Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1851-01-25
IN THE FALL OF 1919
BY M0NSR. DILLON.

CALIFORNIA IN THE FALL OF 1919.
BY MONsR. DILLON.
abridged from The Reruc des Deur .Monies.
Monsr. Dillon it will be recollected was
lately Consul for France at the Sandwich
Islands, and signalized himself by certain
exploits there last year. His demands for
facilities to be granted for the introduction
of Brandy and the use of the French Ian
guage not being acceded to by King Kane
hameha or his Yankee advisers, were referr-
ed to Europe, to which Commissioner Judd
proceeded with two Of the princes royal, as
did also MOnsr. Dillon in the Poursuiranie
We learn that Monsr. Dillon has since been
appointed French Consul at San Francisco,
his demands not meeting as we infer, with
support from the Partisan Government
Hence his anmus against all parties in the
Pacific except his own Jesuits, the Mission
ary Kings "
ExrRAcrs.-We are about the thirty-fiith
degree of north latitude, scudding under a
fresh breeze towards tlie entrance which
leads into the bay of San Francisco No
thing is more agreeable than the frs. sensa-
tons of refreshing coldness tor those escap-
ing from the long matyrdom of :. three years
residence under the broiIing sun of the trop-
les; thus every one on board of the Poursui-
vante is TO day in perfect good humor The
voice of the commander ordinarily of so high
a tone, is sensibly softened The sailors
perform the manHuvres with lively spirit
The passengers themselves, who have been
so long in want of a subject of conversation,
awake from their lethargy, and engage in
animated discussions with each other.
We are about to touch at one of the most
interesting and mysterious points ofthe globe
We are shortly to see the solution of ques-
tion which for the last fifteen months has
thrown the new as well as the old world into
strange perplexities. 1t has agitated itself
to know whether the so much vaunted mines
of California, are nothing but huge decep-
ton, Yankee puff, concocted in order to at
tract colonists and capitalists to an unhealthy
and inhospitaby country, or whether they
are something tangible and real
One thing has struck me during the pas
sage: it is that the nearer we approach the
termination of our voyage, our doubts in
crease on the subject Of California. Thus
at Valparaiso the fact Of the existence of gold
mines was confirmed and admitted, but it was
imagined in general way that the country
was unhealthy, that there existed neither
laws nor government, and that it might any
day happen that one would have to pay with
his life for sufficiently mediocre results. AT
Tahiti point separated from San Francisco
| by forty days voyage only "a; the Sandwich
| Islands still nearer, the same doubts were
encountered, the same suspicious, and the
same curiosity. Every one ives upon
the qui-rire when any vessel happened to ar
rive from the El-dorado, every one was ca
ger for new information, and yet nobody
could form precise idea of the actual state
of things.
| We are not more than thirty leagues from
the coast, and can already perceive in the
number and variety of flags around US, the
vicinity of great emporium of business
On our left there tapers to the horizon the
three masts of French ship whose long pas
sage is going to end at the same time our
own; to the right behold an English vessel
from Shanghae with whole colony of Chi
nese on board We can distinguish the pale
countenances, contours regufiers, and the
plated tails of these inhabitants of the Ce-
lestial Empire, while they press against the
bulwarks, to see us pass, and admire the
open ports Of our handsome frigate. Nearer
to us we perceive several Chilian vessels
which salute us by hosting their flags
Among the passengers with whom the decks
are crowded, we observe several Signoritas,
and hear their exclamation muy Undo, muy
Undo, (very swift#l while the PouYsmrante
passes majestically by them. Alas! among
the hearts that palpitate with JOY and hope
before US, how many will cease to beat, sad,
and undeceived, before the end Of the adven-
ture in which they have engaged.
The entrance to the bay of San Francisco
resembles very much that of Brest. 1t is
sufficiently narrow for the forts which
| it is in contemplation TO erect on each side,
to cross their fire, and command the passage;
it contains moreover sufficient water TO feat
the largest ships. Arrived in front OF the
entrance, the voyager sees expanding before
him, not merely port, or even a lake, Dut
Mediterranean in miniature. 1he port OF
San Francisco would contain with ease all the
fleets of the world; precious treasure tor
brother Jonathan, and which gives place for
astonishment that such position should have
remained SO long unoccupied. la islet STU
ated within the bay at a short distance from
the entrance is evidently destined to serve as
a position for battery! fhis will be a new
Dillon should have ssid a. very beautiful