Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-05-27
CENTENNIAL PAPERS.
NO. Z.

\ century ago, when the patriots Of
The Revolution were nerying their hearts
for the struggle with the mother country.
that portion of the nations dominion now
occupied oy the States Of California. Oro-
gon and Nevada, was terra iacognita.
The vessels which trayersel the Pacific
ocean found little to attract them from the
beaten path ofcommcrce. and the VOYAGES
of discovery on which the aects of Eng
land, France and other European nations
We're sent, were not tor the purrose of
laying claim to new countries but rather
in the hope of finding that passage to the
Indies the search for which Ind led to
the discovery of the Western World
The voyages Of Hudson and othevs of the
first Arctic expo erS, had left the ques-
ton ofa Northwest passage ,tilla matter
OF doubt, and though we, in the licht Of
the present know that the idoq wos acbi-
mera, yet the close Of the last century
saw the commercial into ests of Europe in
the firm belief that 4 shorter road to ne
wealth of the Indies could be found, than
either the one by the way of the Stormy
Cape, or that through the Straits of Mar
elan. DespairiNg of finding this passage
hv following in the track of other adyen-
turtles, It became a cherished idea of some
OF the interested oncs TO attcmpt. from
the Pacific side The discovery fruitlosslv
sought from the other course. 1t wos
firmly believed hy the old geographcrs.
that the supposed strait Of Anian would
lead around North America into the At
lantc, and in search of this supposed
strait which the knowledge of the present
day shows had no existence save in the
brain Of somo Old vovager, more than one
cxp"dition was fitted out in the Old World
an! sent on voyages Of exploration along
the western coast Of America.
The earlier discoveries on the Pacific
Coast had their origin in enterprises far
less crediiable to the character of those
engaged in them, when viewed from the
standpoint Of the present day. The gov
ernments of Europe were nomnallv at
peace at home, but on the great pathway
Of the ocean the ships Of England. Spain
and Holland fought and captured each
other with little regard to the condition
of home affairs. Spain, holding the rich
possessions Of Mexico and South Ameri-
en- with the Isthmus Of Dnrion connecting
them, sent her pallcous direct from her
Mexican ports on the Pacific to control
the trade Of China and the Indies. 9th
er powers were compelled to seek pas-
SAGE around by the Cape OF Good Hone,
consuming two and three wears in the
VOYAGE. The Spanish aaleons made
the passage across the Pacific, unloading
their cargos Mt Acapulco. Hither came
the merchants from all parts of the Span
ish dominions, to exchange their wares
for those Of the Philippine Islands. CHI
m, and Japan. The trade with these
countries was carried on hy two gal
Icons, one of which sailed from Acapulco
in the Spring, theother in the Fall, mal,-
ing the voyage from Acapulco to Manila
easily in ten or twelve weeks. The vow
age back was more tedious and hazard
Gus; the returning galeon was compel
ed to creep up the coast in Asiatic waters
until about the fotticth degree Of north
latitude was reached, ere favoring brocz-
es were met and her captain dare turn the
PROV OF his vessel homeWard. The west
ern shore of this continent was made at a
galeon sailed down the coast to her dcs-
tination. 1t need not be added That these
returning galleons were richly laden--so
great indeed were the profits Of this trade
that the share Of common sailor for the
voyage am0uutad 10 about $40 pieces Of
eight" equivalent to about Sl20 Of our
encei in the valne Of money at That time
when compared with the present, it will
be seen that the profits Of this trade
must have been enormous. The master
Of the galleon received 10000 pieces of
eight, the pilot 20,O00, while the mcr-
chants realized on their venture to the
amount Of two and three hundred per
cent. Such a prize as the rich gallcon
might well tempt the cupdity of the buc-
cancer, whose piratical trade was not es-
teemel di,honorahe when crowned with
success. The tract, of the homewar1
hound galleon along the coast of Califor-
nia was watched by the buccaneers, and
the ill-futed vessel sometimes became
their prey. II was an adventure Of this
kind which brought Sir Francis Drake to
the coast of California, after career Of
rapiue ard plumber among the seaports Of
the Spanish Main. Other advcnturers
following in his track, confirmed the ac-
counts which Brakes Chroncler had Civ
en- Of the country, though the search Tor
mines of the precious metals, of which
Sir Francis found indubitable evidence,
does not appear to have been followed up,
From the time OF Diake's visit here
in 1879, dnti the colonization of Calilor-
MIA by the 3suit missionaries, the knowl-
edge Of the geography and capacity of
the country appears to have been very
limited. The Spanish crown was senai-
BILE Of the advantages to be gained by its
occupancy, but its aim appeared to be
rather to encourage its settlement by
private enterprise, than by direct efforts.
So late as the middle Of the seventeenth
century nothing had been effected in the
way Of colonization, though it was ac-
lknowledged as part Of the Spanish
Empire in America. OF its resources,
inhabitants and physical feotu res, the
world knew but lttIe-an old geogra-
- l. Il