History of California, Volume II, Part 50

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

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7 The original document in Vallejo, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., i. 63. It is signed by Antonio Narbona, president, and by José Manuel de Estrella, sec- retary. The precise nature of the confederation and its relations to the rest of New Spain are not explained. The receipt of a similar document through P. Félix Caballero is acknowledged by Arguello on March 22, 1824. Dept. Rec., MS., i. 239.

8 Records of San Rafael mission in Arch. Misiones, MS., i. 266, showing that the call was received there on Dec. 24th, and that prayers were to be offered for success.

9 Leg. Rec., MS., i. 20-1; Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., v. 168; vii. 123-8; Vallejo, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., xxviii. 49, 85; Arch. Sta B., MS., ix. 133-8; Arch. Arzob., MS., iv. pt. ii. 50-1; v. pt. ii. 117-19; Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 621-2. On the two special topics alluded to, revenue law and transfer of San Francisco, I shall have more to say later.

1º Torre writes to Guerra that the secretary, Haro, is said to have been dismissed because he refused to sign a representation to the canónigo against President Argüello and the officials of Monterey, and in favor of ousting Ortega in favor of a suplente. Ortega was the only diputado who did not regret the choice of Arguello, the others admitting they did it to please the canónigo. He also says Argüello is much displeased at the unfavorable reception of his

487

MISSION SUPPLIES.

The comparatively meagre correspondence extant on the old topic of mission aid to the presidios throws little new light on the subject and develops no special controversies, indicating rather that on both sides the duty of the padres to make up deficiencies in provin- cial revenue had come to be regarded largely as a mat- ter of course.11 While the subject of secularization was not directly brought up in California this year, yet there are frequent indications of a general impres- sion in official circles that the step was only in abey- ance, and that a crisis was approaching. A refusal to favor the missions in taxation, a bold step of the diputacion in decreeing the suppression and transfer of missions, the tone of the governor on the disposi- tion of public lands, and other manifest signs of the times showed that the day had well nigh passed when the padres could maintain their old-time power and monopoly.12 Meanwhile the missions, and the pious

bando, laying the blame on Guerra. This man Torre was very much inclined to be a tale-bearer and mischief-maker. Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 621-2. 'All is going to the devil,' writes Carrillo; 'we have three superior chiefs, and all impolíticos. Malarin, Estrada, and Don Luis form this imperfect trinity, voting by seniority. The first is the one who decrees, ever assenting to what is determined by the second, in order not to lose what he has gained by mar- rying his daughter, while the last (Argüello) plays the role of the constitu- tional kings, except that the kings act in accordance with the law, and our chief por tonto é infeliz. Twenty-four hours here, and yet no session, because the step-father and step-son have so decided on account of I know not what vast projects of their own. I have been tempted to protest, but three of my companions have not consented, doubtless because on the day of the swearing money was distributed to all but ine.' Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., v. 168.

11 Jan. 25th, in reply to an urgent demand for aid S. Rafael replies that the mission has already given all the grain it can spare. Arch. Misiones, MS., i. 263. March Ist, Argüello to prefect. Calls his attention to the extreme want of soap; felt even in his own family; $1,200 worth needed at San Fran- cisco every year. Dept. Rec., MS., i. 29. In May Señan protested against the missions being included in the tax-law of April 12th as contrary to all precedent and law. Arch. Arzob., MS., iv. pt. ii. 11-12; v. pt. ii. 117-19. June 11th, P. Ibarra offers $200 in money instead of $1,000 in goods on a forced loan. Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., vii. 60. Señan during the short time he was prefect seems to have been more timid than Payeras had been in calling for supplies. Fernandez says, Cosas de Cal., MS., 27-8, that but for the padres' liberality and Arguello's firmness the soldiers would have deserted and gone to Sonora as they several times threatened to do.

12 August 31st, Arguello to padres of S. Gabriel, reprimanding P. Sanchez for speaking satirically of the 'imaginary' ayuntamiento of Monterey. As to the claim of the missions for lands which he had granted to private indi- viduals the governor says it is his duty to look out for the welfare of all the inhabitants, including the useful ones who had borne arms for the country;

488

ARGÜELLO'S RULE-LAST OF THE EMPIRE.

fund by which they had been supported, received some attention at the hands of the new Mexican govern- ment which favored radical changes;13 the guardian wrote that affairs at the college were going on from bad to worse, that utter ruin was imminent, and that friars were greatly in error if they hoped to better their condition by retiring to San Fernando;14 while at home in one instance at least the soldiers of a mis- sion escolta went so far as to lay violent hands upon a padre and threaten him with their weapons, "the most scandalous case ever seen in California," as Father Boscana described it, and probably the first instance of actual violence to a friar.15

But the greatest loss of the missionaries in 1823 was in the death of two of their oldest, best beloved, and ablest companions, the prefect and president,

and that because the missions have heretofore been allowed to be sole owners of the lands it is no reason why such a state of things should continue. Dept. Rec., MS., i. 36-8. April 23d, Sarria opposes the suppression of Sta Cruz. Arch. Sta B., MS., xii. 361-2.

13 Alaman in his report of Nov. 8th to the congress, Mexico, Mem. Rela- ciones, 1823, 31-3, states that the events of the war have ruined the funds devoted to the support of the California missions, and that the estates of the pious fund are entirely unproductive, so that no stipends can be paid, to say nothing of the large amounts advanced by the padres for the support of the troops. It is recommended that the estates be sold outright if possible, or otherwise that the rents be farmed out to private persons at moderate rates as the only means of securing an income. But this income once secured, it should not be devoted exclusively to the payment of stipends. 'It is neces- sary to consider other interests than those of the missionaries in the vast and fertile peninsula of Californias. The rich commerce of which it is one day to be the centre, the multitude and excellence of its agricultural products, the aid it can lend to the formation of a national navy, and the ambitious views respecting it shown by certain foreign powers, should claim the atten- tion of congress and the government. If the mission system is that best suited to draw savages from barbarism, it can do no more than establish the first principles of society and cannot lead men to its highest perfection. Nothing is better to accomplish this than to bind individuals to society by the powerful bond of property. The government believes, therefore, that the distribution of lands to the converted Indians, lending them from the mission fund the means for cultivation, and the establishment of foreign colonies, which perhaps might be Asiatic, would give a great impulse to that important province.' The use of California as a penal colony is also recommended, not only to benefit the province, but to make of the criminals 'farmers useful to the nation, good fathers, good neighbors, and finally good citizens.'

14 Jan. Ist, guardian to prefect. Arch. Sta B., MS., xi. 351-7.

15 Letters of Boscana, in Arch. Arzob., MS., iv. pt. ii. 6-7. The event oc- curred at San Juan Capistrano in January. Three soldiers swore that P. Barona should not depart for San Diego, tried to prevent his mounting, and finally caused his horse to throw him.

489

DEATH OF PAYERAS AND SEÑAN.

Mariano Payeras and José Señan. The former died on April 28th at his own mission of Purísima and was buried next day under the pulpit of the mission church.16 There was no missionary with whose pub- lic life and character for the past eight years the reader is better acquainted than with that of Payeras, through his writings, many of which, both originals and copies, form part of my collection and have been presented in substance in the mission annals of preced- ing chapters. There was no friar of better and more evenly balanced ability in the province. He was per- sonally a popular man on account of his affable man- ners, kindness of heart, and unselfish devotion to the welfare of all. It was impossible to quarrel with him, and even Governor Sola's peevish and annoying com- plaints never ruffled his temper. Yet he had extra- ordinary business ability, was a clear and forcible as well as a voluminous writer, and withal a man of great strength of mind and firmness of character. He

16 Mariano Payeras was born on Oct. 10, 1769, at Inca, island of Mallorca, taking the habit of St Francis Sept. 5, 1784, at the principal convent of the order at Palma. He left Spain in January 1793, and in February 1796 was detailed by the college of San Fernando for duty in California. He served as a missionary at San Carlos from 1796 to 1798; at Soledad from November 1798 to 1803; at San Diego from September 1803 to 1804; and at Purísima from 1804 to his death on April 28, 1823, though after 1815 a large part of his time was spent in travelling from mission to mission. From July 1815 to April 1, 1820, he held the place of president of the missions, having been reelected in 1818, and holding the office of vicar from May 1816. From April 1, 1820, though his election in Mexico was in October 1819, till his death, he was comisario prefecto, and also comisario del santo oficio. In all the mission reports he is credited with especial and distinguished merit. On his life, see Purísima, Lib. Mision, MS., 12; mission books of the other establishments where he served, though there is not a single mission in the province on the books of which his name does not occasionally appear. Autobiog. Autog. de los Padres, MS .; Sarria, Informe del Com. Prefecto, 1817, MS., 53-4; Arch. Sta B., MS., iii. 129-30, 158; xi. 94, 334, 337; Arch. Arzob., MS., iv. pt. i. pas- sim; iv. pt. ii. 8. See, also, the documents under his name in my list of authorities, and the mission annals of the country since 1815 in the preceding chapters of this volume. The sentiments of Payeras at the time of the Bou- chard attack were, 'viva Dios, viva la religion, viva el rey, viva la patria, y ó vencer ó morir en tan preciosa defensa.' In October 1819 he was thanked in the king's name for his services in those trying times. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 61. He was the only one of the padres who visited and described Ross; and Mofras, Exploration, ii. 5, says that on May 2, 1817, he addressed a let- ter to the king on the subject of the Russian colony. Notwithstanding his prominence it was never the lot of Payeras to be the ministro fundador of any mission.

490

ARGÜELLO'S RULE-LAST OF THE EMPIRE.

was called to rule the friars during a trying period, when it would have required but a trifle to involve the padres and soldiers in a quarrel fatal to the missions. Payeras saw but one line of policy by which to escape existing difficulties, and from that policy he never wavered, though it sometimes placed him in seeming opposition to his companion friars. His firmness must often have seemed harshness to his subordinates, and they would hardly have borne it with so good a grace from any other prelate. With much of Lasuen's suav- ity and none of Serra's bigotry, he had all the zeal of the latter and more than the shrewdness of the for- mer. His death just at this time, in the prime of life, must be considered as a great misfortune, though not even his skill could have saved the missions in the times that were coming.

Early in April Payeras had named to succeed him as prefect his associate the president and vice-prefect José Señan. But Señan's term of office was very brief, since he himself died at his mission of San Buenaventura on August 24th of the same year. He died kissing the crucifix at 7 A. M., after long and severe suffering, at the age of sixty-three, and was buried the 25th by Vitoria, Ordaz, and Suñer, his remains being deposited in a wooden coffin within a stone vault on the epistle side of the main altar op- posite the grave of Padre Santa María.17

17 José Francisco de Paula Señan was born March 3, 1760, at Barcelona, in a convent of which city he became a Franciscan on Jan. 8, 1774, at the early age of 14, being noted for extraordinary memory and inclination to study. Leaving his convent in April 1784, he arrived at the Mexican college in September, and in October 1787 was sent to California, where he served at San Carlos until 1795, and then retired. While in Mexico he made a full report to the viceroy on the condition of the California missions. Later he returned northward, arriving at Sta Bárbara May 7, 1798, and serving at San Buenaventura from July of that year until his death on Aug. 24, 1823. Señan was elected president in July 1812, and held the office from the end of that year until the end of 1815. Again he was elected in October 1819, and held the office from April 1820 till his death, being also vicario foraneo and vice-prefect, and prefect from April 28, 1823. On his life see Autobiog. Au- tog. de los Padres, MS., 403; Sarria, Informe del Com. Prefecto 1817, MS., 47-8; S. Buenaventura, Lib. Mision, MS., 21-3, ii. 58-60. Arrival at Sta Bárbara May 7, 1798, with seven companions. Arch. Arzob., MS., i. 47. Jan. 18, 1821, governor has received bishop's appointment of vicar for Schan.

491

BIOGRAPHY OF SEÑAN.

Father Señan was older in the service than any other in California, being the only survivor of those who had come before 1790. He also was a model missionary, resembling Payeras in many of his ex- cellences, but unlike the latter shrinking from the cares and responsibilities of official life. He was the superior of Payeras in scholarship, his equal in the qualities that make a successful missionary, but infe- rior as a politician and leader. He was particularly averse to all controversy, except on theological points, being somewhat more of a religioso than was Payeras. He disliked to issue orders or assume authority, but was always ready to respond to the frequent calls of his confrères for advice. He was sometimes nick- named Padre Calma. He was familiar with the language of the Indians about San Buenaventura. Comparatively few of his writings are extant. During his first term as president he managed the interests of the missions with much skill, but during his second term he was released as far as possible from such duties by orders from Spain, in order that he might write a history of California. In 1819 he promised to undertake the task, but what progress he made, if any, before his death is unknown.

Vicente Sarria was named by Señan on August 4th to succeed him as prelate. He learned of Señan's death September 5th, and held the office of prefect, ad interim until November 1824, to the end of the decade. He was also president till April 1825, hav- ing tried unsuccessfully to give the office to Father Jaime, to whom it by right belonged.18

St. Pap., Sac., MS., 38-40. Notices of his death. Arch. Arzob., MS., iv. pt. ii. 8, 16, 20, 68; Dept. Rec., MS., i. 39-40. April 19, 1820, in a letter to the governor he says he is 61 years old, and had hoped for rest; but there is no hope of rest in this world. Arch. Arzob., MS., i .. 15-16. Valdés, Memorias, MS., 7, describes Señan as short and fat with rather fair complexion, appear- ing younger than he was. Autograph in S. Antonio, Doc. Sueltos, MS., 60-1, 68-9.

18 Arch. Misiones, MS., i. 265-6; Arch. Arzob., MS., iv. pt. ii. 20, 68. Dec. 18, 1823, Sarría announced that the powers hitherto enjoyed by the pre- fect had been extended for five years more. I may here allude to the statis- tical report on the state of the missions at the end of 1823, Misiones, Estado

492

ARGÜELLO'S RULE-LAST OF THE EMPIRE.

The number of vessels clearly recorded as having been on the coast this year was seventeen, ten of them being identical with those of the past year, three being Russian men-of-war, five being whalers, and the rest traders in quest of tallow, hides, and grain. I append their names.19 The traders did a lively business,' the duties paid on imports and exports ac- cording to the accounts kept at Monterey amounting

de las ... sacado de los informes de los Misioneros, etc., MS., not because it was more important than similar reports for other years, but because it was trans- lated by Taylor and published in the S. F. Bulletin, Oct. 27, 1860. It is said to have been written by Arroyo, but if so that padre must have acted mercly as secretary for Sarría.

19 Buldukof, Vichilman, master; at S. F. in Jan., July, Aug., and Sept., perhaps making a trip to the north in the mean time. Duties $S06, includ- ing tonnage at $2.50 per ton.

Apollo, Russian frigate; at S. F. from March to May, buying $3,647 of provisions. She came back in November.

Sachem, Gyzelaar, master; Gale, supercargo; at S. F. in April, $131 duties; again in July, $499; at Mont. in Aug., $662. She got 2,500 hides.

John Begg, Mccullough, supercargo; to McC., H. and Co. At S. F. April, $1,860 duties; at S. Diego, May-June, $1,500; at Mont. in Aug. Total of duties, $11,608; cargo, $14,528.

Thomas Nowlan, or Newlands, English ship; Wm. Clark, master; at Sta B. and S. Diego in May, bound for Callao.

Sta Apolonia, which appears to be the Eagle of 1822, got off the bar, re- christened, and despatched to Mazatlan and S. Blas in May or June from Sta B., Antonio Arana, master; Cárlos Carrillo, owner.

Neptune, English brig; at Monterey in July. Total of duties, $3,064; cargo, $10,404.

Rover, Amer. schooner; Cooper, master. At S. F., in June, from Manila and China. Paid $412 duties, including $30 on coin taken away at 3.5 per cent.

Hebe, English brig; Nixon, master; to McC., H. and Co. At Mont. in Oct .; at S. F. in Oct. and November, paying $384.

Almira, Timothy Daggett, or Doggett; Gideon, Obed Clark; Plowboy (and perhaps the Alert, Charles Ray, or Rey, or Roy); and the Massachusetts, Catharte(?), whalers at S. F. in Oct. to refit.

Mentor, American; at S. F. in Nov .; paid $624.

Coronel, perhaps Colonel Young; at S. F. in Nov .; paid $286.

Golovnin, Russian brig from Sitka; at S. F. in December.

Creiser and Ladoga, Russian frigates. The former 42 guns, 240 men, Capt. Michael Lazaref; the second 20 guns, 100 men, Capt. Andrew Lazaref. Arrived at S. F. Dec. 11-14, from St Petersburg to repair and refit.

Besides the preceding the Peruvian brig Huascar was permitted in Sep- tember-that is by a document of that date-to load tallow and hide at S. Pedro; the Nocturno and Baya Paquet(?) are vaguely reported at Monterey and about to sail south in April; while Spence includes in his list for 1823, erroneously I suppose, the Joven Tartar, Pizarro, and Mercury.

On the movements of vessels, see Vallejo, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., i. 54, 213; xvii. 12S, 155-65, 187-9, 201-6, 229-35; xxviii. 322, 329; Dept. Rec., MS., i. 56, 66, 68, 72, 76, 111-12, 181-3, 1SS-9; 215; vi. 96; St. Pap. Sac., MS., x. 14, 16, 18, 19, 81-2, 93. 98-9; xi. 15, 16, 48, 71; xii. 1, 2; xviii. 23; Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Cust. H., MS., iii. 83; Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 47; Spence's List of Vessels, MS.

493

VESSELS OF 1823.

to $17,538, which may or may not include the $6,500 known to have been paid at San Francisco and San Diego. The grain crop was 50,000 fanegas against 58,000 for the preceding year, the drought still con- tinuing.20

The John Begg and one or two other vessels came in accordance with the terms of the Hartnell con- tract. We have few details, but it appears that some of the missions either had not signed the contract or did not keep it, and that McCulloch, Hartnell, and Company had by no means monopolized the entire mission trade.21 Gyzelaar and Gale were on the coast in their Boston ship, the Sachem, though where she had spent the winter does not appear; and at least one other American ship obtained a cargo. Also in April there arrived from China the American schooner Rover, Captain John R. Cooper, who after disposing of his cargo sold the vessel to Argüello for $9,000.22

20 The only document relating to the season is an order of Vicar Señan al- lowing the faithful to eat meat, eggs, etc., on account of the difficulty of get- ting corn and beans, 'having before my eyes the barrenness of the fields owing to a most notable lack of rain in the south, and seeing that the threat- ening of the locust plague and the visitation of the worm have begun.' Arch. Obispado, MS., 22.

21 San Diego was bound, for the padres refused to let Cot have 1,000 ar- robas of tallow. Cot on March 20th asks Hartnell to let him have that tallow to be repaid in May with other tallow which he could obtain from San Luis Rey, which mission was therefore free to trade. Vallejo, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., i. 58. April 18th, P. Martinez purchases one fourth of the Thos. Nowlan for $3,000 in coin, binding himself to obtain for her on the next trip all the hides of San Luis Obispo, and as many more as possible. Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 46. Nov. 28th, P. Duran to Hartnell, complaining that tallow weighing 1,205 at the mission (San José) weighed only 1,070 on board the ship; also says that the hides used for botas to pack the tallow must be paid for if H. wishes to continue the contract. Vallejo, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., xxviii. 325. April, habilitados warned to look out for smuggling from the John Begg. Dept. Rec., MS., i. 111.

22 It seems that the president was called upon to furnish the $9,000; but Aug. 5th Senan writes that while he approves the purchase and would be glad to furnish the money, he fears the padres would not understand the utility of the measure; would regard the vessel as a useless source of expeuse, and would blame him; therefore he refuses. Arch. Arzob., MS., iv. pt. ii. 12. When Arguello secured the money, or whether he obtained credit for all or part of the price, is not clear; but I have before me the bill of sale from Cooper to Arguello, dated Dec. 29th. The schooner was of 83 tons burden. Vallejo, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., xxviii. 143. Alvarado mentions the purchase. Hist. Cal., MS., ii. 15-19. Fernandez, Cosas de Cal., MS., 23-7, tells us that according to the conditions of the sale Cooper was to re-

494

ARGÜELLO'S RULE-LAST OF THE EMPIRE.

Still another venture of Don Luis was to form a contract by which the Russian American Company could hunt otter on shares in California waters. Long ago the Russians had desired this privilege, as will be remembered, and now that their old friend was gov- ernor they renewed their demands with success. The contract was signed at Monterey the 1st of December for four months. The Russians were to furnish Aleuts and bidarkas; the Californians to feed the hunters and furnish ten Indians to watch the Aleuts, and the product of the hunt was to be equally divided, the skins being kept under inventory at the presidios until the division was made. Should the contract be renewed the Californians must pay the Aleuts' wages. It was apparently renewed next year, and down to October 1824 the share was 677 skins for the govern- ment and 838 for the company according to the Rus- sian accounts. There is no Spanish record of the revenue thus produced. 23

In the matter of general commercial regulations I have only to note the revenue act of the diputacion on April 12th, designed to raise money for expenses connected with its own organization, with that of the ayuntamientos, the sending of a diputado to congress, the repair of roads, the support of schools, and the good of the province generally. To these ends a tax of six per cent was imposed on all exports; a tax of eight or ten dollars per barrel on brandy, and four dollars on wine; and a slaughter tax of one real

main in command, and sail whenever ordered at $100 in cash and $50 in goods per month, with free house-rent and expenses when on shore; also to receive four youths for instruction. Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., i. 338-41, thinks that Arguello borrowed the money from the president to pay for the vessel, and then borrowed part of it back from Cooper.

23 A full statement of the contract and result is given in Khlébnikof, Zapiski, 143-4. The hunting was done chiefly in San Francisco Bay, but also at Mon- terey and down as far as San Pedro. Fernandez, Cosas de Cal., MS., 25-6, says the Russians agreed to sell their skins to Argüello at $45 each and take pay in wheat. A copy of the contract was sent to the minister of state in Mexico on June 20, 1825. Dept. Rec., MS., i. 229. According to St. Pap. Sac., MS., xiii. 1, the number of skins obtained by the Californians down to the end of 1823 was 324. They were sent to China the next year on the Rover.

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History of California, Volume II, Part 50

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