Imperial Valley press., 1916-11-27

Noble as was the, work of Father
Ianipero Sierra, tradition errs in Civ
ms him credit for planning the set
tlcment of California by the Span
iards. So declares Herbert Ingram
Pristeley, assistant curator of the Ban
crcft Library of Pacific Coast History
Of the University of California, in an
in portant volume just issued by the
University in its Publications in His
tory.
The glory of achieving the settle
rlent of California Mr.. Priestly
ascribes to the hero of the Univer-
sitys new 45O-page publication, Jose
de Galvez, Visitor-General of New
Spain from 1865 to 1771. The roman
tic story of the rise of this Spanish
shepherd boy to become Minister of
the Indies and a marsuis in the peer
age of CASTLE richly deserves a place
10 the common stock Of American his
torical tradition, now forgetful Of the
West and mostly consisting of things
that happened in a small patch of the
Atlantic coast.
This founder Of the white mans civ
iiisation in California, Jose de Galvez,
was directly descended from one Of
the oldest and purest of Spanish lines.
His family arms bore quartering won
in battle nine centuries before Galvez
VAS born, and his seventh grandfath-
z, bore a notable part in the wars
against the Moors which resulted in
the surrender of Granada the year
America was discovered. But when
his father died, the young Spaniard
was forced to spend much of his boy
hood earning a livelihood as shep-
herd boy. While acolyte ina village
church, visiting bishop gave him op-
pcrtunity to study at Malaga for the
priesthood, but later he turned to law.
At 80 he was appointed governor of
Zamboanga, in the Philippines, but in
stead remained in Spain as lawyer.
having won lawsuit brought against
the state by foreign business house,
King Charles III asked him how he
hsd the temerity to defend a case
against the state, to which Galvez
answered.:
"Senor, antes que ell rey esta la
roy" ("My lord, the law is greater
than the king.")
He rose rapidly in the public serv-
ice, and in 1765 was made an honorary
member of the Council of the Indies
end sent as Visitor-General to New
Srain, which meant the vast region
from Panama to Santa Fe and from
Louisiana to the Pacific Coast.
All Mexico and Central and South
west America felt the effects Of his
d. velopment of the affairs of public
fiji ance, but the one lasting monument
ii his career in America was the oc-
eupancy Of California by Spain.
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that the Russians, already in posses
zion Of Alaska, were trying to spread
their possessions southwark down the
Pacific Coast. 1t was agreed that Gal
vex should 60 to Lower California and
arrange for founding new missions
and new Indian towns. In letter
Of May 20, 1868, Galvez speaks of "the
supreme Importance and advisability
Of taking possession of the port of
Monterey and establishing there a pre-
snio."
First establishing a naval base at
San Bias, on the Mexican mainland,
Galvez held junta there and decided
on a voyage to San Diego and Mon
terey by two new brigantines, the San
Carlos and the San Antonio, the
largest and strongest vessels on the
coast, and the sending of land ex-
pedition to take possession Of Monte
rey and build a preside there. The
difficulties Of travel in his day are