History of California, Volume IV, Part 17

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

USA > California > History of California, Volume IV > Part 17

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).

47 Forbes, California: A History of Upper and Lower California from their irst discovery to the present time, comprising an account of the climate, soil, natural productions, agriculture, commerce, etc. A full view of the missionary establishments and condition of the free and domesticated Indians. With an appendix relating to steam navigation in the Pacific. Illustrated with a new map, plans of the harbors, and numerous engravings. By Alexander Forbes, Esq. London, 1839, Svo, xvi. 352, pl. and map. Part i. 1-75, relates to Baja California exclusively. Of part ii., chap. i., 79-130, contains a résumé of the early history of Alta California down to 1784; chap. ii., 131-53, pre- sents very briefly indeed the 'Recent history of Upper California, present political condition and prospects,' down to 1838; chap. iii., 154-79, on topog- raphy and natural productions; chap. iv., 180-98, on the Indians; chap. v., 199-245, on the missions; chap. vi., 246-80, on agriculture and live-stock; chap. vii., 281-308, on commerce and navigation; chap. viii., 309-25, on Cal- ifornia as a field for foreign colonization. Appendix, i. Remarks on the har- bors of California ... by Capt. John Hall (from a visit in 1822); ii. Letter to the editor on steam navigation in the Pacific; iii. Various extracts on the same subject. Illustrations, chiefly by Capt. Wm Smyth: portrait of Padre l'eyri, a native Indian, view of Monterey Bay, S. F. Harbor, Sta Bárbara, Indian bath, S. Carlos Mission, presidio and pueblo of Monterey, S. F. Mis- sion, Throwing the lasso and S. José Mission, Map of California with plans of the harbors of Bodega, S. F., Monterey, Sta Bárbara, S. Pedro, and S. Diego, the maps by John Hall, except that of S. F. copied fromn Beechey.

48 See Bandini, Carta histórica y descriptiva de Cal., 1828, MS. This is a long letter directed to Barron, Forbes' partner, and was doubtless obtained and used for Forbes' book.

152

SUTTER'S FORT-VISITS AND BOOKS.

man of business of the country's actual condition, capabilities, institutions, and prospects. Forbes' book was not only the first ever published in English relating exclusively to California, and more than any other the means of making known to English read- ers the country's advantages, but it has always main- tained its reputation of being one of the best extant on the subject. I reproduce a portion of Forbes' map.

120

115

Port! Bodeng

R.Sacramento

PER

E W

Franciscoz

Monterey B. S.Carlos.del Monterey

R.S.Buenaventura

I FORNI

S. Luciao

Tule Lukes

o S. Luis

R. Guadalupe

Pt.Conception Rurisima

S.Barbara

S. Buenaventura

· S. Gabriel

CRUZ

8.Bernardino

SIMIGRO S.ROSA

S. Pedro B. o S.Juan

S BAROARA Y

SFCATALINA

S. Luis Rey

SWIFTSIZE

S.CLEMENTE

·S.Diego

S.Pedro>

S.JUAN"

G.ALGODONES

CORONADOS

120

115

FORBES' MAP, 1839.

In 1839, also, another French voyager visited Cali- fornia. This was Captain Cyrille Pierre Théodore Laplace, commanding the frigate Artémise, of 50 guns and 450 men. Her voyage round the world was in 1837-40; her mission substantially the same as that of the Venus; and her route was round Cape Good Hope, to the Sandwich Islands, to California, and home by Cape Horn. The narrative of the expedi-

R .. Colorado

R. Gala

153

VISIT AND BOOK OF LAPLACE.

tion was written by the commander, and though the first volume was published in 1841, the last, containing the part in which we are interested, did not appear until 1854.49

Coming from Honolulu, Laplace anchored at Bo- dega on August 11, 1839, soon proceeding to Ross, where he was entertained by Rotchef for some nine days, being shown all there was to be seen in that re- gion, and regaled with many details respecting the operations and prospects of the Russian American Company. On the 20th he sailed for San Francisco, where he arrived next day, and remained probably four days.50 Here he anchored near the fort, and spent his short stay apparently in waiting to get away. He visited the presidio and Yerba Buena, and at various points on the peninsula mused at some length on the surrounding desolation. There was no genial comandante with a family of beautiful daugh- ters to entertain him, as they had some French navi- gator of earlier times; and San Francisco had no charm for him-nothing but fogs, fleas, winds, and sterility. Some provisions were with difficulty obtained. The visitors would not pay the price demanded for horses on which to visit the surrounding regions; they could not wait to see a bull-fight; and after gleaning some information from conversation with an English cap- tain, probably Richardson, Laplace sailed for Mon- terey.

49 Laplace, Campagne de Circumnavigation de la frégate l'Artémise pendant les années 1837, 1838, 1839, et 1840, sous le commandement de M. Laplace, capi- taine de vaisseau. . . Paris, 1841-54. 8vo, 6 vol. The portion relating to Cal. is in vol. vi., and is divided as follows: p. 41-178, stay at Bodega and Ross, with descriptive matter and very long digressions upon matters in the far north; p. 180-230, general history and condition of California; p. 234-70, stay at S. F .; p. 272-84, at Sta Cruz; and p. 285-305, at Monterey.

50 Aug. 21, 1839, French frigate Armistice arrived from Ross; will sail for Monterey in 4 days. Vallejo, Doc., MS., viii. 50. Aug. 23d, Guerrero to prefect. The Artemisia arrived on the 21st. Would not go to Yerba Buena, but anchored near the fort (?). Asked if any Frenchmen had complaints to make; had just come from giving the protestants a lesson at the Islands, and had recovered $20,000 for outrages to French missionaries. Guerrero has taken the precaution to place a guard in the fort. Dept. St. Pap., Mont., MS., iv. 107. Laplace, clearly by a typographical error, says he was ready to sail Aug. 20th, but was prevented by fogs, etc., until two days later.

154

SUTTER'S FORT-VISITS AND BOOKS.

At Sta Cruz, where the Artémise anchored for an afternoon and night,51 all looked well from a distance. Here surely the Frenchman would receive the deli- cate and hospitable attentions of which a perusal of La Pérouse's journal had caused him to dream; but the illusion vanished on nearer approach when "un spectacle de misère et d'abandon s'offrit à mes re- gards." Not only was there no welcome nor enter- tainment nor offer of gratuitous supplies, but the farm- ers of the region demanded prices so exorbitant for their provisions that no purchase was effected. True, one pretty ranchera redeemed the reputation of Santa Cruz, and made herself a general favorite by offering to sell all kinds of produce at low rates; but this jolie fermière disappeared at sight of the ferocious priest, and failed to deliver her supplies at the shore as had been promised.

It was perhaps the 27th of August that the frigate anchored at Monterey, where she remained a week. Here, although there was some difficulty in obtaining provisions, Laplace was pleased with all he saw. En- thusiastic over the natural beauties of the site, he also found artificial improvements, the existence of which had never been suspected by previous visitors. The ladies of the capital, moreover, were charming. All the best people were entertained over and over again on board the Artémise; and the officers were always welcome at the best houses on shore. The men re- gained their health in rides and walks over a charming country; while the commander wandered about the town studying the peculiarities of the people and hold- ing long conversations with 'un gentleman écossais,' David Spence, of course, who was the source for the most part of all the Frenchman's information on Califor- nian history and condition. Spence's theory respecting the means by which the country might hope to escape the fate of American invasion was, that the governor

51 Aug. 1839, Bolcof to prefect. Announces the arrival. Monterey, Arch., MS., ix. 17.

155

A FRENCHMAN'S OBSERVATIONS.

should follow more implicitly the counsel and depend more on the support of respectable foreign residents, as there was no other way to protect himself and Cal- ifornia against Mexican imbeciles and American ad- venturers. Alvarado wasabsent when Laplace arrived, but came to town the next day with a most cordial greeting, notwithstanding the current troubles between Mexico and France-troubles which Laplace chose to ignore during his visit. The same night Alvarado became dangerously ill, and his life is said to have been saved by the ship's surgeon. A strong recipro- cal admiration was developed between the navigator and the governor, and neither in his narrative has anything but praise and compliments for the other.52 The expedition embarked September 5th, but could not leave the bay till five days later, not touching elsewhere in California.

Laplace was a man of much ability in a literary way, some of his descriptions being very fine; and he was also an intelligent observer. The value, however, of his published work, so far as it affects California, is seriously impaired by his habit of drifting constantly into the by-ways of long and fanciful speculations; and also by the fact that it was published after the dis- covery of gold, so that the author's impressions and predictions of 1839 are inextricably blended with the knowledge of later years. His general view of the country's condition is accurate enough; and should any student ever have the leisure time to classify and condense his diffuse material, the result would probably be a sketch similar in many respects, though less com- plete, to that of his predecessor Petit-Thouars.

52 Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 200-2; iv. 172-81, tells us that while on his way to Sta Clara to be married-the marriage was by proxy on Aug. 24th- he got a note from Jimeno that Laplace wished to see him on important mat- ters, and hastened to Monterey. He received a sword from the Frenchman at parting. He declares that they had several private interviews, at which Laplace warned him of hostile intentious on the part of the United States, assuring him also that France, while not at liberty to take the initiative, would favorably receive a proposition for a protectorate.

156

SUTTER'S FORT-VISITS AND BOOKS.

In 1840 the visits of the French frigate Danaïde, and that of the U. S. vessel St Louis on special ser- vice, gave origin to no published narratives. W. D. Phelps, who came to the coast this year in command of the Boston ship Alert, published thirty-six years later a journal of his numerous voyages to different parts of the world, including this and later ones to Cal- ifornia. The book is not only well written and fasci- nating, a good specimen of an excellent class of publi- cations, but it gives information of some value on several historical points. Such points, however, have been or will be treated in the proper place, so that here the book calls for no further notice.53

The only other visitor of this last year of the period whose book I have to mention was Thomas J. Farn- ham, an enterprising American who crossed the plains to Oregon in 1839, visited the Hawaiian Islands and California in 1840, and returned to the United States through Mexico the same year, coming back westward in time to die at San Francisco in 1848. He wrote a book on each of the three subdivisions of his journey ; and the volumes were often republished in various forms and admixtures.54 He came from Honolulu on the Don Quixote, arriving at Monterey April 18th, sailing ten days later, and touching at Santa Bárbara from April 30th to May 5th. During his brief stay he was largely occupied with matters pertaining to the imprisoned foreigners, as elsewhere related; so far as his personal observations are concerned, his book contains but little on any other subject. It is a read- able work, the writer having an attractive way of ex- pressing his ideas. That is about all that can be said

53 Phelps, Fore and Aft; or Leaves from the life of an old sailor. By Webfoot. With illustrations by Hammatt Billings. Boston, 1871. 12mo, 359 p. The parts relating to Cal. are p. 236-76, on voyage of 1840-2, being chap. xxi., A California cruise; chap. xxii., California in 1840; chap. xxiii., The Com. Jones war, 1842; chap. xxiv. The Hudson's Bay Co .; p. 277-321, on a voyage of 1843-6, being chap. xxv., How California became ours; chap. xxvi., Tak- ing possession of the country; chap. xxvii., The war continued; and p. 322- 52, chap. xxviii .- ix., The last voyage, 1854.

5% Farnham's Travels in the Great Western Prairies. Ed. of 1841, 1843 (2), and London, n. d. Id., History of Oregon Territory. Ed. of 1844 and 1845. Id., Mexico: Its Geography, etc. Ed. of 1846, and n. d.

157

FARNHAM AND J. F. B. M.

in its favor. The reader already knows what value to place upon Farnham's statement respecting the Gra- ham affair. His estimates and descriptions of Cali- fornians, against whom he conceived a bitter prejudice, are as a rule absurdly false; and the same prejudice seriously impairs his version of Californian history and condition during 1836-40. He added a long sketch of Lower California, historical and descriptive, and a briefer one of Upper California, after the manner of Forbes; and these parts of his work are by far the least faulty, since he took all his material from a few well known sources, was an intelligent compiler, and was comparatively free from his anti-Mexican prejudice; yet many inexcusable inaccuracies appear even in these parts, and the book had a circulation and popularity which it by no means deserved.55

Another American passenger on the Don Quixote was J. F. B. M., who also wrote a narrative of his voyage, with his experiences at Monterey, Santa Bár- bara, Mazatlan, and the overland journey from San Blas to Mexico. He wrote in a pleasing style, and his observations were those of an intelligent man, but his opportunities in California were not great. He reflects Farnham's views on the Graham affair, though in more moderate tone, having personally visited the exiles at Tepic. From Cárlos Carrillo at Santa Bár- bara he obtained a peculiar version of late political events in California.56

53 Farnham's Life and Adventures in California, and Scenes in the Pacific Ocean, N. Y. 1846, Svo, 416 p. This is the edition I have used. Id., N. Y. 1847; Id., Travels in the Californias, etc., N. Y. 1844, Svo, 416 p. The car- liest edition of the work, which is exactly the same except in title. Id., Life, Adventures, and Travels in Cal., to which is added the Conquest of Cal., Travels in Oregon, and History of the Gold Regions, N. Y. 1849; Id., 1850; Id., 1853; Id., Pictorial Edition (Hist. of the Gold Region omitted), N. Y. 1855; Id., 1857. The pictures must be seen to be appreciated. They would fit any other subjects quite as well as the ones they purport to illustrate. All the editions, except possibly one or two that I have not seen, are alike in paging up to p. 416. The author's experiences and matters connected therewith occupy p. 50-116, 402-16. The rest is historical and descriptive.

56 M. (J. F. B.), Leaves from my Journal, in Honolulu Polynesian, ii. 77, 86, 89, 93, 97. Oct .- Nov. 1840. I do not know the author's name. He was not allowed to land at Monterey till after the exiles departed; and returning from a visit to S. Carlos, he was arrested for crossing the bridge on horseback, being saved from the calabozo by Spence.

CHAPTER VI.

THE RUSSIANS IN CALIFORNIA. 1831-1841.

YEARLY VESSELS-RESUME-REPORT OF 1831-KHLEBNIKOF'S MISSION-VIC. TORIA'S POLICY-FIGUEROA'S DIPLOMACY-VALLEJO'S MISSION TO ROSS- WRANGELL AND BEECHEY-ANNALS OF 1834-9-KOSTROMITINOF SUC- CEEDED BY ROTCHEF-WAREHOUSE AT SAUZALITO-WRANGELL'S PLAN OF EXTENSION-HIS FAILURE IN MEXICO, 1836-RESOLVE TO ABANDON Ross, IS38-9 -- PROPOSED SALE TO HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY-AFFAIR OF THE 'LAUSANNE,' 1840-VALLEJO AND KUPRIANOF-PROPOSED SALE TO VALLEJO-LAND AND BUILDINGS-ABSURD INSTRUCTIONS FROM MEXICO -SALE TO SUTTER-CONTRACT AND DEED-NO LAND PURCHASED-RUS- SIAN TITLE TO ROSS-THE MULDROW CLAIM OF LATER YEARS-DEPART- URE OF THE COLONISTS-HOW THE DEBT WAS PAID, 1845-50.

YET further foreign relations remain to be pre- sented here-the annals of Ross or of the Russians in California. I have already given a description of Ross and its various institutions, applying, so far as such a sketch has any chronology, to the whole period of the colony's existence, but suspending the histor- ical record at the year 1830.1 Later occurrences I have thought best to leave until now, to be treated collectively in one chapter, because they are of but slight importance in their relation to the general his- tory of the country. And now I propose to continue the subject to its end, the abandonment by the Rus- sians of their Californian possessions in 1841.

Vessels of the company continued to come annual- ly, one or two each year, from Sitka and Ross to San Francisco for grain, occasionally for some special pur-

1 See vol. ii., chap. xxviii., for descriptive sketch and annals of 1821-30. For earlier annals of Ross, see chap. iv. and xiv. of the same volume.

(158)

159

DISCOURAGING PROSPECTS.

pose extending their trips to Monterey. During the decade of 1831-40 the Baikal made at least five vis- its; the Sitka, four; the Urup, three; and the Elena and Polifemia, two each ; in addition to the Nikolai, which touched on her way to Europe in 1840.2

We have seen that as early as 1820 the company had offered to give up the colony in exchange for un- restricted trade; and that in 1827 the managers had pretty nearly abandoned all hope of final success at Ross. During the Mexican revolution Russia might probably without much difficulty have secured and extended her Californian possessions, but took no steps to do so. Patriotism had moved the Mexicans to agitate the old questions of Russian intrusion to some extent, but in the north the agitation was exclusively one of pen and paper, altogether without effect in dis- turbing relations with Ross, which became in some respects more friendly than ever before. Governor Echeandía had not only extended the contracts for otter-hunting on shares, but he had even recom- mended to his government to recognize the legitimacy of the colony on condition that Russia would formally acknowledge Mexican sovereignty over the territory. Still the Russians could see no chance for ultimate security. The governor stated in his report of April 30, 1831, that Ross with its present limits was worth no sacrifices to retain; if it could be extended two hundred versts inland and southward so as to include an anchorage on San Francisco Bay, it would be a possession of great value.3

About this time the colonists made an effort to ex- tend their agricultural operations south-eastward, but without success, on account of opposition from the Californians.4 On the Baikal, which arrived at the

2 See the maritime lists at end of chap. xiii., vol. iii., and chap. iii. of this vol.

3 Zavalishin, Delo o Koloniy Ross, 28-30. In the same report he says that two boats were being built as gifts for P. Narciso Duran at S. José. Zava- lishin thinks this making of presents had no other effect than to confirm the Mexicans in their 'pretended rights.'

+ Jan. 1, 1831, P. Amorós to president. Has made a tour from S. Rafael

160

THE RUSSIANS IN CALIFORNIA.

end of 1830, Baron Wrangell, the new governor of Russian America, sent Khlébnikof to treat in general for a continuance of friendly commercial relations, but more particularly for a renewal of the otter contracts, and for a reduction in the current price of grain. In the latter object Khlébnikof seems to have been suc- cessful, largely on account of threats of going to Chili for wheat, as they had done once or twice before; but Victoria refused to allow any continuance of otter- hunting. Both in his letter to Wrangell and in his report to the government, however, he expressed the most friendly feelings toward the Russians, and a wish to favor them in every legal way, especially in prefer- ence to the dangerous Americans. He told Wrangell that he believed Mexico would gladly approve a most liberal treaty, if Russia would consent to recognize the independence and abandon Ross. Wrangell wrote a courteous and flattering letter in reply, but expressed the opinion that a treaty on the terms proposed should be discussed by national and not colonial au- thorities; especially as the matter was not urgent- "for the company, having discovered other means of providing for the needs of the colonies, no longer finds itself in the unavoidable necessity of causing embar- rassment to the Californian government." 5

among the pagans. His arrival caused the Russians, who had come 12 leagnes from Ross to till the soil at Santiago, to change their plans. Arch. Sta B., MS., xii. 183. Jan. Sth, Echeandia, with the expressed view of checking Russian encroachment, grants Sta Rosa to Rafael Gomez. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., Ixxi. 7-8. May 6, Gov. Victoria to min. of war. He learns that the Russians with 40 armed men and some Indians had come near Solano, and begun to till the soil. Will consult with the gov. of Sitka. Dept. Rec., MS., ix. 129. May 6, 1833, two years ago the Russians made some plantings at Tamalanica, 3 1. from Bodega, and 5 1. from Ross. But the place was aban- doned on account of the remonstrances of the comandante at S. F. J'allejo, Doc., MS., ii. 140. It seems that some time in 1831, J. M. Padrés was sent to Ross; and he was accused by Victoria of having slandered the Cal. govt during his visit. Dept. Rec., MS., ix. 144.

5 Oct. 20, 1830, Wrangell from N. Archangel to gov. of Cal. So sure was he of success that he sent some Aleuts with their bidarkas on the Baikal, with Khlehnikof. Vallejo, Doc., MS., xxx. 138. April 13, 1831, Victoria to min. of war, announcing his refusal, and that Khlebnikof has taken away his hunters. Has received vases, mirrors, etc., as presents for the pres. of Mex- ico, but retains them, as they are not worth paying the freight. Dept. Rec., MS., ix. 121-2. March 5th, V. to W. Vallejo, Doc., MS., xxx. 189. Sept.

101

FIGUEROA'S POLICY.

There is nothing to be said of the Russian estab- lishment in 1832, except that it was mentioned in the instructions issued to Figueroa, who was to report in detail on the force maintained at Bodega, and on the designs entertained by the strangers; also favoring in every possible way the foundation of northern settle- ments to check possible encroachments. 6

The enterprising and diplomatic Figueroa soon be- gan his investigations, by methods peculiar to himself. In April 1833, he sent Alférez Vallejo to Ross to ne- gotiate for the purchase of arms, munitions, and cloth- ing for the Californian soldiers, and at the same time to secretly acquaint himself with the exact condition of the colony.7 Vallejo carried letters from the gov- ernor to Manager Kostromitinof and to Wrangell, who as was thought might have arrived. These let- ters were filled with expressions of cordial good-will, and of a desire for closer relations of friendship and commerce with all foreigners, and especially with neighbors so highly esteemed. The colonial authori- ties were also urged to use their influence with the court of St Petersburg to promote the recognition of Mexican independence by the tsar.8 Having thus expressed his kindly feelings toward the Russians, Figueroa only two days later wrote to the national government, denouncing those highly esteemed neigh- bors as intruders who had trampled upon the laws of

27th, W.'s reply to V. St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS., ii. 322-4. Tikhménef, Istor. Obosranie, i, 343, says that Wrangell's threat of going to Chili produced the desired effect, and the Urup obtained 2,300 fan. of wheat at $2 in money and $3 in goods; and from that time shipments of provisions became more punctual and satisfactory.

6 Figueroa, Instrucciones Generales, 1832, MS., art. 7, 11. Deputy Carrillo in his exposicion to congress in 1831, had spoken somewhat bitterly against the Russians, whom he charged with a disposition to defend their usurpation by force of arms.

7 April 11, 1833, F. to V., specifying the articles to be purchased, inelud- ing 200 rifles or muskets, 150 cutlasses, 200 saddles, shoes, lead, etc. Ho is to assure the Russians of the Californians' good-will, etc., but is not to enter into any diplomatic questions. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., Ixxix. 3.3-5. Figueroa's confidential instructions on the investigation to be made are not extant.

8 April 10, 1833, Figueroa to Kostromitinof and Wrangell. St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS., ii. 312-13; Vallejo, Doc., MS., xiii. 467.

HIST. CAL., VOL. IV. 11

162

THE RUSSIANS IN CALIFORNIA.

nations and of Mexico, and aimed at territorial en- croachment. Wrangell was expected at Ross, as it was said, to found a new settlement at Santa Rosa, and with the same object in view the desertion of neophytes from San Rafael was being encouraged.9 Vallejo made his visit to Ross, succeeded in purchas- ing most of the required articles, and rendered on May 5th a confidential report on what he had been able, acting "con el disimulo que me fué posible y con una indiferencia aparente," to see and hear during the trip. The report did not indicate any new or danger- ous designs on the part of the Russians.10

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 IV, Part 17

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