History of California, Volume III, Part 4

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 4

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).

of the temporal management by the friars. The plan by which the junta proposed to effect the needed reforms I append substantially in a note.40 It shows,

40 ' La Junta en suma reduce su dictámen para el arreglo de las misiones de Californias á las proposiciones siguientes:' 1. Conversions among gentiles

VESSELS ON THE COAST.

like the prefatory remarks which I have quoted, the feeling on the subject in Mexico under the republican régime; and while as a whole it never became a law, it doubtless had an effect on subsequent legislation respecting secularization. In the colonization plan proposed by the junta a little later, the expense of bringing settlers from Mexico and an allowance for their support during a term of years were to be taken from the mission capital, which was supposed to have accumulated during the friars' administration; but the amount was to be 'equitably divided' between the sums due the missions for supplies and the funds actually on hand! Echeandía took some time to in- vestigate the condition of mission affairs, and there- fore did little or nothing this year which could indi- cate his policy.

Of the forty-seven vessels more or less clearly re- corded as having been on the coast in 1825, seventeen were whalers; three were men-of-war; one was the national transport; respecting eleven or twelve we have only a mere mention, in some cases erroneous, of name and presence, with no information about their business; while of the remaining fourteen the objects, mainly com-

must be effected by visitas and entradas of friars and priests, who must obtain the permission of the government, and will receive their stipends as a limosna from the pions fund. 2. The supreme government should administer the pious fund, act upon the petitions of those who wish to convert gentiles, and assign to them their stipends and viáticos, but the territorial government may report on places for new conversions, and propose the priests, already in Cal., deemed qualified for the new ministry. 3. The right to evangelizar should not be restricted to members of any particular order. 4. The friars now in charge of the missions should remain in charge as curates. 5. To avoid burdensome taxes, etc., these friars as curates may receive their stipends as before from the pious fund. 6-7. There should be two friars in each mission, besides those temporarily residing or resting there while engaged in converting gentiles. 8. The missions to continue in this condi- tion until formally made parishes and delivered to the bishop. 9. The gov- ernment should reassume the administration of mission temporalities, form- ing the necessary regulations to prevent loss of property or damage to neophytes, and should distribute lands to the latter as soon as they are able to govern themselves. 10. The government should take measures to abolish the mission escoltas, but at the same time to afford full protection to persons and property. 11. The necessary changes in municipal laws, to correspond with this plan, to be referred to congress.

A TERRITORY OF THE MEXICAN REPUBLIC.

mercial, are well known. Nationally the fleet included twenty American craft, eight English, three Spanish, two Russian, two Mexican, one Californian, one French, and eight of unknown nationality.41 Captain Cooper in the Rover started probably in February for a new voyage to China, not returning until the next year. The Sachem and Spy came from Boston for Bryant, Sturgis & Co., presumably under Gale's superintend- ence. McCulloch, Hartnell & Co.'s vessels were prob- ably the Pizarro and Junius, and perhaps others, for the records are far from clear.

Of all the vessels of the year those which created the greatest sensation were three Spanish men-of-war which made their appearance in April and May. The 27th of April a large line-of-battle ship flying the stars and stripes of the United States was seen approaching Monterey. The people thought of 1818, "el año de los insurgentes," and made hasty preparations for a flight to the interior, while the governor prepared his gar- rison for defence.42 Late in the afternoon the strange vessel anchored just beyond the range of the battery's guns, fired a salute, and sent an officer ashore, who shouted, " Viva la libertad !" and asked to see the gov- ernor. The commander soon landed, and proved to be José Martinez, an old acquaintance of the Argue- llos. A short interview served to remove all fears,43 and the motives of the strangers were soon explained.

4] The vessels of 1825-see also list for 1825-30 at end of chap. v .- were: The Apollo, Aquiles, Arab, Asia, Bengal (?), Carlos Huat (?), Constante, Courier (?), Don, Eagle, Elena, Eliza, Factor, Inca (?), Juan Battey (?), Junius, Kiahkta, Maria Ester, Merope, Morelos, Nile, Pizarro, Plowboy, Recovery, Rover, Sachem, Santa Magdalena (?), Sta Rosa (?), Snow (?), Spy, Tartar, Tiemechmach (?), Tomasa, Warren, Washington, Whaleman, Young Tartar, and nine American whalers not named.

42 J. J. Vallejo, Reminiscencias, MS., 84-6, and Dorotea Valdés, Reminis .. MS., 2-5, have more to say of the fright of the people than others, though all mention it. Osio, Hist. C'al., MS., 91-112, narrates the whole affair at some length. He says that Argüello was importuned to retreat, and that the artillery commander, Lieut. Ramirez, was especially desirous of securing his life, as he had just married a pretty wife with $8,000, but the governor refused to abandon the presidio.

43 P. Altimira, however, still feared some hostile intention; May 12th he sent from S. Francisco a warning to Argüello, declaring that the men were bad, and should be looked upon with horror. He also recommended the sending

THE 'ASIA' AND 'CONSTANTE.'

The ship was the Asia, or San Gerónimo, of seven- ty-four guns and six hundred men; and three days later her consort, the brigantine Constante, with sixty men, anchored in the harbor. These vessels had formed a part of the royal Spanish squadron operating against the rebels on the coast of South America. Together with the Aquiles and the transport Garinton, they had sailed from that coast for Manila in January 1824, after the fall of Callao, under Roque Guruceta. On the way the men revolted in March 1825, at Guahan, one of the Mariana Islands. They landed all the offi- cers and passengers who would not join in their scheme, burned the Garinton, put José Martinez, for- merly of the Constante, in command, and returned eastward with a view of surrendering the vessels to some of the American enemies of Spain. The Aquiles started first and was not seen again, and the others di- rected their course to California, as the most practi- cable route, and with a view of obtaining supplies. This was the account given by Martinez with more details on his later arrival at Acapulco.44

An agreement was signed on May 1st, by which Martinez formally surrendered the Asia and Constante to Argüello as an officer of the Mexican republic, under certain conditions intended to secure the safety of the men and the payment of their wages. 45 Thereupon

of the news to Mexico, and stated that the American schooner Tartar at San Francisco would carry a despatch for $1,500. Perhaps the padre had an understanding with Capt. Morrell, and was to have a share of the profits. St. Pap. Sac., MS., x. 10-11. Morrell, Narrative, 209, mentions the man-of- war at Monterey, giving some details.

#4 ' Asia' y 'Constante,' Expediente de la Capitulacion, 1825, in Gaceta de Mex., Extra, June 15, 1825, which is devoted wholly to this affair, contains all the documents, and is the best authority. Jules Verne, the novelist, in The Mutineers, a story founded on this mutiny, gives many names and other par- ticulars, which do not seem to be altogether inaccurate. The Asia had car- ried Viceroy O'Donoju to Vera Cruz in 1821, and Conde de Venadito to Habana. Alaman, Ilist. Mex., v. 329, 818-19. See also Zumacois, Hist. Mej., xi. 611-13. The affair is also described in Campaigns and Cruises in Venezuela, i. 404-7.

45' Asia' y 'Constante,' Tratado de Capitulacion de los Narios on Monterey, 1825, MS .; also in Gac. Mex., Extra, June 15, 1825; signed by José Estrada (appointed by Argüello as comisionado), José Ramirez, José Cárdenas, and Antonio Ventura Roteta. Mention in Dept St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., Ivi. 8. May 3d, Argüello approves the contract in a communication to Mar- tincz, and reappoints the old officers temporarily. Martinez was comman-

A TERRITORY OF THE MEXICAN REPUBLIC.

the officers and men came ashore, swore allegiance to independence and the federal constitution, pitched their tents on the beach, and for over twenty days made things lively at Monterey. First, however, they had a religious duty to perform. The holy virgin had been in- duced at a time of great peril by prayers and vows so to strengthen a weak sail that it bore the violence of the gale better than those thought to need no prayers; and now all the men walked barefoot with the sail to church, and rendered their thanksgiving with much ceremony.46 Finally, when the merry-making was over, health restored, and some necessary refitting completed, the strangers embarked for Acapulco May 23d, under the charge of Captain Juan Malarin as chief navigator and bearer of despatches to the city of Mexico, by Argüello's appointment. The Mexican government approved the action of the Cali- fornian authorities, and assumed the obligation to pay the wages of the men to the amount of over $90,000. Whether the debt was ever paid is another matter. The new vessels thus unexpectedly added to the fed- eral navy were sent round to Vera Cruz, and the Asia was subsequently known as El Congreso.47 Several

der of the two vessels; Cárdenas and Antonio Ferrer were next in rank on the Asia; while Antonio Roteta and Manuel Galindo were the officers of the Constante. Dept Rec., MS., i. 54.

46 Torre, Reminis., MS., 39-46, describes this church ceremony, and also that of swearing allegiance, at some length. Osio also gives some details. Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., ii. 3-18, who gives considerable space to this affair of the Asia, tells us that in a quarrel about a girl, the gachupin Arnoldo Pierola killed Juan B. Lopez, and took refuge on the ship, where Lieut. Valle and the writer were sent to arrest him, but the crew refused to give him up. By careful precautions, further disturbances were prevented. The ladies presented two Mexican flags to the vessels, though, as appears from another document, they had to use blue stuff instead of green. Vallejo speaks of a grand ball on the Asia. All the old residents agree that money and sugar had not been so plentiful at Monterey for a long time. Sra Ávila, Cosas de Cal., MS., 22-3, speaks of the ludicrous attempts of the sailors and marines to ride on horse- back, and says further that their blasphemies shocked the Californians. Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., ii. 93-101, notes that green corn was in season; also that the Indian maidens reaped a rich harvest of money, handkerchiefs, and beads from the strangers.

47 June 11, 1825, Manuel Victoria, com. at Acapulco, to sec. war, announc- ing arrival of the vessels. May 21st, Argüello to com. at Acapulco on the sur- render and Malarin's mission. June 11th, Martinez to com. Acapulco, announc- ing arrival and enclosing his narrative of same date. May Ist, the treaty as

THE 'AQUILES' AT SANTA BÁRBARA.

men from the two vessels remained in California, but none of this number ever acquired any prominence in the territory.43

The third vessel of the fleet, the Aquiles, did not join the others at Monterey, but made her appearance at Santa Bárbara early in May; neither did her com- mander, Pedro Angulo, deem it best to surrender to the Mexican authorities. During their stay of a few days the crew and passengers contracted as many debts as possible, we are told, and otherwise behaved badly. Finally on their departure, having left behind the pilot with seven or eight men, they fired two cannon with ball cartridges against the presidio as a parting salute, and disappeared in the south-west.49

already cited, certified copy of Monterey, May 22d; and finally announcement of approval by Mex. govt on date of the gaceta, June 15th. All making up the Asia y Constante, Expediente. Sailing of the vessels on May 23d, Guerra, Doc., MS., iv. 158. May 23d, Argüello to commandante at Acapulco, explaining the whole affair, and sending copies of contract. Dept Rec., MS., i. 56. May 2d, Argüello to comandantes, giving an account of the surrender and plans. Id., i. 117. Mention of the affair in Niles' Reg., xxix. 74; Gaceta de Mex., i. 1-4. Contract religiously carried out. Mexico, Mem. Marina, 1826, p. 3. The $90,000 paid. . Id., 1830, p. 1. Echeandía, on hearing of Argüello's action, had some fears that he had been tricked, and ordered more strict precautions. St. Pap. Sac., MS., x. 32-3; Dept St. Pap., MS., i. 68. Osio, not friendly to Echeandía, says that the latter was severely snubbed by the minister of war for his intermeddling, and that consequently he later took every occasion to annoy Argüello, killing him with disgustos in 5 years !

48 In July 1828, 4 of the number remained in the Monterey district. St. Pap., Ben., MS., i. 75-6. Manuel Fogó and Francisco Gutierrez named. Dept Rec., MS., v. 17; vi. 45. David Spence, Hist. Notes, MS., 1-3, who gives a very clear narrative of the whole affair, says that 12 of the Asia's crew remained and became good citizens. I have also a letter of Spence to Hart- nell of May 2d, announcing the arrival with some details. Vallejo, Doc., MS., xxviii. 451. May 2, 1829, decree of president about the Asia's crew. Dispo- siciones Varias, ii. 60.

49 May 6th, Guerra to Argüello, in Dept St. Pap., MS., i. 113; Id., Ben. Mil., liv. 7; Dept Rec., MS., i. 227. June 25th, Esteva from Mexico to com- andante of Monterey. If the Aquiles arrives give her no food; induce her to surrender like the Asia; take two officers as hostages; seize her sails; and re- port quickly. Sup. Gort St. Pap., MS., iii. 8. Mrs Ord, Ocurrencias, MS., 18-19, says that when the commander of the vessel landed and called at Capt. Guerra's house, he found there a great crowd celebrating the wedding of her sister and Hartnell. With his companions he was invited to join in the fes- tivities, and was induced by Hartnell to drink a good deal of wine with a view the better to learn his business, though without much success. Osio, Hist. Cal., MS., 99-102, also speaks of the wedding, and tells us that Angulo, an ignorant Chileno, at first thought to hide his bad Spanish from so cultured a company by pretending to be a Frenchman; but Hartnell soon discovered he could not speak French. Learning that the Asia was at Monterey, An- gulo hurried on board without waiting for anything, and sailed for Valparaiso, after sending a cannon ball into town.

A TERRITORY OF THE MEXICAN REPUBLIC.

One other visit to California this year requires special attention, from the fact that the voyager pub- lished his experiences in a book. I allude to that of Benjamin Morrell Jr., in the American schooner Tar- tar. Having sailed from New York in July 1824, he arrived at San Diego from the south in April 1825, perhaps bringing a cargo for Hartnell from Chili, but chiefly bent on catching seals. His description of San Diego, where he remained twelve days,5) and his still more absurd description of his adventures on a hunting tour in the interior-where with seven Spanish companions he defeated fifty native mounted warriors in a desperate hand-to-hand battle, killing seventeen of their number, and himself receiving numerous wounds-leave no room to doubt that the valiant captain was a liar. He touched at Monterey and San Francisco, whence, finding that there was no prospect of success in the seal-fishery, he sailed in May for the Hawaiian Islands, going up to Cape Blanco and down to Socorro Island on the way. Many of Morrell's geographical and other details aro tolerably accurate. His book was not published until 1832. He ventured on a prophecy " that long before another century rolls round the principal avenue of trade between the United States and the different sea- ports on the Pacific Ocean will be the river Colorado, as connected with the gulf of California. The China and India trade will of course ultimately flow through the same channel." Not a cargo has yet been known to be sent down the great cañon-but the century has not yet rolled round. 51

50 ' Its form is nearly circular, and it is surrounded by a wall about 20 feet in height, which forms the back sides of the houses. There are about 250 houses erected in this manner, from one to two stories high, built of freestone and neatly finished. There is also a large church, one nunnery, and a very neat little court-house. This town contains about 1,500 inhabitants, princi- pally natives of the coast.' His way of saying that the women rode astride- as they did not -- is very good, however: viz., 'They usually honor each side of the horse with a beautiful little foot and ankle.' A whale-boat was built during the stay.

51 Morrell, A Narrative of Four Voyages to the South Sea, ete., 1822-31. N. Y. 1832. Svo. 492 p. The matter on California is on p. 197-213. This was the

REVENUE AND FOREIGNERS.

The customs revenue for the year was from $8,000 to $11,000, so far as may be determined from the records. 52 Vessels seem to have paid duties in accordance with the plan of 1824 and the subsequent action of the diputacion abolishing the duty on ex- ported produce after January 1st, though the govern- or, owing to a 'forgetfulness which was natural,' neglected to publish the decree until March.53 Eche- andía's only action on commercial matters was a decree by which all trade was forbidden except at the four presidial ports, to the great inconvenience of the missionary traders. A little later, however, San Pedro was excepted, to accommodate the citizens of Los Angeles.54

Several of the foreign residents married hijas del país this year, but none did much else that calls for notice. Of new arrivals only about twenty names are known, of which number most are but visitors, chiefly masters of vessels; and only six have any claim to be considered as pioneer residents. John Burton, Robert Livermore, and Alpheus B. Thomp- son are the prominent names; but in the case of each there is a degree of uncertainty respecting the exact year of arrival, as fully explained elsewhere.55

The winter of 1824-5 was marked by an unprece-

second of the four voyages. Notices of Morrell's visit in the archives. St. Pap. Sac., MS., x. 11, 14; xiv. 37; Dept St. Pap., MS., i. 64-5. Blunder- ing notice of the voyage in Taylor's L. Cal., 43.

52 The amount is given as $8,014 and elsewhere as $11,036, in Dept St. Pap. Ben. Cust. H., MS., i. 101-2, 212. Duties at Sta Bárbara, $1,220. Prov. St. Pap. Ben. Mil., MS., Ivi. 1. Amount at S. Francisco, $1,061; at S. Diego, $471. Probably $11,000 was the total, and $8,000 the amount at Monterey.

Dept Rec., MS., i. 115.

54 E.'s decree of Dec. 15th, in S. Antonio, Doc. Sueltos, MS., 101-3; S. José, Arch., MS., vi. 23; Vallejo, Doc., MS., xxviii. 82; Dept St. Pap., MS., i. 94. Dec. 20th, S. Pedro excepted. J'allejo, Doc., MS., xxviii. 83. Complaint that S. Diego did not get its share of the revenne. Guerra, Doc., MS., v. 201-2.

55 See Pioncer Register at the end of these volumes, ii .- v., for the names of all, including visitors. The pioneers proper of 1825, besides Burton, Livermore, and Thompson, are Fisher the negro, William Gralbatch, and James Grant. Of old residents, W. E. P. Hartnell and Wm. A. Richardson were married; Daniel Hill was baptized; and Capt. Henry Gyzelaar is said by Phelps-Fore and Aft, 242-3 - to have been drowned in Russian River, though it may have been a year or two later.

A TERRITORY OF THE MEXICAN REPUBLIC.

dented fall of rain, from which damages more or less extensive were reported throughout the length of the territory. At Sonoma many of the new adobe build- ings were destroyed. The voyager Kotzebue notes the violence of the storms at San Francisco. At Santa Cruz the river overflowed the gardens and undermined the buildings. Considerable grain was spoiled in the fields at different missions. The southern rivers were so swollen as to prevent the diputados from coming to Monterey to ratify the federal constitution, and con- siderable changes in the course of the southern streams and general drainage of the country are reported, nota- bly at Los Angeles and San Diego. More particu- lars will be found in local anuals.56 The rains were on the whole beneficial to the crops in spite of the local losses, for the harvest was 68,500 fanegas, the largest of the decade except that of 1821.

56 General mention not likely to occur in local anuals. Leg. Rec., MS., i. 42; Dept Rec., MS., i. 300-1. A newspaper item, accredited to Salvio Pa- checo and widely copied, states that from 1824 to 1826 hardly any rain fell. Mention of the floods in Alta Cal., Dec. 30, 1852; Yuba Co. Ilist., 67.

CHAPTER II.

ECHEANDÍA'S RULE-POLITICAL AFFAIRS. 1826-1830.

NATIONAL MEASURES, 1826-JUNTA DE FOMENTO-ECHEANDIA AT SAN DIEGO-GUERRA FOR CONGRESS, 1827-S-COLONIZATION REGULATIONS OF 1828-TERRITORIAL DIPUTACION, 1827-PROPOSED CHANGE OF NAME-ECHEANDÍA IN THE NORTH-DIPUTACION, 1828-30-ELECTION -- MAITORENA SENT TO CONGRESS, 1829-30-ACTS OF THE SUPREME GOV- ERNMENT-PADRÉS AS AYUDANTE INSPECTOR-GOMEZ AS ASESOR- CALIFORNIA AS A PENAL COLONY-ARRIVAL OF 130 CONVICTS-CARRILLO ELECTED TO CONGRESS FOR 1831-2-EXPULSION OF SPANIARDS, 1827-30- LIST OF SPANISH RESIDENTS-ECHEANDIA'S APPEALS FOR AID-HIS RESIGNATION-APPOINTMENT OF ANTONIO GARCIA-THE CALIFORNIAS SEPARATED-MANUEL VICTORIA APPOINTED GOVERNOR.

FOR the last half of the decade under consideration, the course of events adapts itself more conveniently to a grouping in topics than to strict chronological treatment, since the epoch, with the exception of the Solis revolt, was not one of radical changes and star- tling events, but rather of gradual progress toward the Mexican ideal of republicanism and the secularization of the missions. There was chronic and ever-increas- ing destitution among the troops, resulting in open mutiny, constant scheming to make both ends meet, with no little rascality on the part of the territorial financiers, and growing commercial industry under the auspices mainly of foreigners. Of the topics to be separately treated, usage, as well as convenience in this instance, gives the first place to politics, and to mat- ters more or less closely connected with territorial and national government.

( 31 )

ECHEANDÍA'S RULE-POLITICAL AFFAIRS.

Politically, then, 1826 was wellnigh a blank. The national authorities attached some importance to Cali- fornia as affording by her rich missions a possible stronghold for Spanish reactionary sentiment, and they had a vague idea that there was a problem to be solved there; but having sent a political chief to study the state of affairs, a small military reenforcement, an administrator of finances, and a small amount of money and goods for him to administer, they felt that they had done a good deal, and were content to let Califor- nia work out her own salvation for a time. Yet it seems that the junta de fomento was still engaged upon a general plan of government for the province, and for the report of this body, of whose acts we have unfortunately no record, all were waiting.1

Cheering news was also sent north that with the surrender of San Juan de Ulúa the Spaniards had lost their last foothold in Mexico, and also that the pope had recognized the Mexican independence. These events were celebrated at different points in the terri- tory, by the governor's order, in April and May.2

Echeandía, sent to establish the republican régime, remained at San Diego engaged in studying the coun- try's needs. He was not in robust health, was natu- rally inclined to be easy-going and dilatory, and was certainly in no haste to adopt any radical policy. Some items of business connected with the arrival of vessels claimed his attention; he slightly agitated the matter of secularization, trying one or two experiments with a view to test the feelings of the friars and the

1 Mexico, Mem. Relaciones, 1827, p. 36-7. The minister says that in Cali- fornia very marked vestiges of the old monastico-military government still remain, presenting serious obstacles; but the governor is instructed to gather information, and the junta is at work on a plan.

2 Corresp. of 1823-6, with notice of celebration at Sta Bárbara, Monterey, S. Buenaventura, and S. Fernando. Echeandia's order was dated April 15, 1826. Dept Rec., MS., iii. 16; iv. 31; Dept St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., Ixxxvii. ; Id., Ben. Com. and Treas., MS., i. 11; St. Pap., Ben., MS., i. 69-70; Sup. Gort St. Pap., MS., xix. 26. Double pay for three days was ordered for soldiers; and some silver coins seem to have been distributed. At S. Fernando the padre refused to officiate, and the neophytes said some pater-nosters and are mittrius on their own account.

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 4

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