History of California, Volume IV, Part 11

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 820

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Vallejo still urged his plan of prohibiting the coast- ing trade to all foreign vessels;29 and at the end of the year all owners and consignees were forewarned of an intention on the part of the state government to en- force the Mexican laws prohibiting every kind of coast- ing trade to all but national vessels. They were therefore required to suspend at once their retail trade, and to settle up transactions in which they were al- ready engaged; but meanwhile, pending the issue of the intended order, they might continue to dispose of their goods at wholesale-a privilege, however, which would be forfeited by a failure to comply with the present requirements. 30

I append a list of twenty-six vessels on the coast in 1839, of which only ten or twelve were new arri- vals.31 The Clementine brought John A. Sutter, of whose settlement in California I shall have much to say later. Captain Laplace published extensive notes of his observations in the country during his visit on the Artémise; but a notice of Laplace's book, like that of Belcher, who visited the coast a second time this year on the Sulphur, belongs also to a subsequent chapter. The arrivals which brought most joy to the Californians, and especially to officials, were those of the California and Monsoon, two Boston ships which paid over $50,000 in duties on their cargoes,

29 Dec. 1st, V. to Virmond. Vallejo, Doc., MS., viii. 335.

30 Dec. 31, 1839, governor's order to prefects, circulated by the latter to minor officials on various dates of Jan. 1840. Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., i. 40S; Dept. St. Pap., Ben., MS., iii. 6-8; Id., Angeles, xii. 25; Id., Monterey, iv. 84-5; S. Diego, Arch., MS., 251; Sta Cruz, Arch., MS., 1-2; S. José, Arch., MS., iii. 105; Estudillo, Doc., MS., ii. 3.

si Alert, Artémise, Ayacucho, Baikal, Bolivar, California (schr), Califor- nia, Catalina, Cervantes, Clementine, Corsair, Daniel O'Connell, Delmira, Elena, Flibbertygibbett, Index, Isabel, Joseph, Joseph Peabody, Juan José, Leonidas (?), Monsoon, Morse, Nicolas, Starling, and Sulphur. Total reve- nue received at the Monterey custom-house in 1839, $85,613. Expenses, $4,574. Larkin's Official Corresp., MS., ii. 37, 110; Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Cust .- H., v. (201-45); Pico, Doc., MS., i. 85; Bryant's What I Saw in Cal., 445-6. At S. F. 20 vessels, total tonage 3,367 tons, took away produce to the value of $87,529. Richardson, in Vallejo, Doc., MS., xxv. 255. Imports into Honolulu from Cal., $26,500. Flagg's Report.

COMMERCE, FINANCE, AND MARITIME AFFAIRS.

more than doubling the revenue of the preceding year, and raising the total to $85,613-a godsend to the departmental treasury.

I find no evidence that in 1840 foreign vessels were restricted to wholesale trade in accordance with the regulation of December 1839; or that any serious attempt was made to enforce the restriction, beyond the circulation of the order in January.32 In Feb- ruary, however, Alvarado dwelt on his proposed pro- hibition of coasting trade in his opening speech be- fore the junta, explaining the reasons of his warning already issued, and asking for the passage of a decree so framed as to conciliate all interests.33 Again in December he addressed a long communication to the government, explaining his policy, and announced his purpose to enforce it from the beginning of the next year, making perhaps some concessions to such ves- sels as might be on the coast at that time. Alvarado admitted that this action would for a time greatly reduce the revenues, and might cause the Boston ships to suspend their visits; but he held that it was necessary, in order to prevent smuggling, to keep out of the country the constantly increasing horde of deserters from foreign vessels, and especially to de- velop a system of commerce and transportation in the hands of Californians.34 It is not unlikely that certain prominent traders of foreign birth, but natu-

32 Mofras, Explor., i. 498, says the foreigners refused to unload their cargoes, and thus forced Alvarado to rescind his prohibition. This, however, may refer to the general prohibition of coasting trade a little later.

33 Feb. 16, 1840, A. to tho junta. Leg. Rec., MS., iii. 51-3. Jan. 1st, new revenue tariff goes into effect. Tonnage on foreign vessels, $1.50; duty on lumber, $10 per M. Pinto, Doc., MS., i. 297-8. March, exportation of money free of duties not permitted either to vessel or passengers. Dept. St. Pap., Mont., MS., viii. 2. Duties on various imports September. V'allejo, Doc., MS., xxxiii. 121. Dec. 14th, a deduction of 25 per cent made on the 81.50 tonnage dues. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS .. lv. 13. Dec. 10th, gov. asks for a law prohibiting foreigners from engaging in retail trade. Dept. Rec., MS., xi. 71. No tonnage on a vessel that enters a port for fresh supplies or to repair; but she can remain only 48 hours. Pinto, Doc., MS., i. 251. Coin particularly scarce this year. Vallejo (J. J.), Remin., MS., 177.

34 Dec. 12, 1840, A, to sup. govt. Savage, Doc., MS., iv. 329.

TRADING FLEET OF 1840.

ralized and married in the country, were the real pro- moters of this proposed enforcement of Mexican laws with a view to their own private interests.

The commercial annals of this period, like those of 1831-5,35 may be closed by a reference to the fact that Abel Stearns was arraigned for a continuance of his smuggling operations at Los Angeles and San Pedro. In October a strange vessel landed goods mysteri- ously at night. A search of Stearns' house revealed a valuable lot of silks and liquors, which were con- demned. Don Abel wrote violent letters, talked loud, and appealed for justice, meanwhile exerting himself, as it seems, to make false invoices and otherwise put his accounts in order. To what extent he succeeded the records fail to show; but in December contraband hides were found by a new search of his warehouse.36

Of the twenty-eight vessels named in the list of 1840, seventeen had been known on the coast before.87 They yielded to the government a total revenue of $72,372, of which the Alert from Boston paid $18,- 685, and the Bolivar from Honolulu $11,531. Sev- eral vessels of this year's fleet will require notice, or have already been noticed, in connection with other matters. Such are the Alert, whose master, Phelps, published a narrative; the Don Quixote, one of whose passengers, Farnham, also wrote a book; the Jóven Guipuzcoana, that carried away Graham and his fellow-exiles; the Catalina, that brought back the guard sent with the prisoners to San Blas; the Dan-

35 See Hist. Cal., chap. xiii., vol. iii., this series.

36 Los Angeles, Arch., MS., i. 185-6; Dept. St. Pap., MS., v. 27-8, 50-1; Id., Ang., xi. 119-24; Id., Ben. Pref. y Juzg , vi. 82-8.

37 Aleiope, Alert, Angelina, Ayacucho, Baikal, Bolivar, California, Califor- nia (schr), Catalina, Clara, Columbia, Danaïde, Don Quixote, Elena, Fly, Forager, Index, Joseph Peabody, Joven Guipuzcoana, Juan José, Lausanne, Leonidas, Monsoon, Morse, Nikolai, Nicolas, St Louis, Union. Total of rev- enue according to items as per list, $64,723. According to report in Larkin's Off. Corresp., ii. 37, 110; Hartnell's statement in Pico, Doc., MS., i. 83; Bry- ant's What I Saw in Cal., 445-6-$72,308; according to custom-house records, $72,372, expenses being $4,913. Exports to Honolulu to Aug., $17,000. Flagg's Report, which was taken from a report furnished by Pierce and Brewer to the Polynesian Sept. 12, 1840. Douglas, Journal, MS., 88, makes the average exports of hides and tallow from Monterey $20,000.

COMMERCE, FINANCE, AND MARITIME AFFAIRS.

aide and St Louis, men-of-war which came to investi- gate imaginary outrages upon the citizens of France and the United States; and the Lausanne, which brought some immigrants from Oregon, and had trouble with the Californian authorities.

At the end of 1835 we left José María Herrera in charge of the sub-comisaría, and Angel Ramirez of the Monterey custom-house. The former was exiled by Alvarado's revolution of November 1836; but the latter held his place for more than a month after the change of government, being suspended with all his subordinates by Alvarado on the 21st of December.38 In place of these a recaudador, or collector, was to be appointed with one clerk. William E. Hartnell was appointed recaudador, and throughout the year 1837 seems to have been the only official of either treasury or custom-house in California; though of his adminis- tration nothing is known beyond the fact that he held the position.83 An administrator of customs was ap- pointed by the Mexican government, but never came to take the position.40 Antonio María Osio was urged this year, according to his own statement, to take charge of the custom-house, the governor having been struck with admiration by his honest administration, while in the rebel service, of a forced loan from San

38 December 21, 1836, Alvarado suspends Ramirez. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Cust .- H., MS., iv. 1. This was authorized by the decree of the congress of Dec. 4th. Castro, Decretos, no. 3. The recaudador was to get a salary of $1,000, and his clerk $365. July 2d, furniture in the custom-house paid for from the treasury: 2 cases, flagstaff, flag, scissors, slate, candlestick, snuffers, table, seal, boat, shed for same. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Cust .- H., MS., iv. [333]. 39 Hartnell was appointed Dec. 25, 1836, and removed Oet. 5, 1837. His compensation was 5 per cent of collections. Vallejo, Doc., MS., xxxii. 58, 112; iv. 76; Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., lxxxi. 79. Serrano, Apuntes, MS., 38- 42, speaks however of Jesus Pico as having held the position of sub-comisario, being entirely incompetent, as was his successor, Montenegro, who, he says, was succeeded by Santiago Estrada.

40 Manuel Cambre appointed May 10, 1837, and his resignation accepted June 7th. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Cust .- H., MS., iv. 767-8. This was under the decree of Feb. 17th, creating for the Monterey custom-house an adminis- trador at $3,000; contador, $2,000; Ist and 2d official, $1,500 and $1,000; escribiente, $500; alcaide, $1,500; comandante, $2,000; 4 celadores at $S00 each; patron of the boat, $100; and 4 sailors, at $260 each. Total, $16,140 per year! Sup. Govt St. Pap., MS., xiii. 2.

ADMINISTRATION OF REVENUES.

Fernando. The honest man of Angeles declined the honor at first, because his private business was yield- ing him an income of $4,000 besides his vineyard. In 1838, however, Osio accepted the position,41 and served as administrador throughout the period, much to the satisfaction of all concerned, being regarded by mer- chants and masters of vessels as not only a competent official, but a courteous gentleman. The only subor- dinate was Pablo de la Guerra, who served as first official and vista from 1838.43 Meanwhile Alférez Eu- genio Montenegro was appointed sub-comisario in January 1838, and served, with what success the records do not show, until the end of March 1839.43 He was succeeded by José Abrego, who remained in charge of the departmental finances for six years.44

At San Francisco, where W. A. Richardson seems

41 Osio, Hist. C.il., MS., 353-6, 400-1. The author declares that he accepted only on condition that he was not to pay any attention to communications from Pavon, the director general de rentas, who was very angry at receiving only the regular accounts at the end of each year. The exact date of Osio's appointment does not appear; but on Jan. 6th, the admin .- presumably Osio- is appointed contador as well, with $2,000 salary. Dept. Rec., MS., x. l. Oct. 13, 1838, Osio explains his method of securing the services of guards for vessels at the slight expense of $3 for each visit, by giving them also all tho law allowed to seizers of contraband goods. Dept. St. Pap., MS., iv. 237-8. March 30-1, 1839, Osio sworn in and gives bond of $4,000. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Cust .- II., MS., v. 5; and is also appointed provisional comandante de celadores. Dept. Rec., MS., x. 4. Called also habilitado provisional. Ashley's Doc., MS., 255.

42 He was appointed Jan. 3, 1838. Dept. Rec., MS., x. 1. Accepts office and gives bond of $2,000 Jan. 5, 1839. Dept. St. Pap., Ben., MS., iii. 22; Id., Ben. Cust .- H., v. 1, 3, 5. His salary was $1,500. Lieut Pedro Narvaez seems to have served as captain of the port at Monterey (not a revenue offi- cer) in 1839-40. Val'ejo, Doc., MS., iv. 256; Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., lxxvi. Rafael Gonzalez was appointed comandante of celadores on July 13, 1840 (in Mexico ?). At the same time a contador and official 1° were appointed, who never came to California. Dept. St. Pap., Mont., MS., viii. 4. Monte- negro was comandante of celadores from March 1839.

43 Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Cust .- II., MS., v. 3-4; Dept. Rec., MS., x. 1-4.

#March 30, 1839, gov. appoints Ábrego comisario (?) ad int. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Com. and Treas., MS., iv. 28. He is usually referred to in official documents as sub-comisario; and is spoken of by Californians as treasurer. Dec. 1, 1849, gov. to min. of int., recommending Ábrego as gefe de hacienda. Dept. Rec., MS., xi. 72. His pay at first was 2 per cent of receipts. In 1840 he got $197 per month, and had 2 clerks at $30 and $18. His bond was $1,000. July 13, 1840, a decree of the president fixed the salaries at Mon- terey as follows: administrador, $2,500; contador, $2,000; 2 clerks at $1,500 and $300; the first serving as vista; alcaide (storekeeper), 81,000; coman- dante of celadores, $1,800; 4 celadores at $700; skipper of launch, $400; 4 sailors at $260. Vallejo, Doc. Hist. Mex., MS., ii. 72.

HIST. CAL., VOL. IV. 7

COMMERCE, FINANCE, AND MARITIME AFFAIRS.

to have served as captain of the port throughout this half-decade,45 there was no custom-house officer until 1839. Jacob P. Leese was then recommended by Osio as receptor; but the governor, not favoring the appointment of a trader, appointed Francisco Guerrero as provisional administrator, with twenty-five per cent of receipts as compensation.46 At Santa Bárbara Benito Diaz figures as receptor in 1836-7; and José Antonio de la Guerra was captain of the port in 1839-40.47 At San Diego Martin S. Cabello served as receptor, except for a time in 1836 when he had trouble with the local authorities and Andrés Pico took his place, until 1838, and perhaps later. During Carrillo's rule in the south in 1837-8, Juan Bandini seems to have had nominal charge of the so-called custom-house at this port, but there are no satisfac- tory records of this period. It does not appear that Don Cárlos and his party ever succeeded in collecting duties from any vessel.48

The financial administration of California in 1836-8 has left no record of methods or statistics of results. We know simply that during the sectional struggles the southern missions had to furnish funds to support the cause of the abajeños; while the arribeños depended on the northern missions, had frequent opportunities to draw upon those of the south as well, and had besides the custom-house receipts. If any accounts were kept, they have long since disappeared. Wealthy men on both sides made some sacrifices of property, which, as a rule, were more than repaid later, in one way or another, from the mission estates. Meanwhile, occa-

45 His record of vessels, Richardson, Salidas de buques, MS., begins in 1837. Dec. 24, 1839, Osio, in writing about his salary of $00 per month, says his appointment had not yet been approved. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Com. and Treas., MS., iv. 25.

46 Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Cust .- H., MS., v. 2, 6; Dept. Rec., MS., x. 16; Dept. St. Pap., Ben., MS., iii. 20; Pinto, Doc., MS., i. 264, 267.

47 Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Cust .- H., MS., iv. 1; Id., Ben. Mil., lxxxi. SI; lxxxviii. 35; Id., Ben. Com. and Treas., iv. 25.

48 S. Diego, Arch., MS., 5, 41, 95, 107, 118; Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Cust .- II., MS., iv. 1-4.

THE REVENUES IN 1839-40.

sional communications arrived from Mexican officials on financial topics, which received not the slightest attention from Californian financiers, and merit not even a mention here.49

In 1839-40 a great improvement is observable, something of order and system being introduced by Ábrego and Osio in the financial management and keeping of accounts, while the revenues, as we have seen, were largely increased, amounting to $158,000 for the two years. I append in a note such statistical items as will enable the reader to form an idea of what was done with this revenue of $79,000 a year, or $6,500 per month.5º As before, official communica- tions from Mexico received very little attention, ex- cept as they could occasionally be utilized to sustain a position taken in some Californian quarrel.

Instructions from the national government required that the revennes should be equally divided between the civil and military departments.51 It was charged

" June 4-5, 1836, Gov. Chico proposes some new system of regulating mission accounts, not approved by the dip. Leg. Rec., MS., iii. 17-18. April 1, 1837, the Mexican govt authorized a loan of $70,000 on the pious fund, the money to be devoted to the task of restoring the national anthority in Cal. Arrillaga, Recop., 1837, p. 265-6. April 12th, the pres. announces the formation of a scheme to pay the foreign debt in lands of the north, includ- ing Cal., and in bonds secured by those lands, of which 100,000,000 acres were to be hypothecated for this purpose. Sup. Govt St. Pap., MS., xiii. 3-4. 50 I omit many items which contribute to no general result. May 13, 1839, gov. to Abrego. $16,632 to be set aside for payment of auxiliary militia for services in restoring order. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Com. and Treas., MS., iv. 24, 14. July 27th, Abrego to Vallejo. Govt. owes $19,000. Accepts V.'s offer of aid for the frontier company. Id., Ben., iii. 144-5. Abrego's ac- counts show that from May to Oct. 1839 there was paid to the military de- partment $20,975, and to the civil $26,165. Id., Ben. Com, and Treas., MS., iii. 35-9. Specimen monthly account of military expenses in 1839: Coman- dante general and office expenses, $354; presidial companies, Monterey $705, Sta Barbara $710, S. F. $1,367, Sonoma $650, artillery co. $576; 4 officers not included in preceding, $235; surgeon, $60; 7 inválidos, 6 of them officers, $235; 3 port captains, $239; sundries, $29; total, $5,166. Vallejo, Doc., MS., xiv. 256. Estimate of annual military expenses from many items in Id., xxv., $60,961. July 26th, Abrego's estimate of monthly expenses for the whole department, $8,000. Id., vii. 406. General expense of the staff for 1839, $7,362. Id., xxv. Paid out by Abrego in June 1840, $9,861, the largest items being: placed at governor's disposal, $3,070; extraordinary expenses, $1,141; repaid to merchants, $1,703; to military companies, $2,487. Id., xxvi. 97. Payments in July: military, $11,452; civil, $13,620. Id., 110. Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 143-4, affirms that in 1840 David Spence bonght state bonds for 17 cents, and never realized anything from them.

51 Sup. Govt St. Pap., MS., xv. 3; Dept. St. Pap., MS., iv. 130; Id., Ben.

100

COMMERCE, FINANCE, AND MARITIME AFFAIRS.

by Vallejo that this division, regarded in itself as un- fair by reason of the needs and services of the soldiers, was not fairly carried out, the civil authorities receiv- ing their full pay, while the military had to be content with what was left; and it was also charged by all outside of the capital, that the Monterey clique were devoting the revenues too exclusively to their own benefit. This distribution of the funds was a leading element in the quarrel between Alvarado and Vallejo; and the controversy between the latter and Abrego was hardly less bitter, the comisario seeking every opportunity to annoy the general.52 It is probable that Alvarado, Castro, Jimeno, Abrego, Osio, and their friends at Monterey used their power to some extent for their own interests; but it is known that Vallejo was influenced largely by wounded pride, and such records as are extant afford but scant support to his extravagant charges of a fraudulent distribution of the public moneys.5

I append an alphabetical list of seventy-six vessels which visited Californian ports from 1836 to 1840,54

Com. and Treas., iv. 27. March 14, 1839, Vallejo asked that Castillero be recognized in Mex. as habilitado general for the Cal, companies; the reply was that Castillero might serve as attorney for persons in Cal. Savage, Doc., MS., iv. 313.

52 See Hist. Cal., chap. xx., vol. iii., this series. Also Vallejo, Doc., MS., vii. 407, 417; Dept. St. Pap., Ben., MS., iii. 141-9. Aug. 5, 1840, Abrego urges the appointment of an habilitado to receive from him all military funds for distribution. Id., iii. 153. Oct. 28, 1839, Mexican order forbidding the general to interfere in the management of public funds. Supt. Govt St. Pap., MS., xv. 12. May 10, 1839, Alvarado to Vallejo. The revenue of this year will be sufficient to pay all expenses and leave a surplus. Vallejo, Doc., MS., vii. 32.

53 May to Aug. 1839, a series of orders requiring the collection of tithes, the proceeds to be devoted to the establishment of a mail route from L. Cal. No results reported. Vallejo, Doc., MS., vii. 17, 32, 399; xxxii. 267; Hayes' Mission Book, i. 335; Dept. St. Pap., MS., v. 48; Id., Angeles, v. 63; xi. 10; Monterey, Arch., MS., xvi. 23. There is nothing of a general nature extant for this period respecting municipal funds.

54 List of vessels 1836-40:

Aguirre, named as a ship at Mont. 1836; but probably a vessel belonging to Aguirre.

Alciope, Amer. ship; Curtis Clap, master; on the coast April to Oct. 1840; duties, $6,876. At Honolulu in Nov .; passengers, Capt. Bliun, Rev. Parker, Mr and Miss Warren. Sailed for Boston in Dec .; Capt. J. O. Carter, pass.

Alert, Amer. ship, 398 or 360 tous; Thompson, master. Sailcd for Boston

101

VESSELS OF 1836-40.

eight of the number resting on doubtful records .. Of the remaining sixty-eight, twenty-six were under the flag of the United States, seventeen bore English

May 8, 1836, with 40,000 hides and 30,000 horns. Returned in spring of 1838 (or perhaps late in 1837); Penhallow, master; Hatch, mate. Sailed from San Diego for Boston June 26, 1839. Came back in June 1840; Win D. Phelps, master; duties, $18,685. Alfred Robinson is named as supercargo, and may have returned to Cal. on this vessel. Capt. Phelps in his Fore and Aft de- scribes the voyage as having lasted 3 yrs, 3 mos, and 13 days.

Angelina, Fr. whaler of 1840, as mentioned by Osio; N. Jena, master.

Angolo, Amer. ship; consigned to Spence and Malarin. In Spence's list of 1836.

Artémise, Fr. man-of-war; Capt. C. P. T. Laplace, com .; from Bodega to Mont. Ang .- Sept. 1839. See chap. iv. of this vol. for Laplace's visit and book,

Ayacucho, Engl. brig; Wilson, master; up and down the coast as usual in 1836-7, from Callao.

Ayacucho, Engl. schr, 97 or 67 tons. Formerly the Isabel. Bought in May 1838 fer $2,900 at Callao by Jas Mckinley. In Vallejo, Doc., MS., xxxii. 136-41, are all the doc. of sale and change from Mex. to Engl. flag. In Cal. Sept .- Oct .; Geo. F. Comfort, master; Mckinley on board; $456 duties. Back again from Callao July 1839; Robert Dare, master. Landed a passen- ger, who was allowed to take only one suit of clothes of his luggage. Cargo, 82,566; duties, $2,368. Wintered on the coast, or came back in March 1840; duties, $20.

Baikal, Russ. brig, 180 tons; Stephen Vouks, master; at S. Francisco Jan. 1837. Also Jan. 1839; Demetrius, master; took $4,977 in produce. Also Feb .- Mar. (and perhaps Dec.) 1840; Rosistof Mashim, master; exchanged. 15,828 ft lumber from Sitka for wheat; tonnage, $96.

Bolívar, Amer. brig, 193, 212, er 224 tons; Gorham H. Nye, master; A. B. Thompson, sup .; arr. in April 1836 from Honolulu, with cargo of $4,781. Slight troubles with authorities. Duties, $4,766. Carried John C. Jones to the Islands in Oct. Back March-Oct. 1837; Back again Jan .- Oct. 1838; sus- pected of smuggling by aid of a schr in Drake Bay. Perhaps wintered, or returned in Jan. 1839. Again, Mar .- Oct. 1840, she paid duties, $11,531. She was owned by Amer. at Honolulu, and valued at $7,000.

Brixon, Engl. whaler; at Mont. Oct. 1836.

Cadboro, Engl. schr, 71 tons; Wm Brotchie, master; from Columbia River in autumn of 1837 and 1838; at Bodega and San Francisco.

California, Amer. ship, 317 or 267 tons; Jas Arther, master; Thos B. Park, sup .; arr. from Boston March 4, 1836; cargo, $19,881; duties, $18,117. Sailed for Boston Oct. S, 1837, carrying Alfred Robinson and wife, and Mrs Wm S. Hinckley. Came back in Jan. 1839; still under Arther and Park; cargo, $30,069; duties, $23,129. Sailed fer home late in 1840.

California, Mcx. schr, 83 tons; formerly the Clarion and Kaniu. Brought from Honolulu by Henry Paty, who, June 20, 1837, sold her to Gov. Alvarado for $9,000, 36,424 being the duties on her cargo. and the balance in hides and tallow in 2 months; Paty to command for the 2 mo. (Contract in Vallejo, Doc., MS., xxxii. 90. See also chap. xviii., vol. iii., this work.) Rechristened the California and sailed Aug. 25th for S. Blas on govt business; Thos M. Robbins, master. Returned Nov. 15, 1838 with Castillero and news of Al- varado's confirmation. (See chap. xix., vol. iii., this work). Used as a prison ship in Jan. 1839. (Chap. xx., vol. iii.) Robinson and Reed, mates. Capt. Robbins made charges of mutiny against 2d mate and 2 sailors during the late voyage. (Vallejo, Doc., MS., vi. 348, 352-3; vii. 24; xxxii. 196.) In April 8 or 9 neophytes put on board to learn to be sailors. (Id., vi. 360-1, 451.) Expenses of the vessel to April 30, 1839, besides the original cost,

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History of California, Volume IV, Part 11

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe Publication date: 1885 Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers Number of Pages: 820

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 820