I mutt now for the prefent quit the interefting fubjeft of thefe efta-
blilhments ; -in which we unexpectedly not only found an afyluni, and
pleafant retreat from the viciffmides and labours of our voyage, but the
gratification of focial intercourfe with a fist of liberal-minded, generous
people, each of whom endeavoured to furpafs the other in manifefting
an intereft for our welfare, and expreffing on every bccafion the hap-
pinefs they felt, in relieving our wants or rendering us any kind offer-
vice. Their friendly and hofpitable behaviour daily proved the im-
cerity o f their profeffions, by making' our refidence whilft among«;
them, as comfortable and agreeable; as their circumftances would
permit.
With the mod grateful recolleffion o f the attentive civilities, difinter-
efted kindneffes, and benevolent afliilancereceived at the hands , of intire
ftrangers, I fhould very infufliciently requite their goodnefs, or comply
with the,dictates of my heart, were I to: omit the opportunity which
now prefents itfdf of making' thisf though rude and unpolilhed, yet
grateful record, o f the weighty obligations I fliall for ever feel to have
been conferred upon us on this oCCafion.
The well-known generofity o f my other Spanilh friends,-will, I truft,
pardon the warmth of exprelfion with which I mult ever advert to the
condud of Sen'- Ouadra ; who, regardlefs of the difference in opinion
that had arifen between us in our diplomatic capacities; at Nootka, had
uniformly maintained towards us a charaHer infinitely "beyond the
.reach of my powers of encomium to defc-ribe. His benevolence was
not confined to the common rights of hofpitality, but was extended- to
all occasions, and was exercifed in every inftance, where His Majefty’s
fervice, combined with my commiffion, was in the leaft -concerned.
T o Sen'-Quadra we were greatly indebted, for waiting our arrival -at
Monterrey, for the friendly and hofpitable reception we experienced,
and afterwards for remaining there for the foie purpofe of affording me
an opportunity of tranfmitting through the medium of his kind offices,
my difpatches to England ; when his time, no doubt, would have
paffed infinitely more to his fatisfaSion at the town of Tepic, the place
fi - of
of his refidence- in the vicinity of St. Bias. Such facrifices did .not how- ‘ 79s-
ever fill the meafure o f Sen1- Quadra’s liberality? for, on my requefting an ’ '■
account o f the expences incurred for the refrelhments, with which the
three veffels under my command had-, been fo- amply fupplied, here and
at St. Francifcoy together with the charges attendant on the cattle, Iheep,
corn, &c. &c. put on board the. Daedalus for. His Majefty’s infant colony
in New South Wales, he not-only revolted at the idea of, receiving
any payment, but gave drift orders that no account whatever fhould be
rendered ; nor would he accept of" the moil common voucher, or other
acknowledgment, for the very liberal fupply we had received, o f fuch'
cflfential importance, not only to- our health and comfort at the time,
but to our fubfequent welfare.
On my firft arrival at Monterrey I ,had queftioned Sen" Quadra, as to
the fupply of refrelhments, and' the price- of tire different fpecies .we
fhould require; T o the firft he.affu-red me, that every thing the country
afforded was at our fervice^ and- as to the laft, he faid that could be
eafily fettled on our departure. On this ground I now ftrongly urged
his- compliance, with his former promife, .efpecially as the account between
us was of a pu-blic nature; but all my remonftrances were to no
effeH ; he infilled that he had fulfilled his promife, fi nce the only fettle-
ment in which he could poffibly engage, was. that o f feeing we- were accommodated,
to the extent of, our wilhes, with every fupply the country
could bellow; adding, that repayment would moll amply be made, by
the prom-ifed fuccefs attending. every creature and produ£tion, that we
had either received for our own ufe, or that were deftined for other
purpofes-. And as it was probable our refpeflive courts would become
acquainted with our feveral tranfaftions, he fhould fubmit alL further,
acknowledgment to their determination.
( The venerable, and re£pe£lable lather prefident o f the Francifcan mif-
fionaries, with all the excellent and worthy members o f that religious-
order, together with Sen” -- Caamano, Arguello, Sal, and the whole o f the-
Spanifh officers with whom we had the honor o f being acquainted, demand
from us the higheft fentiments. of efteem and gratitude. Even thecommons