[ 473 ] 



January , 1775. 



BEING on board the King's ftoremip c the Santa Rica, whicti. 

 then lay in the port of Vera Cruz, I received on the 10th 

 of that month an order from his Excellency the Viceroy d Don 

 Antonio Maria deBucarely and Orfua, to undertake the function 

 of firft pilot in the expedition, which was then fitting out at the 

 port of St. Bias for difcoveries on the Northern coaft of Cali- 

 fornia e . 



As I have always had the ftrongefl defire to ferve his Majefty 

 (be the rifque what it may) I readily accepted this commiffion, 

 and fetting out from La Vera Cruz on the 12th of January, I 

 reached Mexico on the 18th in order to receive his Excellency's 

 further commands. I left Mexico again on the 1 6th of February, 

 and arrived at the Port of St. Bias f , putting myfelf under the 

 orders of the officer, who was to fit out the expedition, Don 

 Bruno Heceta. The Ihips prepared for this purpofe were a 

 frigate and fchooners, the latter being 56 feet long h , 12 feet 

 wide, and 8 deep, commanded by the Lieutenant Don Juan de 

 Ayala, affifted by Don Juan Francifco de la Bodega, of the fame 



c Urea. 



d Sc. of Mexico. 



e It fhould feem from this journal, that the Spaniards deem all 

 the N.W. coaft of America beyond California to be part of that 

 province. 



f The journey from La Vera Cruz to Port S. Bias is fuppofed to be 

 300 leagues, thus divided : from La Vera Cruz to Mexico 1 10 leagues ; 

 and from the latter to S. Bias 1 90. 



s Goleta. 



h 1 8 codos, each codo being two feet, . 



P P P rank, 



