Daily Los Angeles herald., 1881-08-14
Papers on the Early History Of
California.
PAPER NO. s.


sequently returned to the English
government. On the 18th of Octo-
ber, 1889, Count Revillagiyedo
took command of New Spain. He
Immediately took steps to keer
Nootka from foreign powers, Mar
tinez having pursuant to orders of
the Viceroy who preceded Rev.
illagiy edo abandoned its occupa.
ton. On the Sd of February,
1890, there sailed from San Bias
the frigate Conception, the packet
boat San Carlos and the schooner
Princesa Royal, under the COM
mand of Lieutenant Don Francisco
Eliza. They arrived at Nootka on
the Sd of April. Eliza had instruc.
tions to forLify the place, and pro.
cure the amicable relation of the
indians by treating them with
kindness. He was not to interfere
with the Russians or any other
foreign power without royal or
ders and was to explore thorough
ly the coasts up to the 60th degree,
especially Cooks River and the
Straits of Juan de Fuca. The in
structions were followed and sue
cess attended the Spsniards. They
were never molested by Russia ns,
English or Americans. There was
u treaty entered into betwee n
Spain aud England as to the navi-
cation, commerce and fisheries iu
the Pacific ocean and South sea, on
the 2Sth of October, 1870.
Revillagiyedo desirous of ending
the disputes and avoiding future.
between Spain aud
England, suggested that line,
taking the 48th degree, should be
established between the two
countries. Another expedition to
accomplish the object suggested by
RsyilIagiyedo, left San Bias on the
1st of March, 1892. 1t was COM
posed Of the Santa Gertrudis under
Don Alonzo de Torres, the frigste
Princesa and the new schooner
Activa, under the respective com.
mand of Salvador Hidalgo and
Mendez Valdez. Although the
Activa and Princesa had to re-
turn to repair damages caused by
storm, they again set out, the Prin-
cesa arriving at the straits of Fuca
and the Activa at Nootka. 1t seems
that the Spanish government
had intended delivering Nootka
to the English, and Captain Bodega
had been ordered so to do, but the
English Captain Vancouver, not
being satisfied with the delivery of
possession because it contained
some conditions that he was un-
willing to accept, declined to take
possession. Bodega had returned
to Monterey. The English, on
this occasion, experienced the very
best treatment at the hands of the
Spaniards, furnishing Vancouver
with provisions for his trip to
Botany Bay. The English Com
mander desired to pay for all the
materials and provisions furnished
them by the Spaniards, but these
refused to take anything, and Van
couver grateful for 80 much kind
ness, made present of. two thous.
and dollars aud some agricultural
implements to the Presidio aud
Missions of Monterey.
The Spaniards commenced again
to explore the northern coast
above Nootka, on the 4th of May
1871. Lieut.. Hidalgo had COM
mand of this exploring party, ar
irving at Prince Williams Bay on
the oath of May. He reconnOitered
thoroughly all the coast. He dis
covered the island of Montagu, ex-
amined Cooks river, but was COM
PEELED to return owing to heavy
fogs and bad weather, having gone
as far as the 57th degree. He re.
turned to San Bias on the 18th of
November. Hldalgo found two Rus
sian establishments at Cooks river
and one on the island of Zodiac.
He, besides, took possession of the
bay and rOadstead on the east of
Prince Williams Bay, which he
called, respectively, Cordoba and
Menendez; and on the north of the
great bay he took possession of u
port naming it Gravina. On
Cooks river he took possession of
another port which he called Re
villagiyedo
Although the straits of Juan de
Fuca had been partially reconnoi-
tered In 1889, no accurate explora-
tion had been made until 1890 by
Guimpe, and In 1871 by Eliza.
Royal orders were given in 1901 to
thoroughly explore the straits to
ascertain If it had any connection
with Hudson's or Baflin's bay.
Don Francisco Antonio de Morelle
was entrusted with the expedition,
and sailed from San Bias on the 9th
of March, 1892. He had instruc-
tions to go as high as the 56th
degree, aud by all means to satisfy
himselfif there was any commu-
nieation between the two oceans.
The expedition reached the
straits and on the 21st of June
sighted the vessels under the COM
mand of Vancouver. Both expedi.
tions were sailing with the same
object and it was found conclusive
Iy that the straits did not commu.
nicate with the Bays of Hudson OF
Baffin. They found many Indians
who supply commerce with furs.
The Spanish expedition returned
to San Bias on the 23d of Novem-
ber, after experiencing very rough
weather in sight of the Farallones,
near San Francisco. The frigate
Aranzazs made another expedi-
tion in 1892, reaching the 55th de-
gree, but found nothing but what
already was known by previous
expeditions.
Revlllagiyedo was very anxious
to have accurate reports of the ma
ture of the country between San
Francisco and the 4Sth degree, and
had given orders to send an expe-