History of California, Volume II, Part 49

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

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On the John Begg in June there arrived Hugh McCulloch and William Edward Paty Hartnell, rep- resenting the firm of John Begg and Co., of Lima, who brought a small cargo of goods, and came with the purpose of making a long contract for products of the province and of establishing in California a branch house under the title of McCulloch and Hartnell, or "Macala and Arnel" as the Spaniards wrote it, and as the partners themselves not unfrequently signed. Both the governor and prefect entered with some

46 St. Pap. Sac., MS., vi. 45. The news of this capture caused precaution- ary orders to be circulated by governor and prefect in April and May, calling for the neophytes to be in readiness for action and for other measures of vigi- ance like those of 1818. Arch. Sta. B., MS., iii. 233-6; xi. 173-7.

47 Phelps' Fore and Aft, 241-2; Robinson's Statement, MS., 1-2.

476

A PROVINCE OF THE MEXICAN EMPIRE.

enthusiasm into the plans of the Englishmen, as be- ing advantageous for the province, and in July a con- tract was concluded for three years from January 1, 1823. A scale of prices was arranged with the prefect after consultation with the friars. Payeras attended closely to the interests of the missions, and was not to be caught napping, being fully aware, as he said, that "the times had changed, and the day long passed when hides and tallow could be had for nothing." Had he known of Gale's early coming he could doubtless have secured yet better prices. By the terms of the contract Begg and Co. were bound to send at least one vessel each year, to touch at each harbor or roadstead, to take all the hides offered, and at least 25,000 arrobas or 312 tons of tallow, and to pay either in money or in such goods as might be desired. Each mission was free to ratify the contract or not, but the ratification must be for the full period of three years, and exclusive of other traders so far as Hartnell and Co. could take the mission produce.48 The governor in addition to the mission contract

48 The tariff of prices was as follows: Hides, $1 each, large and small; wheat, $3 per fanega; tallow, $2 per arroba; suet, $3; lard, $4; soap, $16 per cental. Beef in pickle, including bone, $4 per cental, for which casks were to be furnished or the Indians taught how to make them. Other articles men- tioned, without prices being affixed, were: horns, hair of horses and cattle, hemp, wine, brandy, saffron for dyeing, skins of bears, foxes, etc. The only article to be taken in unlimited quantities was hides. Wheat in large quan- tities could only be taken when the crop was short in Chile.

June 11th, governor to prefect announcing the proposition of Hartnell. St. Pap. Sac., MS., xviii. 13-14. June 12th, Payeras to the padres on the advantages of the plan, and his own efforts to get high prices. June 17th, announcing his conclusion of the arrangement which is explained at length; with autograph approval of the governor on June 20th. Payeras, Dos Circu- lares sobre Contrata con McCulloch, Hartnell y Cia, 1822, MS. June 19th, governor to commandants in south announcing contract and prices. Dept. St. Pap., MS., i. 7. Same date, Id. to commandants in north, announcing also that the pueblos and rancheros could sell all the tallow, suet, lard, soap, and beef they could deliver on the shore, at the prices of the mission contract. Vallejo, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., i. 34. June 20th, Sola to Guerra, if the people do not avail themselves of this opportunity they will deserve to be treated as vagrants. Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 98. June 22d, Sola to Payeras, approval of the contract. St. Pap. Suc., MS., xviii. 16. June 28th, Sola to Guerra, mentioning the matter. Prov. Rec., MS., xi. 73. July 6th, Sola to comisionado of San José. St. Pap. Sac., MS., vi. 49. July 31st, Hugh Mc- Culloch to John Begg, sends a copy of the contract. Thinks he can get 25,000 or 30,000 hides per year, also many skins of otter, bear, deer, fox, etc., and 30,000 arrobas of tallow if wanted. Is obliged to take only hides and 25,000

477

McCULLOCH, HARTNELL, AND COMPANY.

stipulated that articles of produce from the pueblos and ranchos should be taken at the tariff prices if delivered at the shore. McCulloch went back to Lima, though he made later voyages to the coast, while Hartnell remained to manage the business, and become a permanent resident of the province. The business thrived for some years, and I shall have occasion to speak often of this commercial house, the first established in California.

The Eagle, or Aguila as the Californians called her, an American schooner that had been engaged in smuggling on the coast for some years, came to grief at Santa Barbara this year. Her crew attempted to seize the San Francisco de Paula lying at anchor there the 13th of September. The reason assigned for this extraordinary act was some irregularity in the sale of the brig, formerly the Cossack, to the new owners. The attempt was successful at first; but in trying to take the prize out of the harbor, the Eagle ran aground and was herself captured with the aid of the garrison and a cannon. After some legal formalities both vessels and cargo were confiscated and sold at auction for about $3,000, which, pending a decision in Mexico, was devoted to provincial uses. The schooner could not at first be floated, but seems to have sailed as the Santa Apolonia next year. She seems to have been bought by the padres of Santa Barbara. The records afford no information respecting officers or crew.49

arr. of tallow. Salting beef will be a good business, since cattle can be had at $4 per head, or a little more. Prices may be deemed high, but an American ship (Gale's) is offering $1.50 for hides, and $4 per 100 horns, while $1.50 or $1.75 is freely offered for tallow. The American ship could not get a load because the contract had been signed. Many vessels this year, and the people have high expectations; goods selling slowly; but fewer vessels will come for 3 years, while the contract lasts. Tallow generally commands a good price at San Blas. Vallejo, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., xxviii. 177. Accounts of the establishment of McCulloch and Hartnell, in Larkin's Descrip. of Cal., MS., in Spence's Hist. Notes, MS., 11-12; Robinson's Statements, MS., 1-2; Alva- rado, Hist. Cal., MS., ii. 68-72; Fernandez, Cosas de Cal., MS., 50-3.

49 Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 99-101; Prov. Rec., MS., xi. 75-7, 81-2; Dept. Rec., MS., i. 133; vi. 199; vii. 160; St. Pap. Sac., MS., vi. 52; Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., liv. 21-2. Exactly what became of the pro- ceeds of this sale was what some later officials tried to find out, and the matter in some of its phases was still pending as late as 1829.

478

A PROVINCE OF THE MEXICAN EMPIRE.

The subject of foreign residents in California assumes increasing importance as the years pass by, and ere long the annual record will exceed the limits of a para- graph. The vessels of 1822 left a number who settled in the province. The John Begg brought W. E. P. Hartnell, a native of Lancashire, England, and the Italian, Juan B. Bonifacio, to be the stevedore of McCulloch, Hartnell, and Co's cargoes. The British whaler Orion left at San Francisco under circumstances not explained, her mate, William Anthony Richardson, a native of Kent, afterward somewhat prominent, who asked in October and received in November from Sola permission to remain on condition of teaching carpentry and navigation to the young men of California; and the same vessel left a deserter, John Martin, also an Englishman but willing to become a Christian. Still another young Englishman named Robert Liver- more deserted from the Conoliango, as the Colonel Young was called, and was baptized at Santa Clara. Joseph Vincent Lawrence, a native of New York aged twenty-six, and William Welsh came on the Lady Blackwood, were discharged at Bodega at the end of 1821, and came down to San Francisco in a boat. Lawrence was carpenter and calker on the Blackwood, which came from Bengal. Jean Baptiste Mutrel, of Paris, came to the coast this year on the French ship Nereid, but appears to have lived exclusively in Lower California for five years. William A. Gale and Cap- tain Henry Gyzelaar, of the Sachem, may almost be considered as residents of California from this date; and the Panther had on board F. W. Macondray, who returned in 1850 and was the founder of a great mer- cantile house. There were no less than six additional arrivals accredited more or less definitely to this year. These were George Allen, baptized as Josef Jorge Tomás, an Irish Quaker who perhaps came in 1821; William Wilson, an American of twenty years; Man- uel de Dios Pasos, a Portuguese or Brazilian, who perhaps did not come until 1824; Michael Lodge, an

479

FOREIGN RESIDENTS.

Irishman, twenty-three years of age; another Irish- man of whose name the records make Michael Meque- lixt; and an Englishman, William Thompson, alluded to in a newspaper sketch. Of the older pioneers José Chapman, convinced "how mistaken he had been when he lived within the sect of the Anabaptists, resolved to forsake it and embrace that most holy one," and accordingly "had the glory of receiving baptism from that holy man Padre Señan" on the 24th of June; and the same year he married Guadalupe Ortega by whom he had four children before 1829. José Bolcof, the Russian, was married this year to Candida Castro, and possibly he was the Russian who accompanied the canónigo to Mexico.50 Foreigners were now generally well received, though the padres were inclined to be strict about religious matters. The deserting sailors had, however, no objections to becoming Catholics; and McCulloch wrote that he and Hartnell had com- promised the matter satisfactorily by consenting to remove their hats and go on their knees on certain occasions.

As a matter of course the missions were still called upon to furnish supplies for the troops, both by Sola and Argüello. That the missions must pay duties on sales of produce was regarded as settled, so that there was no refunding of the last year's advances, as indeed there would have been none had the decision been in favor of the friars. Now that they paid their duties without protest, they were called upon for six per cent in addition as a reintegro, or loan, which was paid, not without some murmurs. None of the com- munications of the friars are extant, but Sola in the last months of his rule used some very plain language to Payeras.51 In a circular issued in December to sat-

50 Naturalization records in Dept. St. Pap., MS., xix .- xx .; Estrada, Noticia de los Estrangeros, 1829, MS .; Vallejo, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., i. 42; St. Pap. Sac., MS., x. 12; S. Buenaventura, Lib. Mision, MS., 23; Arch. Sta B., MS., ix. 213-14; xii. 432; S. José Pioneer, June 14, 1879; S. F. Alta Cal., Mar. 9, 1866; Cronise's Nat. Wealth, 39.

51 Padre Martinez wrote that as he had nothing he could give nothing, 'but

480

A PROVINCE OF THE MEXICAN EMPIRE.

isfy demands of Governor Argüello, Prefect Payeras very clearly expressed the missionary policy on the current topic as follows: " I believe we should sacri- fice the less in order to save the greater. If on ac- count of the small harvest we refuse to give, they will impose on us tithes of all, and the troops will get in abundance what they now ask in moderation." 52

The Indians caused no trouble this year, though the Colorado tribes were still greatly feared; and when at the end of October or beginning of Novem- ber one hundred and fifty men, women, and children came from that direction with an Opata bearer of despatches, the most exaggerated rumors were cur- rent both in respect to their numbers and intentions. The visitors reached San Gabriel, doubtless with no hostile intentions, whither Captain Portilla was sent to arrest and send them back. They departed with- out resistance but in great displeasure at their inhos- pitable reception.53

these neophytes have full liberty to cede their chattels as their charity may prompt.' Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 12. June 12th, Payeras implies that 12% is demanded as a loan-instead of 6%-says it will smother many speculations, and he will remonstrate. Arch. Misiones, MS., i. 516. February 20th, Sola declares the padres are arbitrary and despotic in the matter of furnishing supplies, and he will report it to the viceroy. Prov. Rec., MS., xi. 71. Feb. 22d, Sola begs Payeras to write less and do more. Regrets his lack of firmness in these trying times. St. Pap. Sac., MS., xviii. 2. June 13th, Sola to Payeras. The contribution of 12% must be paid, and there is no need of listening to the padre's opinion. Haste is also necessary to prevent troubles like those in Lower California, where the troops refused to obey their chief. Id., xviii. 15. June 22d, in answer to Payeras' complaints that the Indians have to support the whole province. The padre's expressions, says Sola, are insolent and only to be borne because he is accustomed to deal exclusively with Indians. The mission aid has not been so important as the padre im- agines. He had better use more delicate language or resign. Id., xviii. 16- 17. December, a levy of $3,000 imposed on the missions. Arch. Sta B., xi. 124. Dec. Ist, Gov. Argüello to prefect. Calls attention to wants of the garrisons. Dept. Rec., MS., i. 27. Further correspondence between Argüello and Payeras. Arch. Arzob., MS., iv. pt. i. 97-100.

52 Dec. 4th, Payeras to padres. Arch. Arzob., MS., iv. pt. i. 99.

53 Oct. 23d, 30th, Nov. 11th, 22d, communications of Capt. Ruiz of San Diego to Capt. Guerra. Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 609-10, 613-15; Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., vi. 65; Nov. 3d, Estudillo to governor. Dept. St. Pap., MS., i. 8- 9. The number of Indians was at first given as 600, and they were reported to have declared their intention to sct the neophytes free. Hostilities between this party, or another similar one, and the Yumas are referred to. Portilla had known the Opata chief in Sonora and did not arrest him.

481

THE SEASON.

The 'intelligent Californian,' who furnished the re- port of an unprecedented flood this year-a report ex- tensively circulated in the newspapers and utilized in support of the theory of decennially recurring inunda- tions-was in error, probably, since so great was the scarcity of water in 1822 that in February the gov- ernor ordered a novena of prayers to San Antonio de Pádua for relief.54 True the result may have been a flood in April, but there are no records to that effect, and moreover the harvest was small. Hall tells us that the Santa Clara church was considerably injured by an earthquake this year. I have found no origi- nal evidence of the occurrence.55

54 Feb. 20th, governor to comandantes. Prov. Rec., MS., xi. 70. Feb. 6th, no rain yet at San Diego.

55 Hall's Hist. S. José, 114, 423.

HIST. CAL., VOL, II. 31

CHAPTER XXII.

ARGUELLO'S RULE-LAST OF THE EMPIRE-A NEW MISSION AT SONOMA.

1823.

POLITICAL RUMORS-THE EMPIRE PROCLAIMED IN APRIL-GOVERNOR TOS- TA'S EXPLOITS-DOWNFALL OF ITURBIDE ANNOUNCED IN NOVEMBER -- CALIFORNIA APPROVES-FEDERATION PROPOSED-JUNTA SUMMONED- SESSIONS OF THE DIPUTACION-A RING AND LOBBY-SIGNS OF SECU- LARIZATION -VIOLENCE TO A PADRE-DEATH OF PREFECT PAYERAS AND PRESIDENT SEÑAN-THEIR LIFE AND CHARACTER-SARRÍA AS PRELATE-VESSELS ON THE COAST-COMMERCE-PURCHASE OF THE ' ROVER'-OTTER-HUNTING CONTRACT-FOREIGN RESIDENTS-A MIS- SION AT SONOMA-EXPLORATION BY ALTIMIRA-NEW SAN FRANCISCO -- TROUBLE AMONG THE FRIARS-A COMPROMISE-NAME CHANGED TO SAN FRANCISCO SOLANO-ANNALS 1824-30-SANTIAGO ARGUELLO IN THE NORTH-ROMERO'S EXPEDITION FROM SONORA, 1823-6.

POLITICALLY 1823 was an uneventful year in the province, where stiring national events were but little known. The records contain few official communica- tions between the authorities of Mexico and California. Doubtless the correspondence extant is also incomplete; yet the successive imperial, revolutionary, constituent, and executive powers had but little time to think of so distant a province, and communication by mail was far from regular or rapid. In addition to the official news received, startling rumors were current. From Lima came a report of a compact between Spain and France, by which California was to be ceded to the latter power in return for troops to be furnished against the Spanish liberals; a compact, however, opposed by England.1

1 July 22, 1823, José Estrada to Guerra, in Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., v. 189.

( 482 )

483

STARTLING RUMORS.

Again it was feared that the Russians, now that there was no danger of complications with Spain, might attempt to seize California. Iturbide in a speech before the council of the regency a few days before his elevation to the throne had said: "In the Californias the Russians are threatening us." In a letter to one of the friars from Mexico was the declara- tion: " At the moment when Spain shall acknowledge the independence of the Mexican empire you will all be Russians." The canónigo wrote that the emperor was apprehensive of trouble from the direction of Ross and Sitka. Padre Duran in a communication of January 6th recapitulated the preceding points, and added that Russian officers had recently made inquiries about the strength of the garrisons. He noted a suspicious paper in Russian found in the province and sent to Mexico for interpretation, and assured the governor that the danger was at least sufficiently real to warrant precautionary measures.2 Yet Argüello felt no more than a proper 'official' alarm; most other Californians felt none at all, and as we shall see relations with the Russian company became more friendly than ever. Indeed, the changes of the past year with long-continued neglect by Spain and Mexico had left the Californians indifferent to exterior politics. Some of them would not have been greatly surprised to find their province annexed to the Sandwich Islands, nor perhaps very reluctant in their allegiance to an Hawaiian sovereign, able and willing to pay his debts.

It will be remembered that throughout the trans- actions of Fernandez in California, though Iturbide

2 Jan. 6, 1823, Duran to Argüello. Arch. Arzob., MS., iv. pt. ii. 1-4. May 30th, Argüello to the canónigo, is filled with alarm at his letter. Has noticed nothing suspicious, but is closely watching the Russian frigate Apollo. Dept. Rec., MS., i. 55. March Sth, P. Amorós to prefect. Has entertained the Russian officers at San Rafael, but has prevented them from going over- land to 'Ros-Koskoff' as they desired, without, however, telling them of the governor's orders, by pretending that the roads were bad, streams high, etc. Arch. Arzob., MS .. iv. pt. ii. 7. In August the Russian taken to Mexico by the canónigo passed the frontier of Lower California on his way back. Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., v. 222.

484

ARGÜELLO'S RULE-LAST OF THE EMPIRE.

was often spoken of as emperor, all official acts were in the name of the regency, from which body the canon held his powers; and that, so far as the records show, no formal allegiance was sworn to Agustin I. In fact Iturbide, though proclaimed emperor in May, before the comisionado's departure, had not been crowned until later. The coronation took place on July 21, 1882, and the official despatch from the minister of war communicating the intelligence reached California at the end of March 1823. On April 2d the empire was proclaimed at Monterey and the oath taken "with all the solemnity permitted by the exhausted condition of the province." At San Fran- cisco the ceremony took place the 27th, and doubtless about the same time at the other presidios and pue- blos.3

Iturbide had dissolved in October 1822 the un- manageable congress, to establish in its place the junta instituyente, and the motives which impelled him to such an act were explained in a communication, the receipt of which was acknowledged by Governor Argüello on May 30, 1823.4 In March, during the last days of his power, the emperor is said to have appointed a governor and comandante general to succeed Sola, choosing for the position Captain Boni- facio de Tosta of the navy. Thus Don Bonifacio may be entitled to a place in the list of governors; for though his term of office was only a few days, it is said that he succeeded in collecting some money at

3 April 3, 1823, Argüello to minister of war, with ratification by the dipu- tacion. Dept. Rec., MS., i. 8, 9. May Ist, Martinez to Argüello, on the ceremony of April 27th, at which some coin was distributed. St. Pap., Sac., MS., xiii. 2. In May and June there arrived and were published by the prefect the decrees already alluded to, and received through the bishop, calling for prayers in behalf of Iturbide and his family. The prayers were too late, for in May the emperor was banished. Arch. Sta B., MS., x. 276; Vallejo, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., xxviii. 51. May 30th, Argüello to minister of state. Has received the warning to be on his guard against the runaway malcontents of Guerrero. Dept. Rec., MS., i. 14.

4 Dept. Rec., MS., i. 16. On forming the junta to replace the congress Iturbide appointed Ambrosio Martinez de Vea to serve as a representative of California. Gaceta del Gob. Imp., iii. '925-7. Let us hope that this gentleman faithfully represented the views of his far away constituents during his short term of office.

485

FALL OF ITURBIDE.

Guadalajara on salary account, a fact that should per- haps entitle him to a very high place in the list in respect of ability.5

Iturbide surrendered his crown in March and was banished from America in May. Under different dates in April various proclamations and decrees of the congreso constituyente and poder ejecutivo were de- spatched to California. The 17th of November, in thirteen separate communications to Lúcas Alaman, secretary of state, Argüello acknowledged the receipt of as many decrees. At the same time he declared that the Californians had 'adhered' to the new and tan justa form of government; that all decrees had been or should immediately be obeyed; that the term nacional should be substituted for imperial; that all political prisoners should be set free, and that any man daring to support Iturbide as emperor by word or deed should be treated as a traitor.6

The adhesion, announced by Argüello, had been rendered I presume by the diputacion acting in the name of the people; for I find no record of any popu- lar swearing of a new allegiance. Meanwhile there was formed at Durango a plan of federation to em- brace Nueva Vizcaya, New Mexico, and the Califor- nias; and a document setting forth the advantages of such a union, with a formal invitation to join it, dated Aug. 7th, was sent by the diputacion of Arizpe to

5 April 10th and June 18th. Sola to Gnerra from Guadalajara and Mexico. Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 104-6. Letter from José Manuel Ruiz. Id., v. 220-1. At what date these letters reached California does not appear; probably not before November.

6 Nov. 17th, Argüello to Alaman. Dept. Rec., MS., i. 18-23. On Dec. 11th, another batch of despatches were received, whose purport is not given. April 19th, Alaman to Argüello. Sup. Gort. St. Pap., MS., xix. 3. Sept. 27th, Alaman to Argüello. No royal or imperial insignia to be used. St. Pap., MS., xvi. 12. As late as June 18th, Sola, as diputado from California, had not been ad- mitted to a seat in the congress. Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 104-6. Nor does it appear that he was admitted at all this year, if ever. Yet in August and September some orders were sent to California for diputados to proceed to Mexico; and that money for mileage, etc., be paid into the national treas- ury. St. Pap. Sac., MS., xvi. 10-13. Meanwhile the missions had drawn on Tepic for $1,500 to pay Sola's expenses, and were assessed 19 cents per neo- phyte to raise $3,000 for a year's salary, which they had also advanced. May 6th, the prefect protests that this tax was a temporary and not a permanent expedient. Arch. Arzob., MS., iv. pt. i. 96-7, 101; iv. pt. ii. 8-9.

486

ARGÜELLO'S RULE-LAST OF THE EMPIRE.

that of Monterey, and was received by Argüello in December.7 In consequence of this invitation, and probably of some further news from Mexico, Argüello determined to call a junta of prominent men of the three orders, military, civil, and ecclesiastic, to delib- erate on the future condition and policy of the prov- ince. The call was for December 31st; but as we shall see the junta did not meet, or at least did not act, until January 1824.8

The only change in the personnel of the provincial diputacion was the appointment of Cadet Jose Joaquin de la Torre as secretary in place of Francisco de Haro. The only recorded sessions, the records being for the most part but indirect references, were in April. On the 8th the members were at the capital but had not met; the 9th action was taken on a proposition to move the mission of San Francisco; the 12th a reve- nue law was enacted; and the 18th a secretary was appointed. There are also some indications that the body may have met in November to ' ratify ' the down- fall of Iturbide.º From the letters of José Antonio Carrillo and Torre it would appear that even at this carly date Californian legislators did not live in perfect harmony, nor were they free from the taint of both ring and lobby.10

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History of California, Volume II, Part 49

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