CALIFORNIA. 



>3 



Jy diminishing. Some of the parishes are almost 

 destitute of inhabitants, especially St Igiucio and 

 Guaclalupi- ; and this diminution has hem altribut. .! 

 to the smallpox, and another malady too common 

 among Europeans, and which they have invariably 

 introduced into all their settlements in the new world. 

 Another cause, however, may be found in the many 

 bstacles to improvement, which arise from the nature 

 wf their political institutions. 



But while the Spaniards, for nearly a century and 

 a half, were wasting their strength and treasure in 

 attempting to convert and civilize a barren and un- 

 grateful country, it is a matter of surprize tint New 

 California, whose shores had been carefully examined 

 by Viscaino, and represented by him as both popu- 

 lous and fertile, should have been so long neglected. 

 This fine country, which would have most amply re- 

 paid all their exertions, if properly colonized, was 

 not occupied by the Spaniards until 167 years after 

 its first discovery ; and it was not until the court of 

 Spain was alarmed at the progress of discovery made 

 by other maritime powers on the north-west coast of 

 America, and dreaded lest she should be anticipated in 

 forming settlements in that quarter, that orders were 

 given to the Chevalier de Croix, the viceroy, and the 

 Visitador Galvez, to found missions and presidios in 

 the ports of San Diego and Monterey. The ex- 

 pedition by sea anchored at San Diego, in April 

 1769 ; but owing to the scarcity of provisions, their 

 fatigues, the want of shelter, and an epidemical dis- 

 ease, the. consequence of the bad quality of their 

 food, the colony was reduced to great distress. Most 

 of them fell sick, and only eight individuals remain- 

 ed on their feet, when the land expedition, which had 

 come through Old California, arrived with assistance. 

 But it was not till after a whole year of researches 

 and labour, that they succeeded in finding again the 

 harbour of Monterey, although Viscaino nad clearly 

 pointed out its situation and latitude. The first 

 mission was established at this place, in 1770, by the 

 Franciscans, who still remain possessors of the mis- 

 sions of this province, although, since the expulsion 

 of the Jesuits, the duties of the missions in the pe- 

 ninsula are performed by Dominican friars. The 

 missions of New California, with their population, 

 and time of establishment, are shewn in the following 

 Table : 



Names. Founded. Population 



in 1802. 



1. San Diego, - - 1769 1560 



2. San Carlos de Monterey, 1770 700 



3. San Antonio de Padua, 1771 1050 



4. San Gabriel, 1771 1050 



5. San Luis Obispo, - 1772 700 



6. San Francisco, - - 1776 820 



7. San Juan Capistrano, 1776 1000 



8. Santa Clara, - - 1777 1300 



9. San Buenaventura, - 1782 950 



10. Santa Barbara, - - 1786 1100 



11. La Purissima Concepcion, 1787 1000 



12. Soledad, - -1791 570 



13. Santa Cruz, - 1794 44O 



14. San Jose, - - - 1797 630 



15. San Miguel, 1797 600 



16. San Fernando, - - 1797 600 



Na 



CalifattM 



17. San Juan Bautista, 



-in Luis Key de Francia, 



According to M. Humboldt, the population of 

 New California, including the Indians attached to 

 the soil, and who have begun to cultivate their 

 field*, was doubled in twelve yi-ars. In 1790, there 

 were 774-8 souls, and in 1802 they had increased to 

 15,630. Since the foundation of the muttons, there 

 were in all, according to the pariah registers, 33,7 17 

 baptisms, 8009 marriages, and 16,984 deaths. These 

 registers, however, must not be assumed as data 

 from which we may deduce the proportion of births 

 and deaths, as in the number of baptism* the adult 

 Indians are confounded with the children. The num- 

 ber of Whites, Mestizoes, and Mulattos, may be 

 fully estimated at 1300, upon whom alone the go- 

 vernment can depend for the defence of the coast, in 

 case of any military attack by an European power. 

 The smaliness of this number, so disproportionate 

 to the fertility and extent of the country, is owing 

 entirely to the absurd regulations by which the Spa- 

 nish presidios are governed, and the principles of co- 

 lonization followed by Spain, which are in general 

 directly opposite to the true interests, both of the 

 mother country and colonies. "It is truly distres- 

 sing," says the Spanish navigator Galiano, that 

 the military, who pass a painful and laborious life, 

 cannot in their old age settle in the country, and em- 

 ploy themselves in agriculture. The prohibition of 

 building houses in the neighbourhood of the presidio 

 is contrary to all the dictates of sound policy. If 

 the whites were permitted to employ themselves in 

 the cultivation of the soil, and the rearing of cattle, 

 and if the military, by establishing their wives and 

 children in cottages, could prepare an asylum 

 against the indigence to which they are too frequent- 

 ly exposed in their old age, New California would 

 soon become a flourishing colony, and resting place 

 of the greatest utility for the Spanish navigators, 

 who trade between Peru, Mexico, and the Philip- 

 pine Islands." 



The governor of the Califurnias resides at Mon- 

 terey, with a salary of 4000 piastres. His authority 

 is confined entirely to the garrisons and the indepen- 

 dent Indians; for he is not allowed to interfere with 

 the affairs of the different missions, but is only obli- 

 ged to grant assistance when they claim it. His real 

 subjects consist only of four hundred military, distri- 

 buted in the different presidios, which are all the 

 means that are required for keeping in subjectio* 

 about 50,000 wandering Indians. Every parish is 

 governed by two missionaries, whose authority over 

 the converted Indians is absolute ; and the domestic 

 economy of each missiou differs scarcely in any re- 

 spects from the regulations of a West India planta- 

 tion. " The men and women," says La Perouse, 

 " are assembled by the sound of a bell ; one of the 

 priests conducts them to their work, to church, and 

 to all their other exercise. We mention it with pain, 

 the resemblance is so perfect, that we saw men and 

 women loaded with irons, others in the stocks, and 

 at length the noise of the strokes of a whip struck 



