But as A e completion of our furvey demanded that the relative fitua-
*^on the ifland of Guadaloupe with thefe fhores, lhould be afcertained
according to our own obfervations, our courfe was direfted thither.
The ifland of Guadaloupe is generally made by the Spaniards when
bound to the fouthward from Monterrey, or from their1 other northern
eftablilhments ; in which route they pafs to the wellward out o f fight of
thole tflands that form the canal o f S'* Barbara, for the advantage of continuing
in the ftrength of the.north-well; winds;' and thus they reach the
ifland o f Guadaloupe, from whence; they lhape a courfe for cape St.
Lucas.
As a confiderable part o f the commiflion entrufted to my charge and
execution had now been accomplilhed, and- thus far drawn towards a
conclufion.; and as the nature o f new countries, and the progrefs of
new colonial eftablilhments, mull ever be regarded as interefting fubjefits
o f inquiry ; I {hall, now endeavour to recite fuch circumftances as had
fallen within the fphere o f my obfervation, and fuch mifcellaneous information
as I was able to procure with refpeft to the Spanilh fettlements
on thefe Ihores, but which wouldhave interrupted the foregoing narrative,
confined chiefly to the occurrences which were infeparable from our
nautical or geographical purfuits.
On this occafion, however, it may not be unfit to premife, that the
communication we had with the Ihores o f New Albion, and our inter-
courfe with the refident Spanilh inhabitants, was too limited, and o f too
fhort duration to permit of my obtaining any other information than fuch
as arofe in common converfation from the impreffions of furrounding
objeas. In addition to which, the fituation in which I flood was o f a
very delicate nature, and demanded the moft cautious attention on my
part, left anything lhould occur, either by too great curiofity to be in-
ftrufted in the knowledge o f their internal government, or in the number,
ftrength, and fituation of their feveral eftablilhments along the
coaft, that might prevent our obtaining the elfential refrelhments we
required.; or become the caufe o f any national difagreement. Under
thefe circumftances, it was abfolutely requifite that all my inquiries lhould
be conduded with the greateft circumfpeaion; and hence the knowledge
obtained
obtained muft necelfanly be o f a very limited nature, and rendered ad- 1793.
ditionally incorrea, by my labouring under the mortifying difadvantage
o f underftandmg but little o f the Spanilh language.
The profound fecrecy which the Spanilh nation has fo ftriaiy ob-
ferved with regard to their territories and fettlements in this hemifphere,
naturally excites, m the ftrongeft manner, a curiofity, and a defire of being
informed of the ftate, condition, and progrefs o f the feveral eftablilhments
provided in thefe diftant regions, for the purpofe of converting its
native inhabitants to Chriftianity and civilization.
The miflion of St. Domingo has already been ftated to be fouthernmoft
of the Spanilh fettlements in New Albion; and it is alfo to be under-
ftood as the moftfouthern o f thofe that are confidered as new ejlablifh-
ments, from having been formed fubfequent to the year 1769, when the
expeditions by fea and land were undertaken to fettle Monterrey and St
Diego. A t this period their north-wefternmoft polTeffion on this coaft
was Vehcata, and S'* Maria on the coaft o f the peninfula, in the gulph
o f California. Until that time thefe two millions had formed a kind of
north-weftern barrier, or frontier, j to the Spanilh Mexican colonies.
But, the rapid Andes that Ruffia was then making in fubjefting to
its government the countries bordering on the north-weftern part o f
the north pacific ocean, awakened the apprehenfions and roufed the
jealoufy of the Spanilh court ; and in confequencè of the alarm thus
given, thofe expeditions were undertaken. Since that time all the
new eftablilhments have been formed, and the miflion ofVelicata removed
fome leagues to the north-weftward, nearer the exterior coaft of
California.
The new fettlements are divided into four different counties, or rather
are placed under four diftinft jurifdi&ions, of which Monterrey is the
principal ; and the eftablilhed refidence as well of the governor, who
is captain general of the province, as o f the father prefident of the
Francifcan order o f miflionaries. In each of the divifions is fixed one
military poll only, called the Prefidio, governéd by a lieutenant, who
has under him an enfign, with ferjeants, corporals, &c. And although
the jurifdiftion of the governpr extends over the whole province, yet
the