USA > California > History of California, Volume IV > Part 12
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COMMERCE, FINANCE, AND MARITIME AFFAIRS.
colors, nine Mexican, six the flag of some South American nation, four French, four Russian, and two
$8,000. In May chartered to Celis for a trip of 5 months to Acapulco and Manzanillo, having perhaps made a previous trip to the Islands. (Dept. St. Pap., Com. and Treas., MS., iv. 16, 19, 39-43; Dept. Rec., MS., x. 8; Sup. Govt St. Pap., MS., xv. 8; St. Pap., Miss., MS., ix. 59.) Left S. Francisco April 18th, and S. Diego June 8th, with tallow; John B. R. Cooper, master; Andrés Castillero, passenger. She returned in Sept., and remained on the coast; though an effort was made to send her to the Islands. Vallejo, Doc., MS., viii. 183. She left S. Fran. in Jan. 1840. Cooper had orders to go to S. Diego for a cargo of hides for Honolulu, devoting the proceeds to repairs; or he might exchange the vessel for another, paying $5,000. List of officers and crew in Vallejo, Doc., MS., xxxiii. 87. She sailed from S. Diego March 16th, with Henry D. Fitch as supercargo. Cooper certifies that vessel and cargo belong to the Mex. govt. S. Diego, Arch., MS., 5. At Honolulu April-June undergoing repairs, which cost $2,222. Vallejo, Doc., MS., xxxiii. 58, 72, 76. Left Honolulu June 10th-Polynesian, June 20th-and arr. at S. Francisco, having heard of troubles at Mont. on July 2d. Pinto, Doc., MS., i. 247-8. Brought Mr Andrews as passenger, and paid $209 duties. The cargo included doors, windows, honey, and a four-wheeled carriage. Went to Mont. July 17th-20th; and in Aug. to Sta B. and back. Dec. 13th, sailed for Acapulco under a contract with Larkin, who went with his eargo. l'allejo, Doc., MS., xxxiii. 159-60. I have Capt. Cooper's original Log of the Califor- via, MS., which gives full details about the schooner's movements, with many items about other vessels.
Catalina, Mex. brig, 161 tons; Snook, master. On the coast from Callao every year, 1836-40. In 1837 her cargo was seized on account of troubles with Fred. Becher, the supercargo. (See chap. xvii., vol. iii.) In 1838 brought favorable news for Alvarado. Io 1839 took $15,000 of produce from S. Fran. In 1840 she was under Christian Hansen as master, bringing Covarrubias and the guard of the Graham exiles. (See chap. i., this vol.) Some contraband arms on board were seized.
Cervantes, Peruv. schr, 137 or 206 tons; Malarin, master; arr. from Callao Aug. 1839; cargo, $8,790; duties, $7.984; apparently the Leonidas under an- other name, but possibly not; also called Cervantes in 1840.
City of Genoa, brig; at Mont. Dec. 1837 from Valparaiso; so reported at Honolulu.
Clara, or Clarita, Mex. bark, 210 tons; Chas Wolter, master; José Arnaz, sup .; Virmond, owner; from Acapulco 1840. Arnaz says her invoice was $10,- 000, the goods selling for $64,000. According to Spence and Davis she came also in 1838, withi Célis as supercargo.
Clarion, see California.
Clementine, Engl. brig, 93, 76, or 160 tons. (The records are inextricably confused, and there may have been 2 vessels of this name, a schooner of 1836-7, and a brig of 1839.) Wm (or Jas) Handley (or Hanly), master. At Mont. March 1836, with cargo of $1,563, duties, $1,553, to N. Spear. Carricd Gov. Chico away in July; back in Oct. afflicted with sickness, desertion, and robbery. In Nov. carried away Gov. Gutierrez and other exiles; but returned in Dec. and carried part of Alvarado's army south. Wintered on the coast, and in March 1837 carried PP. Bachelot and Short to Honolulu, where the vessel was seized by the Hawaiian govt. In July 1839 the Clementine, per- haps another vessel, arr. from Honolulu via Sitka, under John Blinn (or as some records have it, still under Handley). Duties, $3,261, or $162. A guard was put on board at S. Fran. J. A. Sutter, A. Thompson, 2 Germans, and 9 Hawaiians were passengers. More of Sutter and his company elsewhere.
Coffin, Amer, whaler; at Mont. Oct. 1837.
Columbian, Engl. ship; at S. Fran. June 1838; probably the Nereid, q. v. Columbia, Engl. bark, 350 tons; Humphries, master; Wood, sup .; at Mont.
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VESSELS OF 1836-40.
Hawaiian. There were several changes in national colors with ownership during the period. Many of the vessels came repeatedly to the coast during the Jan. 1840 from Columbia River; duties, $2,339; at Honolulu June-July; back at Mont. and S. Fran. in Aug .; cargo, $1,801; duties, $1,421.
Commodore Rodgers, Amer. whaler; Howland, master; wrecked at Mont. Nov. 19, 1837; vessel lost; cargo sold at auction.
Convoy, Amer. brig, 137 tons; Bancroft, master. Smuggling in Jan. 1836, according to Dana. In March sailed with furs for Oahu. Back again in Ang. and sailed Oct. 4, via N. w. coast to Honolulu, which port she left again Oct. 27th for N. W. coast.
Corsair, Amer. brig, 161, 128, or 137 tons; Hinckley, master; at Mont. Aug. 1839 from Callao; cargo, $10,178; duties, $0,202, of which $4,736 in silver; at Sta B. in Oct. Hinckley accused of smuggling by a transfer of car- go, and arrested at S. Fran .; but in 1841 the case had not been settled. Dept. St. Pap., Ben., MS .. v. 308-41; Dept. Rec., MS., x. 31.
Crusader, Colombian brig; from Callao in Oct. 1837.
Danaïde, Fr. corvette; Jph. de Rosamel, com .; at Mont. June-July 1840, in connection with the Graham affair (see chap. i. of this vol.); at Honolulu July 20th.
Daniel O'Connell, Colombian brig; 100 tons; Andrés Murcilla, master; at Mont. Nov. 1839; cargo, $4,656; duties, $4,467.
Delmira, Ecuador brig, 126 tons; Vioget, master; Miguel Pedrorena, sup .; on the coast in 1837-8-9. It is said that in 1837 her duties, $6,000, were collected by Salv. Vallejo and Montenegro, who took goods and gave receipts, declaring it was no time for 'red tape and nonsense' when the soldiers were in need.
Diana, Amer. brig, 199 tons; Barker, master. Wintered 1835-6, and sailed for Honolulu in Oct. Sold and sailed for Columbia Riv., where she was in June 1897. Name changed to Kamamalu; Wm S. Hinckley, master. At Sta Bárbara in Oct .- Nov. as a Hawaiian bark. Wintered on the coast. Aground near Sta B. in April 1838.
Don Qui rote, Amer. bark, 223 or 260 tons; John Meek, master; from Oahu 1836; cargo, $3,340; duties, $3,445. At Mont. in Nov., when Wm S. Hinck- ley, her consignee and supercargo, rendered important aid to Alvarado. Carried horses and hides to the Isl. in Dec. : also Hinckley and old Capt. Wm Smith. In 1838 she came back under the name of Plymouth; John Paty, master; Eli Southworth and Wm H. Davis, passengers. In Nov. back at Honolulu with Southworth, H. Paty, and Master J. A. M. R. Pacheco as passengers; and sailed for Boston in Jan. 1839, with Atherton as pass. In Apr. 1840 she was again in Cal .; Francis Johnson, sup .; duties, $919. Pas- sengers, Chamberlain, Cobb, Farnham, and 4 others. Farnham and J. F. B. M. described the voyage in print. Touched at Mont. (where she was not per- mitted to anchor, or any but Farnham to land, until the Guipuzcoana had sailed with the exiles), Sta B., and Mazatlan. In July back at Mont .; duties, $1,723. In Oct. carried 3 Cal. boys to attend school at Honolulu-David Spence, Francis Watson, and Romualdo Pacheco.
Dolphin, see Leonidas.
Llena, Russ. brig, 309 tons; Stephen Vallivode (?), master; took $11,000 of produce from S. Fran. Sept. 1839; and in Dec. 1840 paid $319 tonnage; from which was deducted $96 illegally collected from the Baikul.
Europa, Amer. ship; Win Winkworth, master; Wm French, sup .; at Mont. Oct. 1836, from Honolulu via Norfork Sd .; much damaged by rough weather. Mr French helped Alvarado in Nov., and sailed from Sta B. in Jan. 1837, carrying Jas Murphy and Jas W. McIntosh to the Islands.
Fearnaught, Engl. schr, 91 tons; Robt HI. Dare, master; autumn of 1838; dutics, 8571.
Flibberiygibbett, Engl. schr; Rodgers, master; made a trip from Honolulu to
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COMMERCE, FINANCE, AND MARITIME AFFAIRS.
five years; eighteen appear in the list of the preceding half-decade. Whalers were nine; national vessels of war or exploration, seven; and the remaining forty-
Cal. and back, May-Sept., 1838; and again returned from Cal. in May 1839; Hart, master.
Fly, Eng. schr; Wilson, master; from Callao via Honolulu, Aug. 1840; duties, $193. Capt. Stokes and 2 masters Wilson as passengers. She seenis to have changed her flag -- Dept. St. Pap., MS., v. 64- and was at Sta B. under Stokes in Oct.
Forager, Eng. brig; sailed from Honolulu in Ang. 1840, for Col. River and Cal. No record of arrival.
Grifon, Amer. brig; Little, master; trip from Honolulu to Cal. and back, Ang .- Nov. 1837. John C. Jones and R. Cowie came on her.
Harvest, Amer. ship, 307 tons; probably whaler; A. Cash, master; at S. Fran. Nov. 1837.
Hector, Amer. whaler; Norton, master; at Mont. Oct. 1836.
Index, Eng. bark, 201 tons; John Wilson, master; Oct .- Dec. 183S; ton- nage, $371; Aug. 1839; Junc-Dec., 1840, from Callao; Scott, master; duties, $7,176.
Indian, Eng. whaler; Freeman, master; Oct. 1837.
Iolani, Hawaiian schr; Paty, master; trip from Honolulu to Cal, and back, Dec .- April, 1837-S. Wrecked in May.
Ionic, Amer. schr, 95 tons; Clark, master; sailed from Honolulu Sept. 1836 for Cal. No record of arrival.
Isabella, schr formerly of Sandw. Isl. Sold at S. Fran. 1836. Plying on the bay until 1839, and perhaps later; N. Spear, owner. She carried Sutter's party up the Sacramento.
Joseph, Fr. whaler; 1839. Lost 14 deserters.
Joseph Peabody, Amer. brig, 220 tons; John Dominis, master; from N. Y. to Hon. in Apr. 1839. Touched at Sta B. in Oct. on voy. from Sitka to Maz- atlan with lumber. Refused to pay tonnage. At Sta B. again Oct. 1840; captain ill. At Honolulu in Nov.
Jóren Guipuzcoana, Mex. brig, 210 tons; arr. from Boston in Feb. 1840 as the Roger Williams; Jas Stevens, master; Jos. Stecle, owner. Sold in March for $13,000, to J. A. Aguirre. Soberanes, Doc., 190-3. John Snook becanie master. In May carried the Graham exiles to S. Blas, returning in Sept. Some of her original crew were among the exiles.
Juan Josć, Colombian brig, 217 tons; Thos Duncan, master; Cot and Me- nendez, owners; Pedrorena, sup .; arr. from Callao, Oct. 1839; cargo, $8,348; duties, $7.708; again in Aug. 1840; cargo, $9,605; duties, $9,932; tonnage at S. Fran., $243.
Kamamalu. See Diana.
Kent, Amer. bark, 264 tons; John Stickney, master; left Sta B. in Dec. 1836 for Honolulu, carrying slight reports of the revolution. Came back in May, 1837; and again in Oct. under Steel, to winter. Left S. Diego for Bos- ton in Oct. 1838. Capt. Thing, passenger.
Lausanne, Amer. ship; Spalding, master; at Bodega and S. Fran July 1840. She landed some immigrants from Oregon, and had trouble with the authorities. At Honolulu in Aug. Dutton, Wright, and Geiger, pass. Sailed for N. Y. in Dec.
Leonidas, Mex. schr, 206 tons (formerly the Amer. Dolphin); ou the coast in 1836; Gomez, master; cargo, 89,000; duties, $1,112. In Nov. car- ried south news of the revolt, and Negrete and other exiles. Back from Maza- tlan in 1837; Juan Malarin, master; and again in 1838; duties, $420. In 1839, and in some records of 1840, she was called the Cervantes, q. v. Nye, and later Stevens, are named as masters in 1840.
Leonor, Mex. bark, 208 tons; Chas Wolter, master. Brought Gov. Chico
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VESSELS OF 1836-40.
five traders. Of these, eighteen came mainly from Mexican and South American ports, seventeen from Honolulu, six from Boston, four from Sitka and Ross,
in 1836; cargo, $21,202; duties, $2,546. Remained till Nov., and perhaps wintered. At S. Fran. in March 1837. Left Mont. Feb. 1838.
Llama, Engl. brig, 144 tons; at S. Fran. Feb .- April, 1837; Wm Brotchie, master; Robt Birnie, agent. Back at Col. Riv. Sept .; Wm Neil, master. At Hon. July; Sangster, master. Sailed for N. w. coast Aug .; Bancroft, master. Otter-hunting in Cal. in spring of 1838. At Hon. July-Aug., sailing for N. w. coast. At Sta Rosa Isl. Nov., where Baucroft was killed (see text). Robinson took her north and to Hon. in Jan. 1839.
Loriot, Amer. brig, 90 tons; at Honolulu from Cal. Aug. 1836. Trip to N. w. coast under Blinn, Aug .- Oct. On Cal. coast from the north Feb .- Mar. 1837; John Bancroft, master (see text for passengers and details). At Hon. May, and sailed for Mazatlan under Handley. Back again, and sailed for the Col. Riv. in Nov.
Monsoon, Amer. ship, 327 tons; Geo. W. Vincent, master; Thos Shaw, sup .; Robt G. Davis, clerk; at Sta B. April 1839 from Boston; tonnage, $490; duties at Mont., $27,432, of which $9,608 in silver. 'No small lift for the treasury,' wrote Alvarado. In July transferred part of her cargo to the Index. Still on the coast at end of 1840.
Morse, Amer. schr, 85 tons; Henry Paty, master; from the Islands Dec. 1839; cargo, $3,268; duties, $3,042; also duties, $3,041, in spring of 1840. Came back from Hon. in June; Fitch, master and half owner; and with a new name, the Nymph, or Ninfa. Duties, $10,577. Value of vessel, $8,000. At S. Diego in Dec., to sail for Mazatlan with produce.
Nancy, whaler; Fautrel, master; at Mont. April 1837.
Nereid, Engl. ship, 365 tons; Wm Brotchie, master; at Honolulu from Col. Riv. and sailed for Cal. in May 1838. Lawrence Carmichael, pass. At S. Fran. in June, and back at Hon. in Jan. 1839.
Nicolás, schr, belonging to Spear. Running between Monterey and Sta Cruz in 1836, and on S. Fran. Bay in 1839-40.
Nikolai, Russ. ship; Baewdsxig (?), or Kuprianof, master; 6 off. and 61 men; at S. Fran. Oct .- Nov. 1840, in ballast for Valparaiso and Europe.
Nymph. See Morse.
Peacock, U. S. sloop of war, 600 tons; Com. Edmund P. Kennedy; Capt. C. K. Stribling; at Mont. from the Sandw. Isl. Oct. 1836. Sailed for Maz- atlan.
Peor es Nada, Cal. schr; Gerard Kuppertz, master. Lost at entrance of S. Fran. Bay Jan. 7, 1836, on a trip from Mont. with lumber. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., Ixxxi. 17.
Pilgrim, Amer. ship; Faucon, master; on the coast in 1836. Sailed for Boston in Feb. 1837.
Plymouth. See Don Quixote ..
Rasselas, Amer. ship, 264 tons; Jos. O. Carter, master; A. B. Thompson, consignec; Josiah Thompson, sup .; at Mont. from Sitka Oct. 1836 for Hono- lulu. The captain's wife and son were on board; also Ferdinand Deppe. Back in winter of 1837-8; cargo, $8,747; duties, $8,817. Carried to Hon. hides, horses, and sundries from the wreck of the Com. Rodgers. Made an- other trip to Cal. and back Sept .- Dec. 1838; Barker, master; duties, $1,003. J. C. Jones and Eliab Grimes, pass. Sailed for Boston in Feb. 1839, with Grimes as pass.
Roger Williams. See Joven Guipuzcoana.
Sarah and Caroline, Amer. ship, 396 tons; Jos Steel, master. Called also Caroline and South Carolina. Arr. Mont. May 1836 from Boston via Honolulu. Cargo, $11,289. Steel rendered some aid to Alvarado in Nov.
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and four from the Columbia River, though many ves- sels visited all the regions named. Three small craft plied in Californian waters exclusively.
Aground at S. Fran. in Feb. 1837. Left the coast in Oct. for Boston via Honolulu; Stickney, master (?); Henry Paty, passenger.
St Louis, U. S. man-of-war; French Forrest, com .; at Mont. June-July 1840 ou business connected with Graham affair.
Sitka, Russ. bark, 202 tons, 22 men; Basil Wacvocky (?), master. Left Cal. Jan. 1836 for S. Blas and returned in Aug. from Ross. At S. Fran. Oct. 1837; Stephen Vallobodski (?), master. Again Oct .- Nov. 1838; Rosistof (?), master.
Sophia, doubtful name of 1839.
Starling, Engl. ship, 109 tons; tender to the Sulphur; Lieut. Kellett, com .; on the coast 1837 and 1839.
Sulphur, Engl. man-of-war, 380 tons; Edward Belcher, com .; on the coast autumn of 1837 and again in autumn of 1839, engaged in explorations. Belcher's visit and book are noticed elsewhere.
Toward Castle, Engl. whaler; Emmett, master; at Mont. Nov. 1837. Wrecked on the coast a little later.
True Blue, Haw. schr; Ragsdale, master; arr. Honolulu from Cal. July 1837.
Union, or Unity, schr; A. B. Thompson, sup .; at Mont. and Sta B. Mar .- Apr. 1840; tonnage, $66.
Veloz Asturiano, Ecuador brig, 179 tons; Carlos V. Gafan, master; at Mont. from Callao, 1837, with cargo of $967 (?); duties, $1,504.
Vénus, French corvette; Petit-Thouars, master; at Mont. Oct .- Nov. 1837. Visit and book noted elsewhere.
The chief authorities for the information in this list are the following: Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Cust .- H., MS., iii .- viii. passim; Id., Ben. Com. and Treas., iii .; Id., Ben., iii .; Vallejo, Doc., MS., iv .; v. 282; xiv. 232; xxv. 255; xxvi. 164, 177; xxxii. 173, 352; Larkin's Doc., MS., i. 400; Pinto, Doc., MS., i. 30-1; Fitrh, Doc., MS .; Gomez, Doc., MS., 34-7; Spence's List, MS .; Edwards' Diary, MS .; Richardson, Salidas de Buques del puerto de S. Fran., 1837-8, a very important original record kept by the captain of the port; Hayes' Emig. Notes, MS .; Mellus' Diary of Affairs in Cal., 1338-40, MS., a very important record kept by Francis Mellus, who came out as clerk on the California; Daris's Glimpses, MS .; Arnaz, Recuerdos, MS .; Dana's Two Years; Honolulu S. I. Gazette, 1836-9; Honolulu Polynesian, 1810. These Sandwich Island newspapers are among the best maritime records. Unfortunately I have no file from the middle of 1839 to the middle of 1840.
CHAPTER IV.
FOREIGN RELATIONS AND PIONEERS. 1836-1840.
FOREIGN INFLUENCE IN THE REVOLUTION -- INTERFERENCE AS A CURRENT TOPIC-ATTITUDE OF DIFFERENT CLASSES-FRENCH RELATIONS-RU- MORED CESSION OF CALIFORNIA TO ENGLAND-QUOTATIONS FROM AMERI- CAN PAPERS-POLICY IN 1837-8-HORSE-THIEVES-RESTRICTIONS OF 1839-40-THE EXILES-PIONEERS-PERSONAL ITEMS-AUTHORITIES- STATISTICS-SOMETHING ABOUT THE OLD SETTLERS-THEIR CHARACTER AND INFLUENCE-PROMINENT NAMES-NEW-COMERS OF 1836-40-MOST OF THEM TRANSIENT VISITORS-IMMIGRATION-ANNUAL LISTS-CHRONO- LOGICAL ITEMS-THE 'LAUSANNE' AND HER PASSENGERS AT BODEGA.
ON matters relating more or less directly to the general subject of foreign relations, though I have al- ready had much to say in other chapters devoted to the current history of this period,1 there yet remains much to be written, since the influence of foreign resi- dents had already become a powerful element, and was destined in a few years to be the all-controlling one. In this and the following chapters I have to present some remarks on the influence and policy of the foreign element, and the feeling of the Californians toward the strangers. Also the names and personal items relat- ing to new-comers and older scttlers, with an account of the old and new foreign settlements in California
1 See particularly, Hist. Cal., vol. iii., chap. xv., this series, on 'Chico vs Stearns and other foreigners;' chap. xvi., on the attitude of foreigners in Al- varado's revolution; chap. xviii., on their aid to the Californians in 1837; chap. i. of this vol., on the Graham affair and expulsion of foreigners in 1840; and chap. iii., on the movements of vessels and commercial operations, largely controlled by foreigners.
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FOREIGN RELATIONS AND PIONEERS.
at Ross and New Helvetia; also some notices of for- eign visits to the coast and of resulting publications.
In 1836 foreign residents in the north, while those in the south were for the most part neutral from force of circumstances, supported the Californians in their revolution against Mexico. Those of influence, wealth, and position rendered a quiet but none the less effect- ive support; while others with nothing to risk formed themselves into a company of so-called riflemen and openly served in the insurgent ranks. The former cared little for California's alleged grievance, the change from the federal system to centralism; but they had some cause of complaint against Chico and Gutierrez, and they expected to derive important commercial ad- vantages from the revolution. Merchants engaged in the Hawaiian trade were especially active in pro- moting the movement, and there are some indications that they had an understanding with the Californian leaders for some time before the outbreak. It is even difficult to resist the conclusion that Commodore Ken- nedy, visiting Monterey on the U. S. man-of-war Ped- cock just before the revolution, must have known some- thing of the impending trouble; though not of course, as was suspected by the Mexicans, entertaining any intention of interfering in behalf of the United States. What the foreigners desired was the complete and permanent independence of California from Mexico, with the expectation of being able to control the Californian rulers. Many Americans desired further by a Texan system of development to attach the coun- try eventually to their own nation, and some of them talked openly of immediate annexation. This spirit, though manifested chiefly by irresponsible men, was sufficiently marked to alarm not only the Mexicans, but to some extent also the Californians and foreigners of other nations; and it doubtless had an influence in effecting a return of the country to its Mexican alle- giance, at which most foreigners were greatly disap- pointed.
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FOREIGN INTERFERENCE.
After 1836, foreign interference, in the form of con- quest, protectorate, purchase, or annexation, was often talked about, though remarks on the subject were generally without definite cause or aim. Mexicans held it up as an ever impending danger, with a view to awaken the dormant prejudice of patriotism. On it the sureños affected to base largely their bitter op- position to northern rulers. Norteños who like Va- Îlejo had quarrels with Alvarado spoke of it as a result only to be averted by full acceptance of their own views. Solid citizens of foreign birth, like visitors from foreign lands, speculated somewhat philosophically on the re- sult, each with a half-expressed hope that Califor- nia might be so fortunate as to belong ultimately to his own nation. Enthusiastic Yankee hunters and sailors declaimed louder than all the rest upon the manifest destiny of the stars and stripes to wave over this fair land. Meanwhile the mass of native Califor- nians simply smoked their cigarettes and waited, half inclined to believe that a change of flag might not result in irreparable disaster.2
? Robinson, Statement, MS., 16, 21-2, asserts that prominent Californians, and even the missionaries, used to express to him their belief that it would he best for the country to belong to the U. S. Many Californians in their rem- iniscences express the same idea; but all such statements are considerably ex- aggerated. Petit-Thouars, Voyage, ii. 101-4, found Cal. in 1837 in an un- fortunate position, too feeble and backward in civilization for independenee, neglected by Mexico, and iu a deplorable necessity of foreign support. The U. S. had doubtless a design to secure Cal. and the Sandwich Islands, and would probably succeed, though the people had no special liking for the Amer- icans, whose motives they distrusted. Speaking of S. F., this author says: ' It would perhaps be difficult to say to which nation this fine port will belong; but in the present state of affairs in Europe and America, it is very likely that the power which shall have the happy boldness to take actual possession will have little trouble to keep it.' Forbes, Hist. Cal., 151-2, writes in 1838: ' It is at least evident now, if there was any doubt formerly, that it [Cal. ] is at this moment in a state which cannot prevent its being taken possession of by any foreign force that may present itself. The British government seem lately to have had some suspicion that Cal. would he encroached upon if not taken entire possession of by the Russians; but by the latest accounts no encroach- ment has been made, nor has any augmentation been made either in the num- ber of people in the colony or in the fortifications. The danger does not lie there. There is another restless and enterprising neighbor from whom they will most probably soon have to defend themselves, or rather to submit to; for although the frontiers of North America are much more distant than the Russians, yet to such men as the Back-settlers distance is of little moment, and they are already acquainted with the route. The northern American tide of population must roll on southward, and overwhelm not only Cal. but
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FOREIGN RELATIONS AND PIONEERS.
In 1839, there was a little excitement over the trou- bles between Mexico and France; but it expended it- self in routine orders published in accordance with instructions from the national government, as there was no apprehension of French eneroachment in the far north.3 The French were always well liked in California sinee the time of La Pérouse. Three vis- itors of that nation were most hospitably received dur- ing the period now under consideration, and we have seen that but few Frenehmen were arrested and none exiled in the troubles of 1840.
A matter which attracted some attention in Cal- ifornia, and created no little exeitement in the United States, was the rumored cession of the country to England in payment of the Mexican debt. This in- debtedness was large; and among the expedients de- vised for its payment there were several, proposed and discussed in 1836 as well as earlier and later, which involved the pledging, as security for Mexican bonds or otherwise, of traets of land in the far north, anywhere from Texas to California. All this has no bearing on the history of California, beyond the fact that there were such negotiations, as the expedient seems not to have been approved by the Mexican congress, and this territory was only mentioned inei- dentally with half a dozen others. In connection, however, with these schemes there may have origi-
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