The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-10-17

In the Port OF San Diego the proper
orders. both for the establishment
of that Mission and for the healing
and assistance of the Sick. as well
as orders TO the end that. when
these should have recuperated. or
on the arrival OF the Packetboat
San Joseph. which was expected.
the said Villa should continue by
sea with the Supplies which he
ought to carry, and such as might
be obtainable.
You may rest assured that your
decision and your trusting to
Heaven are very agreeable to me.
For, besides the good spirit and
upright intentions which inspire
this trust, / note with equal COM
placency the punctuality with
which you have tried in these I'M
Inhabited Countries TO attend to
everything, and to post yourself
in order TO prevent as far as possi-
BILE the contingencies which may
be occasioned by the distances and
the present situation. and 1 promise
myself. by the same token, that
you will have omitted nothing
which may contribute to the sue
cess of so important a matter.
To the same end. I am giving.
under this date. the necessary or
ders so that the Packetboat Ell
Principe may be despatched
promptly from San Bias. we'll pro-
vided with Sailors. Food. and other
things And, although I likewise
am requiring by command and en-
treaty, (ruego y encargo) OF the
Reverend Father President who
has remained at San Diego, and
OF all the persons destined for the
Expedition. whatever has seemed
opporfune for it's successful out
come. I can not omit instructtng
you again 10 promptly fulfill what
ever the Most Illustrious Senior
Visitor may have ordered.
May God keep You many years.
Mexico, August IL. 1853.
To Senior Don Gaspar Portola
Monterrey.
Portola's Account of the Expe'
dition to San Francisco Bay
The Bay of Monterey l.
Missed, and San francisco
Bay Is Discovered Instead
Renewed Search for Monte
rey and the Return to San
Diego.
True to his plan. as outlined IN th'
foregoing letter, Portola set out from
San Diego for Monterey July IA. Hi.
party consisted OF ga or SIS persons. II
It were Rivera y Moncada, in command
OF q cuirasslers (soldados de cuera)
including Sergeant Joseph Francisco
Ortega, probably the first OF the party
IL not the first white man. to beholC
San Francisco bay. Lieutenant Fage'
and the few able bodied survivors o.
his company OF Catalan volunteers
Costanso, and Fathers Crespf and Go
mez. Portola had with him the re
ports of the country that had beef
handed down from VizcainO and othel
early explorers. 1t viii be seen from
his letter that the description on which
the party most relied was that givei
by Cabrera Bueno. pilot OF the Ma
Mia fleet. in his Navigation Especu
lativa-" This had been printed il
Manila in 1884 and contained informa
ton about the California coast draw
from the early accounts
Portola's plan was to follow the coas
all the way to Monterey but. as viii
be seen from his narrative, the ruggeC
mountains of Santa Lusia forced hin
to make a long detour down the Sa
linas valley.
San Diego was reached on the re
turn January "a. ITO. and the lette
next inserted Is evidently the firs
viceroy by its commander. As Portol,
states. HIS diary was not yet read.
whSp this letter was written and wa
to s%e sent later. Many OF the detail
ofythe expedition. such as those o
On 3sa's going ahead and first espyinl
Sa AF'rancisco bay, Portola leaves nat
ursAy. for the diary. 1t must be re-