are all very expert horfemen, and, fo far as their numbers extend, are
well qualified to fupport themfelves again!!; any domeftic infurre&ion ; but
are totally incapable of making any refiftanee againft a foreign inva-
fion.
The number of veffe'ls that have lately vifited the cbaft of North-Weft
America in new commercial pürfuits, have been inftrumerttal in awakening
the attention o f the Spaniards, and they have recently made
fome efforts to {hew an appearance of defence: On our laft vifit To
St. Francifco, eleven difmounted brafs cannon, nine pounders, with à
large quantity of {hot, o f two different fizes, were lying on the beach;
Thefe, we underftood, were to be placed on the fouth-eaft point of entrance
into the port ; which is a fteep cliff, well fituated to command thé
paffage into the harbour, but is commanded in return by a hill at no
great diftance, to the fouth-eaffward. Several Spaniards, with a numerous
body o f Indians, on oür late vifit on the top o f the cliff, were
-employed in erefting what feemed to be intended for a platform, of a
barbet battery, but it was not at that time in a fufficient ftate of forward-
nefs for us to decide, whether it might not be defigned for a more rei
gular work.
A t Monterrey the cannon, which, on our former vifit, were placed
before the Prefidio, were now removed to the hill, mentioned at that time
as intended to be fortified for the purpofe of commanding the anchorage.
Here is now ereóled a forry kind of barbet battery, confifting chiefly of
a few logs of wood, irregularly placed ; behind which thofe cafi-
non, about eleven in number, are oppofed to the anchorage, with very
little protection in the front, and on their rear and flanks intirely open
and expofed.
S Barbara is a poft of no fmall confequenèe, and might be rendered
very tenable, by fortifying a hill confpicuoufly fituated for fuch a purpofe
on the north-weft fide of the roadftead; yet they have here only
two brafs nine-pounders, placed before the entrance into the Prefidio,
which is fituated in the valley or plain beneath, at the diftance o f about
a mile from this eminence. As this poft is the key to all the communication
between their northern and fouthern eftabhlhments, it was wor-
1 thy
R Ö ü N D T H E W O R L D .
thy of remark, that they had not attempted to provide an intercourfe by
fome other road, through the mountains, which fife perpendicularly
immediately behind the Prefidio, and in their prefent rugged ftate are in.
acceftible, left this ftation fhould ever fall into the poffeffión o f an invading
enemy.
With little difficulty St. Diego might alfo be rendered a place of cori-
fiderablê ftrength, by eftabliftiing a fmall force at the entrance of the
port; where, at this time, there were neither works, guns, houffis; or other
habitations nearer than the Prefidio, which is at the diftance of at Ieaft
five miles from the port, and Where they have only three fmall pietês'of
brafs cannon.
Such is the condition óf this country as it refpeEts its internal fecurity,
and external defence; but Why fuch an extent of-territory ftiould havé
been thus fubjugated, and after all the ëxpence and labour that has been
bellowed upon its colonization turned to no account whatever, is a my-
ftery in the fcience o f ftate policy not eafily to be explained.
The natives- are not, nor can they be, rendered tributary, becaule they
poffefs Ho tribute to offer; nor do thefè territories, though greatly favored
by nature, contain, or under the pfefént arrangement feem intended
in future to contain, large towns or cities, whofe inhabitants
could in any refpeft add to the affluence, gran'dfeur, or dignity ctf the
monarch who upholds them. I f thefe eftabliftiments are intended as
a barrier againft foreign intruders, thé objeól in view has been greatly
miftaken, and the moft ready means have been adopted to alfurfe other
powers, by the defencelefs ftate of what the Spaniards' confider' as
their fortrefles and ftronghblds.' Should' the ambitibn o f arfy civilized
nation tempt it tofeize on thefe unfupported pöfts, they could not make
the leaft refiftanee, and muft inevitably fall to a force Barely1 fufficient
for garrifoning and fecuring the country; efpccially that part which I
have comprehended under the denomination óf New'1 Albion, Whofé
fouthmoft limits lie under the goth degree of north latitude.' Here' the
coaft, waftied by the waters o f the pacific, is not nun c than 30 leagues, (if
fomuch,) from the {horês under the fame parallel,' nëarly at thè‘ hèfidl:óf
the gulph of California. This pafs, béirigöncë wéllfecuréd’Hy ahy pöwér;
determined to wreft New Albion from the Spanifh monarchy, would inevitably
5 ° 1
-Î.723- ;
December. --v—~J