History of California, Volume II, Part 32

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

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34 Tikhmenef, Istor. Obosranie, i. 217. Whatever Kotzebue may have thought, however, the document in question can hardly be deemed an admis- sion of Spanish rights, since it was simply a record of Sola's claim and Kus- kof's failure to reply. Khlenikof, Zapiski, 147-8, merely mentions that Kuskof visited San Francisco at Sola's invitation. Sola in a letter to the viceroy dated Nov. 6, 1816, gives a brief account of the negotiations con- nected with Kotzebue's visit. Prov. Rec., MS., ix. 151-3. Capt. Wilcox in a letter of Dec. 12, 1817, says he touched at Bodega on Dec. 25, 1816, but could sell nothing, though he refitted his vessel, the Caminante, there. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 165-6. The arrival of a Russian vessel, the Coscoff, is noted at Monterey from San Francisco. Prov. Rec., MS., ix. 143.

35 Señan's letters in Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., v. 61-3; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 106; Id., Ben. Mil., xlvi. 39.

311

VICEROY'S ORDERS.

to San Blas by the Paz y Religion but were brought back by the San Carlos.36 Eliot was taken away by Kotzebue to the Hawaiian Islands, where he became secretary of state to the king. Three Russian desert- ers were also taken away to Ross. Whether the commander was not willing to take more or Sola to give them up does not clearly appear.37

Sola is said by Chamisso to have promised, and probably did promise, not to use forcible measures to eject the Russian intruders until the matter could be considered at court. Such an agreement was not a very important one for either party; for the governor was hardly in a position to use force had he desired to do so, and he knew that he could not keep such a promise by his own authority, since he was subject to the viceroy's orders. Late in the year came a com- munication from Viceroy Calleja, in which, while not disapproving the past exchange of grain for articles needed by the soldiers, he ordered a strict watch to be kept on the Russians, who were by no means to be allowed to enter Californian ports or visit the presi- dios "to ascertain the condition of our forces."38 And this was followed by another order to force an aban- donment of Ross, and to call upon the rulers of other provinces for aid if necessary.39 The order of course was not carried out, but the progress of the colony in the direction of commercial intercourse was at a standstill.

In his report of 1817, Sola replied to the viceroy's

36 Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 93; Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., lxxxvii. 62. June 17th, Sola writes to Guerra that Tarakanof before sailing revealed the fact that there was a large deposit of skins on one of the islands. These are to be taken and a secret report made. Prov. Rec., MS., xi. 35-6. Padre Martinez says of Eliot in a letter of Dec. 11th, that unless he mends his ways he will go hence 'to hell-not because I will send him there, for I am not in the service of devils, but because he so wishes it.' Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 10.

37 Kotzebue's Voy., i. 286-7, ii. 13; Chamisso, Reise, i. 136-7; Baránof, Shizneopissanie, 157; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 34; Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 206-11.

38 April 16, 1816, viceroy to Sola. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 5.

39 June 30th, viceroy to governor of L. California. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxii. 28; Nov. 14th, Sola acknowledges receipt of such orders. Prov. Rec., MS., ix. 154.

312

RUSSIANS IN CALIFORNIA.

communications, and explained the difficulties in the way of ousting the Russian intruders. To make the attempt with any chance of success at least one hun- dred infantry and four field-pieces with artillerymen were necessary, besides ammunition, and even supplies of food, of which there were none at the governor's disposal. As for aid from New Galicia the viceroy was simply reminded of the time it would take to send a courier, obtain the necessary orders, organize an expedition, and land the troops in California; and was left to meditate upon the absurdity of such a propo- sition.40 Made acquainted with the state of affairs in the south by Kuskof's letters, Baránof despatched Lieutenant Yakov Padushkin in the Chirikof, Beuse- man master,41 to treat with the California officials. His credentials, in the form of a letter from Baránof to Sola,42 mentioned as the subject of negotiation only the release of Aleut and Russian prisoners; but no doubt Padushkin was also commissioned to agitate the all-important matter of trade; and he was probably instructed to so conciliate the Spaniards, if possible, as to effect a cessation of the troublesome insistence on the abandonment of Ross. It is noticeable, how- ever, that the company was very shy of intrusting to paper its ideas on this latter subject.

Arriving at San Francisco late in March, Padush- kin applied to Argüello for permission to go by land to Monterey, which, on reference to the governor, was refused and the trip was made by sea. 43 At the cap-

40 Sola, Informe General al Virey sobre Defensas de la California, 1817, MS.

11 Christopher Martinevich Beuseman, master of the Ross schooner Chiri- kof (the Spaniards call her 'Scuna Chiriko'), was a Prussian and first served the company as mate on the Peacock. He finally became a Russian subject and in 1825 was made a noble of the 14th class. Baranof, Shizneopissanie, 109. 42 Feb. 2, 1817, Baránof to Sola, written in Russian. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 206-8. The writer regrets his inability through ignorance of Spanish to enlarge on his own views, but he has given Padushkin full powers to 'discuss without any ill-feeling or hostile pretensions the questions referred to.'

43 March 31, 1817, Sola to Arguello. Prov. St. Pap., Ben, Mil., MS., xlvi. 38. April 10th, May 12th, Sola to viceroy. Prov. Rec., MS., ix. 169-70. It would seem that the schooner did not enter the bay, but that the officers landed in bidarkas, or cayucos as the Spaniards always called them. April 24th, Padushkin at Monterey asked for arrest of an Aleut who had deserted from the vessel at Ross. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 205.

313

THE GOVERNOR'S PROTEST.

ital Sola received him politely, and without the slight- est hesitation delivered the prisoners to the number of fifteen, promising to give up the rest as soon as they could be brought in from distant points.# As to trade the governor, though he seems to have permitted Padushkin to obtain a cargo of provisions,15 refused to commit himself without the consent of his superi- ors, and took the same ground respecting a proposi- tion to hunt otter in partnership with the California government. 46 These matters being disposed of, Sola reverted to the old complaint against Kuskof, who persisted in keeping up a settlement in California against the wishes and orders of the Spanish authori- ties. By Padushkin, who returned to Sitka in June, he sent a letter to Baránof, in which, after alluding to his past dealings with Kuskof and stating his reasons for having delayed the release of the prisoners, he says: "And now I hope that you will proceed to re- move every ground of complaint, by immediately with- drawing the establishment of Bodega beyond the Spanish limits, which, as already stated, extend to the Strait of Fuca; which being done and this cause of ill-feeling on the part of both sovereigns being re- moved, I shall report to the viceroy, and perhaps this will make my king more favorably disposed to accede to your proposal of obtaining the products of this country for the support of the inhabitants of your own." Then he ventures to doubt the genuineness of a license of the Russian emperor to found the settle- ment of Ross, because such an act must naturally

44 Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 214-16; Baránof. Shizneopissanie, 147. One of the released prisoners was Tarakanof, or Tarasof as the Spaniards called him. Some who had married Californian women were allowed to remain at the missions. Sola had intended to give up the prisoners to Kuskof the year be- fore, but had been so disgusted at the latter's excuses about quitting Califor- nia in accordance with the viceroy's orders that he had concluded to wait a while.

45 Khlébnikof, Zapiski, 148. For this purpose the Chirikof seems to have gone down to Sta Bárbara. May 9th, Padre Ripoll to Sola. Arch. Arzob., MS., iii. pt. ii. 2.

46 He even refused to allow the lieutenant to leave a few hunters at the bight of San Antonio 'to kill deer.' Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xlvi. 38.

314

RUSSIANS IN CALIFORNIA.

have been transmitted to Spain and thence to Mexico and California; and finally, after exposing the flimsy nature of Kuskof's excuses and showing that there had been no lack of time or opportunity for repeated communications with Sitka and St Petersburg, he concludes by stating that Padushkin assured him that within twenty days after the receipt of this letter Bar- ánof would order Kuskof to leave Ross and retire to Russian territory.47 Tikhménef chooses to term Sola's simple obedience to the laws of his country and the orders of his superiors, obstinacy, which he absurdly attributes to Kotzebue's intermeddling and opposition to the company's schemes. 48

The modern Russian writers whom I have cited, or some of them, imply that almost from the beginning their countrymen maintained the equity of their claim to the country round Ross. A close examination, however, shows that these writers simply antedate their own views and the arguments resulting from later disputes. The idea of a claim to territory south of the Columbia, if entertained by the Russians, was never broached by them to the Spaniards before 1817. Contemporary documents show that the matter was never brought forward in the recorded discussions; and it is easy to see that such a pretension must have interfered seriously and uselessly with the company's cherished commercial plans. Not even in 1817 was the claim urged in California; but there is some evi- dence that about this time it was brought forward elsewhere. In fact such a claim was the only plausi- ble answer to Sola's complaint, unless the company was willing to promise the abandonment of Ross; and it is said that the Spanish ambassador at St Peters- burg complained this same year in a note to Count Nesselrode that the Russians, "forgetful of every feeling of justice and esteem to a friendly empire,

47 This letter dated May 5, 1817, is copied in Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 206-11. It is a very important document, being a manly and able present- inent of the Spanish claim.

#8 Tikhmenef, Istor. Obosranie, i. 216-17.

315

HAGEMEISTER'S VISIT.

had established themselves for commercial purposes on lands not belonging to them, asking in the name of his king that steps be taken for the removal of the settlement. To this note, as we are told by Tikh- menef and Potechin,49 the comdany replied by main- taining the lawfulness of their settlement, there being nothing on any existing chart to show that the country from San Francisco to the Columbia belonged in 1812 to any European nation. We know but little about this correspondence; but it is possible that the claim was now set up as the only way out of existing difficulties; not, I suppose, so much with a purpose of permanent occupancy as with a hope of bartering the claim for commercial privileges later. Baránof was about this time replaced by Hagemeister, who came down to Ross, and among other measures is said to have effected a renewal and extension of the old cession by native chieftains.

Not only did Hagemeister come to Ross, but he extended his visit to San Francisco in October, and brought Kuskof with him on board the Kutúsof.5) The pretext of this visit was to collect certain debts and release the remaining prisoners; the real object was to see what could be done toward improving the business relations. A correspondence having been opened with the governor, the latter readily gave up a few more prisoners, and, with a view of relieving the wants of the soldiers, himself made the first ad- vances in the way of trade by a proposal to purchase the cargo to the extent of $30,000, and pay in drafts on Guadalajara. This Hagemeister declined, feeling little confidence in the ability or disposition of the branch treasury at Guadalajara to pay such debts for California in the present aspect of public affairs; but he offered to sell the goods nevertheless, and to take

49 Tikhmenef, Istor. Obosranie, i. 217-19; Potechin, Selenie Ross, 11.

50 Brief mention of the Kutusof's presence, in Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 210-11; Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., 251, 254; Roquefeuil's Voyage, 39-40. She left for Sitka Nov. 11th. During her stay a Russian letter was sent all the way down to Santa Barbara and back in vain search for an interpreter.

316

RUSSIANS IN CALIFORNIA.

his pay in sea-otters which he would eateh in San Francisco Bay.51 Notwithstanding the manifest ad- vantages of such a bargain, Sola did not feel at liberty to accept it;52 but he allowed the purchase of con- siderable quantities of grain on terms not stated, 53 and the general effect of Hagemeister's visit seems to have been a restoration of former confidence and amity. For several years the company had but little difficulty in disposing of the cargoes, and the old con- troversy was left practically to take care of itself.

The mission of San Rafael, the first permanent Spanish establishment north of the bay, was founded at the end of this year. The Russian writers think that this foundation was intended to strengthen the Spanish title or to prevent the extension of Russian possessions.54 There is nothing to indicate such a pur- pose on the part of either missionary or secular au- thorities; and if Ross was thought of at all in this con- nection it was probably, as one writer asserts,55 only as the best available market for mission products, in which respect it proved a great advantage in the al- most continued intercourse that followed.56

There is little of importance to be recorded on Rus- sian relations during the last three years of the de- cade. Early in 1818 Sola acknowledged the receipt from the viceroy of a royal order to strike a blow at

5] The company was to bear all the expenses of the hunt; to share the pro- ceeds equally with the Spaniards, and to take the share of the latter in pay- ment for goods at a fixed price-$8 for large skins, which was very low. Potechin, Selenie Ross, 12-14. According to Padre Arroyo's letter to the governor there were some Russians seen hunting near San Pedro this year. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 125.

52 Khlébnikof, Zapiski, 78, 141-2.

53 The Kutusof, according to Potechin, took 1,396 pouds of wheat; 99 of barley; 200 of pease and beans; and 144 of tallow. A poud was 36 lbs. Tikh- ménef, Istor. Obosranie, i. 218-19, states that Sola gave a formal authoriza- tion for future trade in a letter to the company, but this seems unlikely, when a tacit consent would have served his purpose as well.

54 Khlebnikof, Zapiski, 148-9; Tikhmenef, Istor. Obosranie, i. 361.

55 Fernandez, Cosas de Cal., MS., 86.

56 Mofras, Exploration, ii. 5, tells us that President Payeras on May 2, 1817, addressed a letter to the king of Spain on the Russian colony. This letter I have not seen.

317

GOLOVNIN'S VISIT.

the intruders; but he urged that for such a step re- enforcements were needed, and did nothing.57 He believed that by his past remonstrances and his late reference of the whole matter to the superior govern- ment, he had done all that could be expected of him. He understood now better than at first the pressing needs of his subjects; therefore, especially as the vice- roy had not objected to barter for articles needed by the troops, he seems to have allowed the traffic to go on without opposition. Khlébnikof tells us that vessels were sent yearly from Sitka without always touching at Ross.58

In the autumn of 1818 Hagemeister seems to have made a second visit to the southern coast, meeting Sola at Monterey, but we know very little about this trip.59 Equally vague is our knowledge respecting the visit of Golovnin in the Kamchatka, who was on an expedition round the world, and who was at Monterey at the same time as Hagemeister. He tells us of four Aleuts brought by the latter, who with much caution and considerable success proceeded to hunt otter under the very noses of the Spaniards during the few weeks of their stay. 60 Golovnin, however, gives in his narra-

57 April 3, 1818, Sola to viceroy. Prov. Rec., MS. ix. 196. In this letter he remarks that the Russians are instructing the Indians, who show great aptitude. 58 Zapiski, 148.

59 The arrival of the Cotwoff (perhaps Kutusof ) is announced by the gov-

ernor. Sept. 2, 1818. Prov. Rec., MS., ix. 197. Khlebnikof, Zapiski, 78, mentions Hagemeister's second visit.

60 Golovnin, Voyage, i. 271-88, fragmentary extracts in Materialui, pt. iv. 111, and in the Morskoi Sbornik, Jan. 1858. Correspondence about the delivery of 9 more Aleut prisoners. Guerra thinks some of them ought to remain in California, since it would be a praiseworthy act to enable them to save their souls. Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 106-7; iv. 399-400: Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xlix. 18. Arrival of the Kamchatka mentioned. Prov. Rec., MS., ix. 197; Roquefeuil's Voy., 107. In a letter of Jan. 28, 1818, the com- pany is said to have notified the colony at Ross to refrain from all dealings with the Americans. Zavalishin, Delo o Koloniy, 7-8. In July Kuskof sent a party of 38 bidarkas to Trinidad Bay, but the Indians were hostile, and only 11 skins were obtained. Khlebnikof, Zapiski, 139. In a letter of July 25th Señan men- tions a newspaper article from St Petersburg praising Sola for his reception of Kotzebue. 'What has engaged iny attention particularly,' says the friar, 'is the name of New Albion which they apply to the province, being one of the names of Great Britain.' Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., vi. 66. In a letter dated Monterey Nov. 11, 1818, J. B. Prevost notifies the U. S. secretary of state of the settlement at Ross, and of the probable ambition of the Russians to acquire additional territory on the coast. Amer. St. Pap., iv. 855.

318

RUSSIANS IN CALIFORNIA.

tive some descriptive matter about Ross, where he was, apparently for the second time, on September 27th; and he also presents a formal argument on the right of the Russian company to make a settlement on the coast, the Spaniards having no rights there. New Albion, he argues, was discovered by Drake, is en- tirely distinct from California, and had never contained a Spanish post before Ross was founded. He says the Spaniards were friendly at first, Sola's hostile policy being a new one, and practically abandoned in view of Kuskof's defiant attitude. The natives, he claimed, hated the Spaniards, were friendly to the Russians, and had made a formal cession of the country. This is the earliest argument extant on the question; and it is to be noted that the views are those of an individual, Russia never assuming any such position.

The annals of 1819 are even more meagre than those of the preceding year, no arrival of a Russian vessel being recorded. The viceroy reiterated his orders that the inhabitants of California must have no trade with the Russian colony;61 and a rumor reached the United States, apparently coming from the captain of a Russian vessel in China, that eight hundred miles of the California coast had been ceded by Spain to Russia. 62

In 1820 Yanofski, having succeeded Hagemeister as chief manager at Sitka, sent Lieutenant Khlébnikof down to Ross and to Monterey to perfect the com- mercial arrangements begun by his predecessor. The Buldukof and possibly the Ilmen came down on this trip.63 Sola made no objection to the trading of the

61 Oct. 19, 1819. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 73. A private letter from Mexico of Jan. 27th speaks of the Russian intrusion as a bad matter, and hopes Sola will destroy the settlement. Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., vi. 117. In a letter of May 31st Payeras says Coscoff, or Ross, is 20 leagues from San Rafael by way of Olon pali and Petaluma. Doc. Hist. Cal., iv. 343. 62 Niles' Register, xvi. 237; xvii. 232.

63 Yanofski in a letter of June 13th introduces Khlébnikof and implies

319

WILLING TO DEPART.

cargo for grain, though he insisted that he had made no promises to Hagemeister. He received a fine mirror as a gift, and sent back in return pheasants and tongues. He could as yet make no definite reply to the proposal to hunt otters on shares. Two other Russian vessels touched at San Francisco in Novem- ber, called the Otkruitie and Blagonamerenie, com- manded by Captain Vassilief. A royal order for the kind reception of these ships and two others had been received by Sola in which they were described as belonging to a scientific expedition round the world and to both poles; but it was a custom of the Rus- sians to call all the company's trips to Alaska voyages round the world. Of their stay and business in Cal- ifornia I know nothing.64

In 1820 the company announced its willingness to relinquish the claim lately set up to territory on the coast in exchange for the privilege of trade. In a letter to Nesselrode, Russian minister of foreign af- fairs, occurs the following: "The large capital invested in this settlement has not made the returns expected from it by the company, on account of the short time elapsed," and the lack of permanent settlers. "Yet the Spanish government of New California constantly demands the abandonment of the settlement and the

that he sails on the Elmasina; but Sola in his reply dated August 2d, calls the vessel Ylmena. St. Pap. Sac., MS., viii. 60-1. On the other hand the Buldákof's arrival under Capt. Cyril Khlébnikof, her buying grain at Santa Cruz, and her departure in September are noted. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., lv. 9; St. Pap. Sac., MS., v. 58.

6+ Dec. 14, 1819, viceroy's instructions to Sola in favor of the two vessels named, and also the Vostock and Mirini under Capt. Bilingshausen. Sent to commandant by Sola April 28, 1820. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 74-5, 270. The Otkruitie and Blagonamerenie sailed from Cronstadt in August 1819; arrived at San Francisco Nov. 22, 1820; and apparently remained until Jan- uary 1821. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 273; St. Pap. Sac., MS., vi. 24; Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 62.

José María Amador, Memorias, MS., 24-5, mentions an expedition of Moraga to Bodega and Ross this year which he accompanied as a soldier. All were very kindly received by the Russians, especially by the officers of two vessels at Bodega, who gave them silk shirts and other things for them- selves and families, enabling them to make a decided sensation with their finery on returning to San Francisco. This expedition is not elsewhere men- tioned, and there may be an error of date. Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., i. 191, gives a not very probable rumor that the Russians prompted the unfortunate expedition of the Spaniards to the north this year.

320

RUSSIANS IN CALIFORNIA.

departure of the Russians, claiming the land occupied by them and even the whole coast of New Albion as belonging to the Spanish crown on the strength of the first discovery of America by Columbus; and per- haps forcible measures would have been resorted to ere this had they been in a condition to carry them out. In this state of affairs the Russian American Company would willingly abandon its settlement, which fills the Spaniards with fear, and never more think of choosing another site on the coast of Albion, if it could by this sacrifice gain the privilege of per- manent trade with New California, which is closed to foreigners by law of the colony principally for the purpose of hiding the astonishing poverty and weak- ness of its government."65 The minister was urged to influence the Spanish government in favor of this pro- posal, and also that of taking otter on shares. It is not unlikely that the terms might have been accepted had it not been for political changes in the relations between old and new Spain.

Here I might appropriately give a sketch of Ross, its actual condition in 1820, its buildings and forces, its industries; of the progress made by the company's agents in California during the first ten years in com- merce, in otter-hunting, in agriculture, and ship-build- ing; the whole serving to show why Ross was deemed a failure, and why they were willing to give it up. This sketch, however, for no reason more potent than a desire to divide the chapters somewhat symmetri- cally in respect of length, is withheld for the Russian annals of the next decade. 66

65 Tikhmenef, Istor. Obosranie, i. 221-2; Potechin, Selenie Ross, 13-14. 66 See chapter xxviii. of this volume.

CHAPTER XV. EXPLORATIONS-INDIAN AFFAIRS-FOUNDING OF SAN RAFAEL.

1811-1820.

ABELLA EXPLORES THE LOWER SAN JOAQUIN AND SACRAMENTO BY WATER- ORIGINAL NAMES-INDIANS TROUBLESOME AT SAN GABRIEL-SOTO'S BATTLE-PADRE CABOT EXPLORES THE TULARES-SOLA'S GRAND EXPE- DITION-FRIARS' REPORT ON THE INDIAN TRIBES-AN IMPORTANT DOCU- MENT-PADRE MARTINEZ VISITS THE TULAREÑOS-A PRESIDIO AND MISSIONS RECOMMENDED-THE NATIVE ISLANDERS-FOUNDING OF SAN RAFAEL ASISTENCIA -TOUR OF PADRE PAYERAS-THE NAMES PETA- LUMA, SACRAMENTO, AND SONOMA-DISASTER AT SAN BUENAVENTURA- COLORADO INDIANS-VICTORY OF SANCHEZ OVER THE MOQUELUMNES- ESTUDILLO'S CAMPAIGN-MORAGA'S UNSUCCESSFUL EXPEDITION AGAINST THE MOJAVES-NOTES ON .INDIAN AFFAIRS OF THE DECADE.

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History of California, Volume II, Part 32

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