History of California, Volume IV, Part 22

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

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Vallejo came down to Mission San José in Novem- ber as requested,32 and had an interview with Castro, though Alvarado was probably not present. The de- cision arrived at was that, the situation being critical, prompt steps must be taken; that if the country was to be saved from foreign invasion, national aid must be obtained; and that Castro should go to Mexico as the general's comisionado to secure such aid, as well as to ascertain the actual condition of political affairs in the national capital, about which there was mnuch uncertainty.33 There is room for suspicion that this result was deliberately planned by Castro and Al- varado as a means of preventing Vallejo from sending some other comisionado who would work against the governor's interests, as of course Castro was not to do. On December 6th, however, Alvarado suddenly changed his mind, and decided that Castro was needed at home.34 Possibly Alvarado intended at this time to send a secret agent by the California in Castro's

eral's letters are not extant; but he seems to have made some charges against Don José.

31 Oct. 27th, A. to V. Vallejo, Doc., MS., x. 322.

32 He was there, as will be seen, when the Bartleson company of immi- grants arrived. He arrived Nov. 9th and remained at least until the 18th. 33 There is no record of the interview. Nov. 17th, V. writes to A., nrging the necessity of prompt military organization. Vallejo, Doc., MS., x. 340. Nov. 18th, V. to Abrego. Requests him to furnish Castro $1,500 for travel- ling expenses to Mexico, where he goes on public business. Id., x. 353. Nov. 30th, Alvarado to V. Will order the California to Monterey to take Castro with V.'s despatches to Mexico; will also send by him a report on the im- pending dangers. Id., x. 369.

34 Dec. 6th, A. to Castro, in Vallejo, Doc., MS., x. 373. He has just heard of the coming of a party of Americans from N. Mexico, which showed the danger to be nearer than had been expected, and Castro's services were likely to be needed. Moreover, aid from Mexico could hardly come in less than six months; and the latest news from Mexico, which he gives at some length, leaves some room for doubt that attention will be paid to Californian matters when affairs at the capital are in such an unsettled condition. However, he will still send the schooner with despatches. Dec. Sth, Castro to V., for- warding A.'s letter, and announcing his readiness to make any sacrifice and obey the general's orders. Id., x. 376.

204

POLITICAL AFFAIRS AND GENERAL CONDITION.

place; or his change of purpose may have resulted from the discovery of Vallejo's purpose to send Victor Prudon, his secretary, as a companion to Castro, which would render his plot, if plot there was, ineffectual. At any rate, the general had resolved to send Prudon, and did not modify his resolution at all in consequence of the change in the governor's plan. 35

Vallejo's despatches to the supreme government in December did not differ in spirit from those of January. He pictured California as a country nowhere excelled in natural advantages of climate, soil, and harbors, having all the elements of a grand prosperity, and need- ing only an energetic population and wise regulations. The immediate and imperative necessity was the pro- tection of the department by the presence of a sufficient military force. He pointed out in considerable detail the country's commercial and agricultural possibilities, giving also his views respecting the obstacles in the way of their realization. Of course he alluded to the old complaints against the actual administration, and he formulated a remedial scheme, in substance as fol- lows: i. A man should be placed at the head of affairs, and invested with both civil and military authority, who is not connected by blood or otherwise with other authorities or with the governed, ties of relationship rendering the chief impotent and his subjects insubor- dinate. ii. A force of at least two hundred men should

33 Prudon's name does not appear in this connection until Dec. 11th, when -possibly after receiving Castro's letter of the Sth, but probably not-Va- llcjo in his letter to the min. of war announces the sending of Castro and Prudon with despatches. Vallejo, Doc .. MS., x. 384. His instructions dated Dec. - , are addressed to Castro and Prudon; but by art. 6 the latter is to go alone if Castro for any reason is unable to go. The instructions are simply to proceed to Acapulco and Mexico, present despatches, answer questions about the country, not to know the object of their mission before their interview with the min. of war, and to hurry back with the answer by the California, which was to wait at Acapulco for them. Not over 6 days were to be spent in Mexico. Id., xiv. 28. As Prudon was Vallejo's private secretary, the warning not to know the nature of the mission is very funny. Dec. 21st, V. to Abrego. As Castro cannot go, $1,500 is to be paid to Prudon. Id., x. 389; Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Com. and Treas., MS., iv. 65. Dec. 23d, V. to min. of war, accrediting Capt. Victor Prudon as his comisionado, and recommending him highly for competence and integrity. Asks that he be confirmed as captain in the regular army. Vallejo, Doc., MS., x. 393.

205

THE GENERAL'S PLAN.

be sent to the country with their pay well secured, and with competent officers of good character. iii. The custom-house should be put in charge of the comi- sario, and the corps of treasury servants should be largely reduced. iv. There should be established and maintained a responsible post-office department. v. At San Francisco the fort should be rebuilt, with other public edifices, and a custom-house should be established. The laws forbidding the coasting trade by foreign vessels should be enforced, and the impor- tation of various articles prohibited with a view to encourage home industries. vi. And finally there should be sent a large colony of Mexican artisans and farmers to counterbalance the influx of foreigners.36

36 Vallejo, Males de California y sus remedios. Informe del Comandante General al Ministro de Guerra, 13 de Dic., 1841, MS., also copied in Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 231-8. Also V. to min. of war, Dec. 11th, in Vallejo, Doc., MS., x. 384.

CHAPTER VIII.

COMMERCIAL AND MARITIME AFFAIRS-THE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY-VISITS AND BOOKS.

1841,

TRADING REGULATIONS-COASTING TRADE SUSPENDED AND RESTORED- NEW MEXICAN CARAVAN-SMUGGLING-VALLEJO'S PLAN-OTTER-HUNT- ING-WHALERS-LIST OF VESSELS-STATISTICS OF REVENUE-FINAN- CIAL ADMINISTRATION-HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY IN CALIFORNIA-VISIT AND JOURNAL OF SIR JAMES DOUGLAS-THE FUR-HUNTERS LICENSED- PURCHASE OF LIVE-STOCK-PROPOSED TRADING-POST-RAE'S ESTAB- LISHMENT AT YERBA BUENA-VISIT OF SIR GEORGE SIMPSON AND CHIEF FACTOR McLOUGHLIN-THE COMPANY AND SUTTER-SIMPSON TO VALLEJO-MAP-SIMPSON'S NARRATIVE-QUOTATIONS-WARNER'S LECTURE ON CALIFORNIA-PEIRCE'S VISIT AND JOURNAL.

IN accordance with his warning of February 1840, and his communication of December to the supreme government,1 Alvarado issued an order in January 1841, that foreign vessels must in future discharge and pay duties on their cargoes at Monterey, the coasting trade being strictly prohibited. By the same order the importation of foreign sugar, salt, and tim- ber was also prohibited, as by the Mexican revenue laws.2 This act, having been expected for a year, excited but little comment or opposition so far as the

1 See chap. iii. of this vol. Dec. 13th, A. to min. of int. Dept. Rec., MS., xi. 76.

2 Jan. 2, 1841, Alvarado's order. Dept. Rec., MS., xii. 29; Dept. St. Pap., Ben., MS., iii. 23; Id., Ben. Cust .- H., v. S-9. Vessels actually engaged in the coasting trade were to be allowed time to complete their voyages. Corre- sponding orders were issued to local authorities to prevent trade by vessels which could not show the proper permits from Monterey. S. Diego, Arch., MS., 2S0; Dept. St. Pap., MS., xii. 49. The change is mentioned in Niles' Reg., March 1841, 1x. 178; and the Honolulu Polynesian, March 27th, i. 167. Approved by Mex. govt in 1841. Sup. Govt St. Pap., MS., xvi. 19.

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207

COASTING TRADE PROHIBITED.

records show. The Hudson's Bay Company's vessel Columbia, having arrived on the Ist, was not affected by the new regulations, and was permitted to sell even the sugar she had on board, without restriction; but the Maryland, arriving later with a cargo of Hawaiian sugar, narrowly escaped having that part of her cargo confiscated, and her captain was glad to get away from Monterey by paying dues on a ton- nage far above the vessel's proper register.3 The Maryland seems to have been the only vessel of the year whose operations were at all interfered with by the edict of January, an edict which was virtually repealed a few months later. In July the Boston ship Tasso and a schooner arrived at Monterey, and on hearing that they could not engage in the coasting trade, at once prepared to depart without discharg- ing their cargoes. This threat, involving a prospect- ive loss of about $20,000 in duties, brought the gov- ernment to terms, and the vessels were allowed to trade as before.4 There is no record that the privi- lege was formally extended to other vessels; but neither does it appear that there was any further at- tempt to enforce the edict; and the re-opening of the Californian ports was announced at Honolulu.5

Current commercial matters of the year, with the exception of that just mentioned, were not of a nature to attract much attention. The usual caravan of trad- ers came overland from New Mexico in the autumn, numbering about thirty-five men, under the command of Estévan Vigil. There were the usual fears of the

3 Jan. 29, 1841, Estabrook to Larkin, announcing the new law, which 'will unquestionably be carried into effect until the poverty of the govt compels them to alter it.' The writer erroneously claims that there was un- just discrimination in favor of the Columbia and against the Maryland, sup- posing the order to have taken effect Jan. Ist. He also pronounces the customs officers a 'set of blockheads,' who made a blunder of 60 tons in meas- uring the Maryland. They finally took off 40 tons, and Capt. Blinn paid for the 20 to avoid delay. Larkin's Doc., MS., i. 122. In a letter from Monterey of Feb. 20th, it is stated that an order was actually issued for the seizure of the sugar, but subsequently withdrawn. Honolulu Polynesian, i. 167.

+July 5, 1841, Ábrego to Vallejo, in Vallejo, Doc., MS., x. 199.

5 Honolulu Polynesian, ii. 55. The news was brought by the Llama in September.

208

COMMERCIAL AND MARITIME AFFAIRS.

Chaguanosos, the bêtes noirs of southern California, particular anxiety being excited by reports that a party of fifty-five, Americans, Frenchmen, Indians, and even 'apostate' Mexicans, was approaching with depravadas miras, under the leadership of El Cojo Smit, probably Peg-leg Smith;6 but there are no records of special outrages committed by these vagabonds during the year; and they must not be confounded with the party of immigrants by the same route to be noticed later. The smugglers gave the authorities but little trouble, though it would be unwise to conclude that they had abandoned their evil ways. Abel Stearns did not fail, however, to furnish as usual an item for this branch of his country's annals, since he was repeatedly warned to cease his contraband operations in hides, and his troubles of the preceding year had not yet been fully settled.7

Vallejo still entertained the idea of transferring the custom-house to San Francisco, but made no progress towards the realization of his plan. Lieu- tenant Wilkes represented Vallejo as controlling the entire trade of San Francisco Bay with a view solely to his own personal interests, but there was little if any foundation for such a charge, and there is noth- ing to indicate that the general interfered or desired to interfere in the collection of revenues.8 Otter-

6 Aug. 19, 1841, passport and instructions to Vigil signed by Capt. Trujillo at S. Juan de los Caballeros. Dept. St. Pap., Ang., MS., vi. 77-8. Rumors about the Chaguanosos, some of them brought by Vigil's party, and pre- cautions taken. Id., iv. 43; vi. 75-6; xi. 130-1; Guerra, Doc., MS., vi. 152. Report about Smith's party. S. Diego, Arch., MS., 279. Mofras, Exploration, i. 354-6, speaks of the annual caravan; and says that the one arriving at Los Angeles in Nov. of this year included 200 New Mexicans and 60 Americans, besides a detached party of 40 who went to S. José. The departure of the caravan is noted also in Niles' Reg., Ixi. 209.

7 Los Angeles, Arch., MS., ii. 2-6; Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Pref. y Juzg., MS., iv. 1-2; vi. 81-2. Arnaz, Recuerdos, MS., 52, tells us that Virmond and Aguirre did no smuggling. Belden, Hist. Statement, MS., 67-8, relates a cur- rent story, to the effect that some of the Californians used to sell Larkin the same hide several times over by stealing it from the yard back of his store.

8 Dec. 11, 1841, V. to min. of war. Vallejo, Doc., MS., x. 386. Wilkes, Narr., v. 210-11, says V. 'is not overscrupulous in demanding duties of vessels entering the port of San Francisco; and until he has been seen and consulted a vessel trading here is liable to an indefinite amount of duties. A portion of the amount adds to his wealth, and how much goes to the gov-

209

VESSELS OF 1841.

hunting went on as before, being confined for the most part to the southern coasts and islands, where it furnished profitable employment to a few persons. Santa Bárbara was the headquarters of the otter- hunters; and captains Fitch, Wilson, and Scott are the men specially mentioned as interested in this branch of industry in 1841. The records, however, are vague and of little interest, being disconnected items relating to attempts on the part of the author- ities to prevent illegal hunting.9 Whalers had been accustomed to bring goods to trade for needed sup- plies; but this year it was deemed necessary to im- pose restrictions; and while these vessels were still to be exempt from anchorage and tonnage dues, they were to pay duties on the goods introduced, which could not exceed $500 in value for each vessel.1º I may remark here that the visitors of this year, Douglas, Mofras, Peirce, Wilkes, and Simpson, in their narratives to be noticed elsewhere, give special attention to the commercial interests of the country.

In the maritime list of the year I name forty-six vessels,11 of which number seven were men-of-war, or

ernment is not known-enough I was told in some cases to save appearances, and no more.' He ' considers every bushel of grain as much at his command as he does the persons of the people and the property of the state.' All these notions were imbibed largely from Sutter.

9 Sta Bárbara, Arch., MS., 17, 21; S. Diego, Arch., MS., 281; Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 1112; Dept. St. Pap., Angeles, MS., vi. 28; Nidever's Life, MS., 107-8.

10 Pinto, Doc., MS., i. 253, 359-60, 368-9; Dept. St. Pap., Ben., MS., iii. 12. Dec. 7th, Spear to Larkin. Complains that the whalers ‘play the deuce ' with regular trade, selling goods cheap and paying high prices for produce. Larkin's Doc., MS., i. 193.

11 Sce full list for 1841-5 at end chap. xxiii., this vol. Vessels of 1841: Alert, Ayacucho, Bolina, Bolívar, Braganza, California, Catalina, Chato, Clara, Columbia, Columbine, Constantine, Corsair, Cowlitz, Curaçon, Don Quixote, Elena, Eliza, Flying Fish, Hamilton, Index, Jóven Carolina, Jóven Guipuzcoana, Juan Diego, Juan José (?), Julia Ann, Luhaina, Llama, Lau- sanne (?), Leonidas (?), Leonora (?), Maryland, Morca (?), Ninfa, Oreza, Oregon, Orizaba, Porpoise, Rosalind, St Louis (?), Sapphire, Susana, Tasso, Thomas Perkins, Vincennes, Yorktown. On the Oregon-huilt schooner, the Star of Oregon, which came to S. F. and was sold, see Hist. Or., i. 247-8, this series. I find no Cal. record of her presence.

Statistics for 1841: Custom-house receipts according to records in Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Cust .- H., MS., v., $101,161; expenses, $9,344; net product, $91,- 817. Hartucll gives the total as $101,150 from 22 vessels. Pico, Doc., MS., i. 85. In Mexico, Mem. Ilacienda, 1844, annex. 1, the receipts are given as HIST. CAL., VOL. IV. 14

210

COMMERCIAL AND MARITIME AFFAIRS.

national exploring craft; seven were whalers, and probably a few more not named, while twenty vessels made up the trading fleet proper and brought to the country goods invoiced at about $100,000, on which duties were paid to the same amount. Cargoes in- troduced by contraband methods, there are no means of estimating accurately, but they certainly were not less than half the amounts entered at the custom- house. Duflot de Mofras, an intelligent French trav- eller who visited California this year, estimated the importations at $150,000 and exported products at $280,000. Sir James Douglas gave $241,000 as his estimate of the exports. Both gentlemen, however, referred to an average rather than to this particular year. Four or five vessels, the Tasso, Ayacucho, Cor- sair, Julia Ann, and Cowlitz, paid more than two thirds of the total revenue of the year.

Antonio María Osio still remained in charge of the custom-house, and José Abrego as comisario still superintended the distribution of the public moneys. At Monterey there were probably some clerks, and there was also a guard under the command of Rafael Gonzalez; at other ports the sub-prefect, or justice of the peace, was occasionally called on to see that the revenue laws were respected. The records make no further revelation respecting the administration of

$97,725; expenses, $11,743; net, $85,982. Larkin, Official Corresp., MS., ii. 37, also gives the total as $101,150. Wilkes, Narr., v. 168-9, gives the fol- lowing as the average of exports: 150,000 hides at $2; 200,000 arrobas tallow at $1.50; 2,000 beaver skins at $2; 500 sea-otter skins at $30; 12,000 bushels of wheat at 50 cents; and 3,000 elk and deer skins at 50 cts or $1. Mo- fras, Explor., i. 500-5, gives the imports as Mexican, $50,000; American, $70,000; English, $20,000; miscellaneous and whalers, $10,000. Exports: Mexican, $65,000; American, $130,000; English, $45,000; miscellaneous, 820,000; or hides, $210,000; tallow, $55,000; other articles $15,000. Vessels from Sept. 1840 to Sept. 1841: Mexican, 10, 1,273 tons, 118 crew, imports $50,000, exports $65,000; American, 10, 2,392 tons, 153 crew, imports $70,- 000, exports $150,000; English, 4, 1,007 tons, crew 54, imports $20,000, ex- ports $15,000; miscellaneous, 3, 449 tons, crew 39, imports $10,000, exports $20,000. Total, 27 vessels, 5,121 tons, crews 364, imports $150,000, exports $280,000. Also 7 men-of-war, 118 guns, 1,020 men; and 9 whalers, 3,575 tons (?), 275 men. This table also in Cutts' Conquest of Cal., 23. See also tables and comments in Cong. Globe, 1843-4, appendix 226. Exports to Hon- olulu $42,700 for this year. Flagg's Report. See also in Davis's Glimpses, MS., an important table of hide and tallow exports in these years.

211

VISIT OF DOUGLAS.

departmental finanecs. Items in the archives, both · Californian and Mexican, though somewhat numerous, are so vague and disconnected as to throw no light on the subject, and furnish no statisties. It is evident from occasional allusions in correspondence of the time that officials at the capital were still popularly accused of squandering a considerable portion of the revenues; but controversies between the various civil and mili- tary claimants, if new ones arose or the old ones con- tinued, have left no trace.

A matter of general interest in the annals of 1841, and one whose connection with commercial and mari- time affairs is sufficiently marked to give it a place naturally in this chapter, is the operations of the Hud- son's Bay Company in California. Relations between California and the company had, as we have seen, al- ways been friendly, but never very intimate. The company's vessels running between the Columbia and Honolulu had often, but not regularly, touched at Monterey and San Francisco for supplies; and their trappers had for years frequented the broad valleys of the Sacramento and San Joaquin. It was desired to establish relations, both in respect of trade and of trap- ping, on a more definite and favorable basis; and no- body in California had any objections, except perhaps Sutter and certain merchants, who feared rivalry re- spectively in fur-hunting and the foreign trade.12 Chief Factor James Douglas came down from Fort Van- couver in the Columbia, arriving at Monterey January Ist, having with him a party of thirty-six men, and also bringing a cargo of goods for sale. The men were in part hunters, and others were to drive overland to the Columbia a herd of live-stock, which it was hoped to purchase. "We have also other objects of a polit-

12 Aug. 31, 1840, Francis Johnson at Honolulu writes to Larkin that the H. B. Co. is planning to monopolize the trade in all the North Pacific. A vessel is now building in England which is to bring a cargo of goods at very low prices. Americans at Honolulu, however, do not fear the competition. Larkin's Doc., MS., i. 83.

212

HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY.

ical nature in view, which may or may not succeed according to circumstances," writes the visitor, "but in the event of success the results will be important."

Douglas has recorded the events of his visit in a journal, which has never been published, but of which I have a copy, unfortunately not complete, but of the greatest interest. It presents a vivid and accurate picture of the condition of affairs in the country, par- ticularly in commercial and social phases. The author remained at the capital three weeks, passing his time in an agreeable mixture of social entertainment and business conferences with Alvarado, Spence serving as interpreter, and affording much aid, though at first with the Scotch trader "there was something wrong, some lurking suspicion of fancied encroachments or meditated deception" which caused him to "receive us with a sort of reserved courtesy that made us feel rather uncomfortable." Alvarado was courteous and friendly. Osio and the revenue officials were not only gentlemanly, but 'of strict integrity,' and business went on swimmingly. With a dozen of the company's men under McKay, Douglas and his companion Wood made the trip overland from Monterey to San Fran- cisco, being sumptuously entertained by Hartnell and Joaquin Gomez at their ranchos on the way. With the Salinas and Santa Clara valleys the English visi- tor was so delighted that he was moved to pronounce California "a country in many respects unrivalled by any other part of the globe." Whether or not he saw anything on the barren peninsula of San Francisco to modify his views, we may not know, for the fragment of his journal in my possession terminates abruptly with the arrival at Santa Clara on January 23d. From other sources we know that the voyager was at San Francisco late in February, and back in Oregon before the end of May.13

13 Douglas' Voyage from the Columbia to California, 1840-1, MS., in Id. Journals, p. 65-108. Should I attempt to present quotations from this nar- rative, I should hardly know where to stop short of giving the whole. I

213

THE FUR HUNTERS.

The first matter that came up between Douglas and Alvarado was that of fur-hunting operations in the interior. Every year Michel Laframboise had ranged the valleys with a band of the company's trappers, and this since 1837 under a kind of official sanction; but Sutter, wishing to monopolize the hunting-fields, had peremptorily ordered the trappers to discontinue their visits-an order not obeyed, as Douglas said, because nothing was known of Sutter's authority. Alvarado stated that Sutter had acted unadvisedly in issuing orders rather than requests; and he declared that his government had been pleased with the conduct of the company's hunters as compared with that of other ban- ditti calling themselves trappers; yet he insisted that as settlements were extended, the hunting-parties must withdraw to more distant fields, as their presence could not be reconciled with the Mexican laws. "I told him," says Douglas, "that the wishes of the gov- ernment when officially communicated to us would be attended to in this and every other particular."14 A few days later, as part of a general agreement to be mentioned presently, Alvarado consented to the em- ployment of thirty hunters who should become Mexi- can citizens, and half of whom if possible should be natives of California. Later still at San Francisco, Douglas applied to Vallejo for a license to hunt on condition of submitting to legal restrictions, and of paying a tax or duty on each skin taken.15 It is evi-

shall, however, have occasion to cite it on special topics. Sir James Douglas was an intelligent and educated gentleman. Respecting the country, its people, and its institutions, his observations are always sensible and just. He did not permit his admiration of California's natural advantages to blind him to the serious faults of her people and rulers; but he wrote always in a spirit of kindness, which produced a marked contrast between his narrative and those of Lieut Wilkes and other foreign visitors. Yet who can say that his humor would not have been somewhat less kindly, if, arriving two days later, he had been refused permission to sell his sugar, or if he had failed in some of his other negotiations ?

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History of California, Volume IV, Part 22

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