. 112; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xviii. 310.

CHAPTER II. RECORD OF EVENTS-ARRILLAGA'S RULE. 1804-1806.

NUEVA CALIFORNIA A SEPARATE PROVINCE-ARRILLAGA POLITICAL AND MILITARY GOVERNOR-THE 'LELIA BYRD' AND 'HAZARD' ON THE COAST-THE FIRST CALIFORNIAN NARRATIVE IN THE UNITED STATES- CAPTAIN O'CAIN-RUSSIAN CONTRACTS-PRECAUTIONS AGAINST FOREIGN- ERS-ARRILLAGA AND TAPIS ON MISSIONS-FOUNDING OF SANTA INÉS- PADRE ROMUALDO GUTIERREZ-AN INCREASE OF MILITARY FORCE -- MILITIA ARTILLERY COMPANY-FEARS OF ANGLO-AMERICANS-PROPOSED MISSION ON SANTA BÁRBARA ISLANDS-INDIAN HOSTILITIES AT SAN JOSÉ MISSION-ARRILLAGA ON PROVINCIAL NEEDS-AN ARMED CRUISER- THE 'PEACOCK' AND THE 'REISOS'-CAPTIVE SAILORS-WINSHIP'S VOY- AGE-CAMPBELL'S VOYAGE-THE GUARDIAN'S MISSION REGULATIONS.

THE division of the Californias into two distinct provinces, a matter under serious consideration since 1796,1 was finally effected in 1804, by a royal order in which the official names of the new provinces were fixed as Antigua and Nueva California. The boun- daries were left as before between the Dominican and Franciscan missions, and Arrillaga was made political and military governor of Nueva California at a salary of four thousand a year. A temporary governor was to be named for Antigua California and Arrillaga was to continue in command till such a governor was named. The viceroy sent this order to Loreto August 29th, and its receipt was acknowledged by Arrillaga the 16th of November, which date may therefore be

I See Hist. Cal., i. chap. xxviii., this series. The viceroy Marquina urged the matter in 1800 to the king, who however desired further informa- tion. Virreyes, Instrucciones, 201. April 4, 1802, the viceroy asks for the president's opinion, which was given July 21st, and was favorable to the change. Arch. Sta B., MS., xi. 429-32.

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FOREIGN VESSELS.

regarded as that when his proprietary rule began. It was not deemed best to name immediately a ruler for the peninsula, over which Arrillaga was requested still to exercise authority, though he might proceed directly to Monterey.2 He did not, however, come north until the next year, sailing from Loreto for San Luis Bay up the gulf on August 19, 1805, and arriv- ing at Monterey January 20, 1806.3

Both the Lelia Byrd and the Hazard were on the coast again in 1804. The former was still under command of her old captain, William Shaler, and brought a cargo which had been completed in China by buying out another American vessel. This was not a successful trip nor do we know much about it. Cleveland, who, though he had returned to Boston, was half owner in the venture, tells us that Shaler arrived safely on the coast, and after a few weeks, during which he disposed of but a small portion of his cargo and that largely on credit to the friars, the Byrd grounded on a shoal, sprung a leak, and was with dif- ficulty sufficiently repaired for a risky voyage back to the Hawaiian Islands.4 According to another author, whom I suppose to have been Shaler himself, the Lelia from Canton arrived off the Columbia River

2 Aug. 29, 1804, viceroy to Arrillaga with royal order of March 26th. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xviii. 175-7, 369. Årrillaga's acknowledgment, Nov. 16th. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 21; ix. 58. Proclaimed at Sta Bárbara Dec. 9th. Pror. St. Pap., MS., xix. 39. By a communication of Arrillaga to the viceroy Dec. 20th, it appears that he was required to comply with certain formalities before the cámara de Indias before he could exercise the powers of political governor. Prov. Rec., MS., ix. 58-60. March 7, 1805, the V. R. states that Arrillaga must solicit the title of political governor through an agent before the council of Indies. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xix. 65-6. These requirements are as unintelligible to me as they seem to have been to the governor. Also on March 7, 1805, Arrillaga was permitted, in view of the great distance from Mexico, to tender his oath of office before the eldest officer in his vicinity, who would act as comisionado for the viceroy. Id., xix. 46. The boundary between the two new provinces was the place called Barrabas, or the stream and ranchería of Rosario. See communications of 1806-7 .on this subject. Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 204, 208; Prov. Rec., MS., ix. 95; x. 2; Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xxxix. 6.

3 Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvi. 80; xix. 76; Id., Ben. Mil., xxxvii. 2; Prov. Rec., MS., ix. 73; Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 186. In 1807 Arrillaga complained of the dull, uneventful life in California. Doc. Hist Cal., MS., iv. 171. See also Hist. North Mex. States, i., on the change of government.

+ Cleveland's Narrative, i. 238-9, 244-5.

2.2

ARRILLAGA'S RULE.

May 1st, proceeding down the coast and anchoring in Trinidad Bay, California, on the 11th. Adventures here, where the Americans remained a week making repairs and obtaining wood and water, are fully related. The natives, though kindly treated, were troublesome, so much so that a party of four were confined on board the ship and in repulsing an attack several were killed. The second mate also had a leg broken by a falling tree. Of the voyage down the coast from Trinidad we have the following only: "On the 23d we arrived on the coast of California, where I got abundant sup- plies of provisions, and began a trade with the mis- sionaries and inhabitants for furs. We continued on the coast of California until the 8th of July, when we sailed for the gulf of that name."5

After a trip to Guaymas and down the coast to Guatemala Shaler returned northward, and on Febru- ary " arrived without any remarkable occurrence on the coast of California, where we got plentiful supplies of provisions as usual, and were not unsuccessful in our collection of furs." He visited Santa Catalina Island, found a desirable harbor, and again anchored there in May, naming the harbor, of which he believed himself the first explorer, after a former partner Port Rouissillon. The Indian inhabitants of the island, one hundred and fifty in number, were very friendly. The ship was found to be in an unseaworthy condition, but by six weeks of hard work, attended with many mishaps, and by a free and somewhat novel use of oakum, lime, and tallow, she was made ready, and sailed early in June. Shaler anchored in San Pedro

5 Ang. 11, 1804, Arrillaga writes to the commandants of Sta Bárbara and San Diego that he is informed of the arrival at San Buenaventura on July 5th, and at San Juan Capistrano, seeking provisions, of the American ship Alex- ander, Capt. Wm. Shaler, 8 guns and 24 men. This must be an error of the Spaniards so far as the name of the ship is concerned. Shaler may have given his vessel a false name on account of her previous troubles at San Diego; but he would hardly have chosen so deservedly unpopular a name as that of the 'Alexander.' See Prov. Rec., MS., xi. 102; xii. 30. Sept. 30, 1804, Castro to governor, thinks the vessel at San Francisco in May may have been the Alexander. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xviii. 405. These are the only allusions in the archives to Shaler's visit of 1804.

SHALER'S NARRATIVE.

Bay where he obtained supplies for twelve months, including many hogs and sheep; then he ran down the coast, collecting furs on the way; and July 30th sailed from Cape San Lucas for the Sandwich Islands, where he arrived in August.6

Captain Shaler's narrative, published in 1808, was the first extended account of California printed in the United States. The author gives a good general description of the province, its people, institutions, and prospects, which, however, does not demand extended notice here, because it was evidently made up moro largely from the observations of La Pérouse and Vancouver than from those of the American trader. Moreover it is clear that such parts of Shaler's re- marks as result from his own experience apply as a rule to the peninsula rather than to Alta California. " The climate," he says, "'seems particularly favorable to horses and mules, as they retain their strength and vigor till past thirty years." The sea-otter of the Santa Bárbara Channel were better than on any other part of the coast; and the natives were a distinct and superior race. For several years past the author thinks American traders had left twenty-five thou- sand dollars annually on the coast in exchange for furs in spite of the government and to the great advantage of the people. "Under a good government the Cali- fornias would soon rise to ease and affluence." The Dominicans were "a much politer order of men" than the Franciscans. Each mission, pueblo, presidio, and port is briefly described, and the author's opinion is given that California would be an easy and desirable prey to some foreign nation,7 leaving it to be naturally

6 July 29, 1805, Gov. to viceroy, notice of the W'm. Shaler repairing at Sta Catalina. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xix. 74. The archives contain nothing further of this visit of 1805, unless it be referred to in a letter of the governor thank- ing Padre Ciprés of San Luis Obispo for his cold reception of the vessel anchored there. If all padres pursued this course fewer vessels would come. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 22.

7 Shaler, Journal of a Voyage between China and the North-western Coast of America, made in 1804, in American Register, iii. 137-75. The author says: 'The Spaniards have, at a great expense and considerable industry, removed

ARRILLAGA'S RULE.

inferred that he would be glad to see it fall into the hands of his own nation, and thus entitling himself perhaps to the credit of having been the first to suggest American annexation. Shaler was an intelligent and able man, possessing considerable experience in liter- ary, linguistic, and diplomatic matters.

Having thus gone somewhat beyond the year 1804 in order to follow the fortunes of the Lelia Byrd, I may go still further out of chronological order to conclude the subject. The ship was exchanged with the king of the Hawaiian Islands for a schooner, which was named for the queen the Tamana and sent back to California under John T. Hudson, probably in 1805-6, to sell the rest of the Leliu's cargo. Hud- son spent five or six months on the coast of California, trading with the friars and natives but not daring to enter any of the principal ports. He was successful neither in disposing of any large amount of goods, nor in collecting pay for those furnished by Shaler on credit to the missionaries, only four out of twenty of whom redeemed their notes. When his patience and supplies were exhausted he returned to Honolulu.8

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History of California, Volume II, Part 3

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