History of California, Volume III, Part 14

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885-1890
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 824

USA > California > History of California, Volume III > Part 14

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In June 1827 orders were sent to Echeandía from Mexico to found a fort on the northern frontier in the region of San Rafael or San Francisco Solano. The

and Pacheco as the two killed under Sanchez, and says that Antonio Soto died of his wounds at S. José.

51 Arch. Sta B., MS., xii. 178.

58 Aug. 7, 1829. Dept. Rec., MS., vii. 213.

59 Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., 1xx. 13. Lieut Martinez was the fiscal to whom the case was intrusted.

60 A few items of Indian affairs for 1830: April, sergeants Salazar and Rico sent with a force to prevent trouble at Sta Ines. Quiet restored in 3 days. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., lxxxviii. 1, 4. July-Sept., a grand paseo maritimo proposed by P. Duran, in which the vecinos of S. José were invited to join. The object was to visit the rivers and Tulares, and inspire respect among the gentiles by peaceable methods. The mission would pay the expense. S. Josć, Arch., MS., i. 38-9. Dec., Arrival of suspicious Indians at S. Fer- nando. Dept. St. Pap., Angeles, MS., i. 95.

115

THE SEASONS, 1826-30.

object was not only to protect those establishments against gentile tribes, but also and perhaps chiefly to prevent a further extension of Russian power. The missions were to be called upon to furnish the required aid in laborers, implements, and food, the correspond- ing instructions being also sent through the guardian to the president. Echeandía's reply was to the effect that there were no means to build a fort, but he would try to construct quarters near San Rafael for a military guard, and he did in March 1828 order Romualdo Pacheco to go to the north and select a suitable site, which is the last I hear of the matter.61

Respecting the seasons from 1826 to 1830, I find nothing or next to nothing in the records; but I sup- pose that the winter of 1827-8 was a wet one, and the next of 1828-9 one of unprecedented drought. The flood is mentioned in various newspaper items, on the authority of Vallejo and other old Californians, and of trappers said to have been in the Sacramento Valley; it is confirmed by one letter of the time, Jan- uary 1828, which speaks of the flood at Monterey as something like that of 1824-5.62 The drought of 1829 is shown by the failure of the crops, the total harvest being 24,000 fanegas, the smallest from 1796 to 1834, and less than half the average for this decade; though strangely I find no correspondence on the subject save two slight items, one from San Rafael and the other from San Diego.63

61 June 6, 1827, min. of war to Echeandia. St. Pap., Miss. and Col., MS., ii. 310; June 13th, guardian to president. Arch. Sta B., MS., xii. 170- 7; Jan. 8th, 1828, E.'s reply. Dept. Rec., MS., vi. 23; Mar. 25th, E. to Pache- co, ordering him to Nopalillos. Dept. Rec., MS., vi. 196.

62 Vallejo, Doc., MS., xxix. 190.

63 Dept. Rec., MS., vii. 364; Arch. Sta B., MS., xii. 181.

CHAPTER V.

ECHEANDÍA'S RULE-MARITIME AND COMMERCIAL AFFAIRS.

1826-30.

VESSELS OF 1826-REVENUE RULES-HARTNELL'S BUSINESS - HAWAIIAN FLAG-COOPER AND THE 'ROVER'-LAWSUIT WITH ARGUELLO-BEE- CHEY'S VISIT IN THE 'BLOSSOM '-BOOKS RESULTING-TRADING FLEET OF 1827-REGLAMENTOS ON LIQUORS AND LIVE-STOCK-EMBARRASSMENT OF MCCULLOCH, HARTNELL & CO .- CUNNINGHAM AT SANTA CATALINA- VISIT OF DUHAUT-CILLY AND BOTTA-MARITIME AFFAIRS OF 1828- RESTRICTIONS-SMUGGLING-AFFAIR OF THE 'FRANKLIN' - CANNON- BALLS-AFFAIR OF THE 'KARIMOKO ' -- VESSELS OF 1829 -CUSTOM- HOUSE-ARRIVAL OF THE 'BROOKLINE' - GALE'S CORRESPONDENCE- RAISING THE STARS AND STRIPES-LANG AT SAN DIEGO-THE 'SANTA BÁRBARA' BUILT IN CALIFORNIA-SHIPS AND TRADE OF 1830-LIST OF VESSELS, 1825-30.

THE vessels of 1826 were forty-four in number, in- cluding a few doubtfully recorded. There were twenty- two American, eight English, five Mexican, four Russian, three of the Hawaiian Islands, and one Cali- fornian, though the latter carried the American flag. Eleven were whalers seeking supplies; one was on a scientific and exploring expedition; and the rest, so far as the records show, were engaged more or less exclu- sively in trade. Ten or twelve were included in the list of the preceding year, having either remained over from December to January or repeating their trip.1

1 The vessels of the year, for more particulars about which see list at end of this chapter, were the Adam, Alliance, Argosy, Baikal, Blossom, Charles, Courier, Cyrus, Elena, Eliza, Franklin, General Bravo, Harbinger, Inca, Inore, Jóven Angustias, Kiahkta, Maria Ester, Maria Teresa, Mercury (2), Mero, Moor, Olive Branch, Paragon, Peruvian, Pizarro, Rover, Sachem, Santa Apolonia, Sirena, Solitude, Speedy, Spy, Thomas Nowlan, Timorelan, Triton, Washington (3), Waverly, Whaleman, Young Tartar, Zamora.

(116)

117

TRADE REGULATIONS.

Vessels were not allowed to trade at way-ports, such as Santa Cruz, San Luis, Refugio, and San Juan Capistrano, without permission from the governor, which was easily obtained unless there was especial cause for suspicion. In June, Herrera, following instructions from his superior in Sonora, ordered that no vessel be allowed to load or unload in any other port than Monterey. He admitted that such a rule was ruinous to the territorial commerce, and said he had protested against it, but could not disobey orders. Echeandía, however, countermanded the rule provi- sionally, and it did not go into effect; but at the same time an internacion duty of fifteen per cent and an avería duty of two and a half per cent were added to the former import duty of twenty-five per cent, mak- ing a total of 423 per cent, besides an anchorage tax of $10 for each vessel and a tonnage rate of $2.50 per ton.2 Naturally these exactions displeased both the traders and the consumers of foreign goods; but they sought relief, not in written petitions, but in various smuggling expedients, in which they were rarely detected, and which therefore for this year at least find no place in the records.

For Monterey, the chief port of entry, I have no revenue statistics for the year. At Santa Barbara, where accounts are complete, the revenue from customs was $7,446.3 At San Francisco the recorded amount

2 June 28th, Herrera to habilitados of S. Francisco, Sta Bárbara, and S. Diego, closing those ports. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Com. and Treas., MIS., i. 16. July 5th, Id., insisting on internacion duty according to decree of Ang. 6, 1824. St. Pap., Ben., MS., i. 67-8. July 11th, Id. to gov., insisting on the reformation of abuses, though said abuses were necessary. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Com. and Treas., MS., i. 42-7. July 221, Id. to habilitados. Counter- mands order of June 28th until govt decides, but not that of July 5th. Id., i. 51-2. Becchey, Voyage, ii. 10, 69, refers to the excessive duties. Jan. 21th, revised tariff of prices for products. St. Pap., Sac., MIS., x. 90-1. May 10th, decree of Mex. govt. All exports free of duty. Sup. Gort St. Pap., MS., xix. 38. Sept. 26th, import duties as given in the text. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., 1x. 2. July 17th, habilitado of Sta Barbara understands that by the decree of Feb. 12, 1825, internacion duty is payable only on goods taken from the custom-house for other ports, foreign vessels having to pay only the 25 per cent and Mexican the 15 per cent of import duties. Dept. St. Pup., Ben. Com. and Treas., MIS., i. 48.

3 Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Com. and Treas., MIS., i. 65. Partial statistics for each vessel are given in the list at the end of this chapter.

118

MARITIME AND COMMERCIAL AFFAIRS.

was $4,360;4 and at San Diego, $1,666. If the total of $13,500 were doubled, it is evident that the amount would be but a small part of the percentage due on imports. Only a few years later there were complaints that no accounts had been rendered by Herrera and his successors,5 so that it is not strange I have been unable to find complete figures.

All seems to have been couleur de rose in Hartnell's business this year. Echeandía granted a general license for his vessels to touch at all the ports. Mc- Cullough from Callao, and the Brothertons from Liverpool, wrote most enthusiastically of the prospects for high prices, urging extraordinary efforts to buy more hides and tallow, and expressing fears only of rivalry from other firms, while four brigs, the Inca, Speedy, Eliza, and Pizarro, were successfully loaded with Californian produce.6 Gale's Sachem and the other Boston ships must have interfered seriously with Hartnell's purchases, but we have no information beyond their names and presence on the coast. Juan Ignacio Mancisidor also did a large business, selling the cargoes of the Nowlan and Olive Branch, and taking away large quantities of mission produce, though for him, as a Spaniard, trouble was in store. The Waverly and her two consorts introduced the Hawaiian flag to Californian waters, opened a new branch of territorial trade, and brought to the country William G. Dana, with others afterward prominent among resident traders.

4 Habilitados' accounts in Vallejo, Doc., MS., i. passim; Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., 1x. 1-4.

5 Figueroa to Mex. govt in 1834. Dept. St. Pap., MS., iii. 209-10.

6 Echeandía's permit of June 18 and Aug. 26, 1826, to Hartnell's vessels. Dept. Rec., MS., iv. 48; Vallejo, Doc., MS., xxix. 57. Letters of McCulloch, Begg & Co., Brothertons, for the year, in Id., MS., xxix. nos. 4, 6, 12-15, 21, 40, 43, 52, 65. Some beef was acceptable where hides and tallow were not forthcoming. The Eliza appears to have cleared at Callao for Costa Rica to deceive rivals. The Esther, sent to England with hides, had not been heard of. The tallow from each mission must be marked 'so that the peculiar tricks of each padre may be found out.' Cash is sent and more promised. Anderson's competition in Peru was especially feared. War between Buenos Aires and Brazil made prospects better. Yet P. Uria, from Soledad, protests on June 11th against being obliged to sell exclusively to Hartnell, and will in future accept the best offers.

119

CAPTAIN COOPER'S VOYAGES.

Captain Cooper, in the Rover, came back from China in April 1826. The voyage had been made under a contract of 1824 with the government,7 which had entitled the schooner to $10,000 for freight out and back, and the privilege of introducing $10,000 in goods free of duties. Besides some trading done by Cooper on his own account, he sold at Canton 375 otter skins for $7,000, investing the proceeds in effects for the Californian troops. Most of these effects were delivered after some delay to the habili- tado of San Diego. The delay, and much subsequent trouble, was caused by dissatisfaction on the part of the governor at the prices received and paid in China, and by personal difficulties in settling their accounts between Cooper and Luis Argüello, as master and owner of the vessel.8 This last phase of the quarrel lasted until 1829, involving a lawsuit and various refer- ences to arbitrators. Argüello's side of the quarrel is not represented in the records; Cooper's letters are nu- merous, containing a great variety of uncomplimentary epithets for Don Luis. Arbitrators seem to have decided the case in Cooper's favor in the amount of $5,000, "which," writes the captain, "the damned rascal Argüello will never pay while California remains in its present condition."9 To return to the Rover: the only incident of her voyage that is known was the throwing away of all Spanish papers on board, including invoices and the bill of sale to Argüello, and even of the Mexican flag, on account of revelations by a drunken sailor to the effect that the schooner was not American as pretended, but Mexican. This occurred at the Phil-

7 Sce vol. ii. p. 520.

8 Arrival of the Rover, and trouble about the landing of the cargo. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., lxxxvii. GS; Id., Ben. Cust .- II., i. 18-20, 30; St. Pap., Ben., MS., i. 71; St. Pap., Sac., MS., xi. 1.

9 Cooper's letters of 1826-9, in Fallejo, Doc., MS., xxix., nos. 54, 113, 108, 117, 128, 200, 210, 234, 235, 292, 334, 387, with many more in the same volume, relating to details of C.'s business in those years, being of no special importance. It appears that Kierolf & Co., in China, had sent some goods by C. to Cal. on sale, and that by reason of his troubles with Argüello, he was unable to settle with that firm for several years. J. P. Sturgis was Cooper's correspondent at Canton.

120

MARITIME AND COMMERCIAL AFFAIRS.

ippine Islands.10 On December 17, 1826, she sailed for San Diego, in quest of documents by which she might raise the Mexican flag. José Cárdenas was to be master.11 Nothing more is known of the San Rafael, as it was proposed to call her, from contem- porary documents; but two Californians tell us that she was sent with a cargo to San Blas, and not allowed to return by the Mexican authorities, who did not like the idea of California having a vessel of her own.12

The visit of Captain Frederick William Beechey, R. N., in H. M. S. Blossom, deserves notice as a prom . inent event, by reason of the books to the publication of which it gave rise, and the information they con- tained about California.13 Beechey had sailed from Eng- land in May 1825, despatched to Bering Strait, there to await the arrival of Franklin and Parry of the arc- tic expeditions. 14 Sailing by Cape Horn, Valparaiso,

10 Cooper's deposition of Dec. 23th, in Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., lxiii. 9. The loss of the papers complicated the quarrel with Arguello. July 27th, gov. ordered the sale of the vessel to Argüello, and the manner of her nation- alization to be investigated. St. Pap., Sac., MS., xii. 14.

11 Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Cust .- H., MS., i. 25.

12 Fernandez, Cosas de Cal., MS., 37-9; Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., ii. 84-6.

13 Beechey, Narrative of a Voyage to the Pacific and Becring's Strait, to Co- operate with the Polar Expeditions, performed in His Majesty's Ship Blossom, under the command of Captain F. W. Beechey, R. N., F. R. S., etc., in the years 1825, 26, 27, 28. Published by authority of the Lords Commissioners of the Ad- miralty. A new Edition. London, 1831. Svo, 2 volumes. maps and plates. This edition is not mentioned by Sabin, being published by Colburn and Bent- ley. The original in 4to form, 2 vols., had the same title, date, and pub- lishers. There were published in 1832, according to Sabin, an American edi- tion and a German translation. In the edition used by me the California matter is found in vol. i. p. 471-2; vol. ii. p. 1-SS, 319-21, 403; with descrip- tions of S. Francisco and Monterey harbors on p. 422-9; and observations of latitude and longitude on p. 443. Only one plate relates to California, that of 'Californian throwing the lasso.' In Huish, A Narrative of the Voyages and Travels of Capt. Beechey, etc., London, 1836, the California matter is given on p. 415-60, somewhat condensed, and a portrait of Beechey forms the frontis- piece. Hooker and Arnott, The Botany of Captain Beechey's Voyage; compris- ing an account of the plants collected by Messrs. Lay and Collie, etc. London, 1841. 4to, plates. The matter is arranged geographically in order of the coun- tries visited; and California occupies p. 134-65, with one plate so far as Bee- chey's voyage is concerned; but on p. 315-400 is given a more important Cal- ifornia Supplement, made up chiefly of a description of specimens collected by Douglas later, with 23 plates. Richardson and others, The Zoology of Captain Beechey's Voyage; compiled from the collections and notes made by Captain Bee- chey, theofficers and naturalist, etc. London, 1839. 4to. The matter on Cal- ifornia is scattered through the volume. The plates are splendidly colored. From p. 160 there is a chapter on geology, which contains a 'geological plan' and description of the port of S. Francisco, which I copy elsewhere.

1} The Blossom mounted 16 guns. The chief officers under Becchey were:

121

BEECHEY'S VISIT AND BOOK.

and the Hawaiian Islands, he arrived in Kotzebue Sound in July 1826, remaining in the far north until October, when he was obliged by the closing-in of winter and by want of supplies to sail for the south. He anchored at San Francisco November 6th, 15 and . was hospitably received by Comandante Martinez and Padre Tomás Esténega. Supplies were, however, less plentiful than had been expected, and a party consist- ing of Collie, Marsh, and Evans was sent overland to Monterey. This party was absent from the 9th to the 17th,16 during which time and subsequently Bee- chey and his men were occupied in making a survey of San Francisco Bay and scientific observations about its shores. No obstacles were thrown in his way, the authorities asking only for a copy of the resulting chart, which was given.17 The Englishmen amused themselves chiefly by excursions on horseback over the peninsula, and especially from the presidio to the mission, the inhabitants gaining an extraordinary rev- enue from the hire and sale of horses. The navigators also visited Mission San José late in November. One man was drowned and buried at San Francisco.

"By Christmas day we had all remained sufficiently long in the harbor to contemplate our departure with- out regret; the eye had become familiar to the pic- turesque scenery of the bay, the pleasure of the chase

licutenants Geo. Peard, Edward Belcher, and John Wainwright; master, Thomas Elson; surgeon and assistant, Alex. Collie and Thomas Neilson; purser, Gco. Marsh; mates, Wm. Smyth and Jas. Wolfe; midshipmen, John Rendall and Richard B. Becchey; clerks, John Evans and Chas. H. Osmer. The whole force was 100 men.

15 Announcement of arrival dated Nov. 7th, in Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Cust .- II., MS., i. 24.

16 Collie's party, with an escort of Californian soldiers, travelled by way of Sierra de S. Bruno, Rio de S. Bruno, Burri Burri, over the plain of Las Sal- inas, with Estrecho de S. Jose on the left, and Sierra del Sur on right. S. Ma- teo, Las l'ulgas, Santa Clara, S. José, Ojo del Coche (?), plain of Las Llagas, Rancho de Las Animas, Rio de l'ajaro, plain of S. Juan, S. Juan Bautista, Llano del Rey, Rancho Las Salinas, Monterey, and returned by the same route. They were kindly treated by Capt. Gonzalez and Mr Hartnell. The diary of this trip furnished Beechey a large part of the information published about California.

17 Jan. 25, 1827, gov. to Martinez. Presumes that Becchey laid before him the necessary permit of the sup. govt to make a plan of the harbor. Or- ders him to forward the plan to S. Diego. Dept. R.c., M.S., v. 13.

122

MARITIME AND COMMERCIAL AFFAIRS.

had lost its fascination, and the roads to the mission and presidio were grown tedious and insipid. There was no society to enliven the hours, no incidents to vary one day from the other, and, to use the expres- sion of Donna Gonzalez, California appeared to be as much out of the world as Kamchatka." The Eng- lishinen sailed on December 28th for Monterey. Here they remained five days, cutting spars, and obtaining supplies from missions and from vessels in port, largely by the aid of Hartnell.18 The supplies obtain- able in California were, however, inadequate to the needs of the expedition; and on the 5th of January the Blossom sailed for the Sandwich Islands. After another trip to the Arctic, unsuccessful like the first, so far as meeting the ill-fated Franklin was con- cerned, Beechey returned to Monterey October 29, 1827,19 remaining until December 17th, when he went again to San Francisco for water, finally sailing on January 3d for San Blas, and thence home via Cape Horn and Brazil, reaching England in October 1828.

It is thus seen that Beechey's visit was in itself an event of slight importance; but the observations pub- lished in the voyager's narrative were perhaps more evenly accurate and satisfactory than those of any preceding navigator. Beechey and his companions confined their remarks closely to actual observations. They were less ambitious than some of their prede- cessors to talk of things they did not understand, and thus avoided ridiculous blunders. It is not, however, necessary to notice their remarks at length here, for the following reasons: A large part is naturally de- voted to local and personal matters, or to other topics treated in other chapters; notes of the scientific corps

18 Jan. 4, 1827, Beechcy writes from Monterey to the British consul in Mexico, recommending the appointment of Hartnell as vice-consul in Cal., in consequence of the increasing importance of English trade on the Pacific coast. Vallejo, Doc., MS., xxix. 102.

19 Notice of presence of the Blossom and 3 whalers on the coast in Novem- ber. Vallejo, Doc., MS., xxix. 168. Called the Blondes, at Monterey Nov. Sth. Dept. St. Pap., MS., ii. 47. Mention of visit in Soule's Annals of S. F., 163-4.

123

BEECHEY'S OBSERVATIONS.

on botany, zoology, and other branches, though of great value, can of course receive in a work like this no further attention than mere mention;22 and what remains of general description, respecting the country and its institutions, on account of its very accuracy, would be but vain repetition here. Had the visitor been less careful and made more blunders, he would receive more attention from me. Such is fame, and the reward of painstaking.

The missions and the Indians claimed a large share of Beechey's attention, as in the case of earlier visit- ors, and he was not blind to either the faults or ex- cellences of the system or of the friars who had it in charge.21 Respecting the result of Echeandía's ex- periment at partial emancipation of neophytes, this author happens to be wellnigh the only authority; and he also translates an interesting diary of an ex- pedition against the gentiles under Alférez Sanchez, as noted in the preceding chapter. He gives consid-

20 See note 13 of this chapter.

21 ' Though the system they pursue is not calculated to raise the colony to any great prosperity, yet the neglect of the missions would not long precede the ruin of the presidios and of the whole of the district.' Vol. ii. p. 15. ' As to the various methods employed for the purpose of bringing proselytes to the missions, there are several reports, of which some were not very cred- itable to the institution; nevertheless, on the whole, I am of opinion that the priests are innocent, from a conviction that they are ignorant of the means employed by those who are under them. Whatever may be the system, ... the change according to our ideas of happiness would seem advantageous to them, as they lead a far better life in the missions than in their forests.' p. 17. ' The produce of the land and of the labor of the Indians is appropriated to the support of the mission, and the overplus to amass a fund which is entirely at the disposal of the padres. In some of the establishments this must be very large, although the padres will not admit it, and always plead poverty. The government has lately demanded a part of this profit, but the priests, who, it is said, think the Indians are more entitled to it than the government, make small donations to them, and thus evade the tax by tak- ing care there shall be no overplus.' p. 19-20. 'Though there may be occa- sional acts of tyranny, yet the general character of the padres is kind and benevolent, and in some missions the converts are so much attached to them that I have heard them declare they would go with them if they were obliged to quit the country. It is greatly to be regretted that, with the influence these men have over their pupils, and the regard those pupils seem to have for their masters, the priests do not interest themselves a little more in the education of their converts.' 'The Indians are, in general, well clothed and fed.' p. 21-2. 'Nothing could exceed the kindness and consideration of these excellent men to their guests and to travellers;' but they ' were very bigoted men, and invariably introduced the subject of religion." p. 33-4.

124

MARITIME AND COMMERCIAL AFFAIRS.

erable attention to commerce, presenting a clear state- ment on this subject.22 Like others, the English navigator was enthusiastic in praise of California's cli- mate and other natural advantages; but like others, he wondered at and deplored the prevalent lack of enterprise on the part of Mexican government and Californian people, predicting an inevitable change of owners should no change of policy occur.23 His geo-

22 I may quote at some length on this topic, as being the subject proper of this chapter. 'The trade consists in the exportation of hides, tallow, inan- teca, horses to the Sandwich Islands, grain for the Russian establishments, and in the disposal of provisions to whale-ships, ... and perhaps a few furs and dollars are sent to China. The importations are dry goods, furniture, wearing apparel, agricultural implements, deal boards, and salt; and silks and fireworks from China for the decoration of churches and celebration of saints' days. In 1827 almost all these articles bore high prices: the for- mer in consequence of the increased demand; and the latter partly from the necessity of meeting the expenses of the purchase of a return cargo, and partly on account of the navigation.' Great complaint of high prices, 'not considering that the fault was in great measure their own, and that they were purchasing some articles brought several thousand miles, when they might have procured them in their own country with moderate labor only,' for cx- ample, salt and deal boards and carts. 'With similar disregard for their interests, they were purchasing sea-otter skins at $20 apiece, whilst the animals were swimming about unmolested in their own harbors; and this from the Russians, who are intruders on their coast, and are depriving them of a lucrative trade. With this want of commercial enterprise, they are not much entitled to commiseration. With more justice might they have com- plained of the navigation laws, which, though no doubt beneficial to inhab- itants on the castern coast of Mexico, where there are vessels to conduct the coasting trade, are extremely disadvantageous to the Californians, who hav- ing no vessels are often obliged to pay the duties on goods introduced in for- eign bottoms.' 17% higher than on Mexican vessels. Not only this, 'but as a foreign vessel cannot break stowage without landing the whole of her cargo, they must in addition incur the expenses attending that which will in general fall upon a few goods only. The imprudent nature of these laws as regards California appears to have been considered by the authorities, as they overlook the introduction of goods into the towns by indirect channels, except in cases of a gross and palpable nature. In this manner several American vessels have contrived to dispose of their cargoes, and the inhab- itants have been supplied with goods of which they were much in need.' p. 68-70.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of California, Volume III, Part 14

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe Publication date: 1885-1890 Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers Number of Pages: 824

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885-1890
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 824