On Alarcon's Return Juan Rodrique de Cabrillo was fitted out, who went as far as Lat. 44. Sickness, Want of Provisions, and his Ships not being of sufficient Strength for those Northern Seas, obliged him to return, though he was designed to go further to Northward. The Ships returning from the Philippines, which was also an Expedition in the Time of Viceroyship of Mendoza, fell in with the Land in Lat. 42, and found it all to be Terra Firma, from a Cape there, which they named Mendocino to the Port of La Navidad. In 1602 Vizcaino went, and then the Discovery was made by Martin de Aguilar; and Torquemada tells us, Vol. i. Lib. 5. P. 725. That if there had not been, only fourteen healthy Persons when they were at Cape Blanco, they were resolved to pass thro' the Streight, which they named Anian, and which Streight is said to be there; and P. 719, speaking of the Entrance of Martin Aguilar, it is understood to be a River, by which you may pass to a great City, which the Hollanders discovered coming through the Streight, which is the Streight of Anian, and which City, he says, was named Quivira.
These Voyages, and we have Accounts of no others, could not have furnished the Cosmographers the principal Materials for composing their Map, and it must have been agreeable to those Materials, besides the Accounts of these Voyages sent to Old Spain, that they set down the utmost Limits of the Western Coast to be in the Longitude of 135 Decrees from the Meridian of Ferro. Therefore it was their Opinion at that Time that one Hundred and thirty-five Degrees was near the Difference of Longitude of the Entrance of the Streight of Anian in the South Sea, accounting the Longitude from the Meridian of Ferro. For which Reason the Spaniards can never be understood to mean by the Streight of Anian the Streight which separates Asia and America, now named Beering's Streight, and by which there is a Communication between the Sea of Tartary, or the Frozen Ocean, and the South Sea.
It is something remarkable, and supports what hath been before said as to Deficiency of the Spanish Records, what Jesuit Venegas, the Author of the History of California, says, Vol. ii. P. 228, 'I was extremely desirous of finding Capt. Sebastian Vizcaino's Narrative, and the Representations of the Council to his Majesty Philip the Third, especially the Maps, Plans, Charts of his Voyage and Discoveries, in order to communicate the Whole to the Publick. Accordingly at my Request Search was made in the Secretary's Office of the Council of the Indies: But in this Intention of being serviceable to the Publick I have been disappointed.' And he again observes, on the Governor of Cinaloa being ordered to pass over and take a Survey of the Coasts, Islands, Bays, Creeks, and the Disposition of the Ground of California, in the Year 1642, Vol. i. P. 188, 'There would have been little Occasion, says he, for this preparatory Survey, after so many others which had been continually making for above a Century, had the Reports, Narratives, Charts, Draughts and Maps, which were made, or should have been made, by so many Discoveries still continued in being. But these are the Effects of a Want of a proper Care in preserving Papers, a Fault to be regretted by Persons in Power, to whom they would be of Service in the Conduct of Affairs, and by private Persons, on the Account of their Interest, or as Entertainments of a commendable Curiosity.'—'But by the Loss of some Papers, either thro' a Change in the Government, or Irregularity in the Records, the whole Advantage of an Expedition is lost.'
From this Declaration by one who being a Jesuit, and of Mexico, composing a Work entirely for the publick Service, under the Direction of the Jesuits; by their Influence could attain the Sight of any Papers which were thought interesting as to the Work he was composing; and his last Reflection is not confined to the Records of Old Spain only; it is apparent what Uncertainty there is of attaining any Evidence from such Records, as to the Discoveries made in the first Century after the Conquest of Mexico, and for a long Time after. The Narrative of Vizcaino's Voyage, and every Thing thereto relating, as to any remaining Records might have become disputable, had not Torquemada collected it, and published it amongst other Accounts; yet what Torquemada hath preserved is but imperfect, as is apparent from a Journal of that Voyage, preserved in a private Hand at Manilla, and a Sight of large Extracts from which the Author hath been favoured by a Gentleman in London. It is owing to what Torquemada and some others have collected of the Accounts which the Religious were the Authors of, that the Publick have the Accounts of those Parts; but such Voyages and Accounts as have not met with the same Means of being preserved, the Publick, from such Neglect, know nothing of them. It is plain from Gomara's Account, also from Acosta's, that great Discoveries had been made in these Parts, but as to many of such Discoveries, by whom is not known; and Venegas says, Vol. i. P. 30, the River Santo Thome was discovered in the Year 1684; 'And tho' I do not find, says he, in the Narratives of that Expedition (of Admiral Otondo) that Otondo ever went ashore only to visit the Harbours of the Eastern Coast and the Gulph; yet from the ardent Curiosity of Father Kino, and the great Concern he had in the Affairs of California, I cannot think that he should be mistaken in any Particular relating to the Discovery: That Father Kino, both in his large Manuscript Map, and likewise in the lesser Impression, places the River of Santo Thome as rising between the 26th and 27th Degrees of N. Latitude, and, after crossing the whole Peninsula, discharging itself into the South Sea, in the 26th Deg. and forming at its Mouth a large Harbour, which he calls Puerto de Anno Nuevo, being discovered in the Year 1685. On both Sides the River are Christian Villages, as is evident from their Names; Santiago, Santo Innocentes, &c. yet, in the Accounts of that Time, I do not meet with any Intelligence of this Discovery; to which I must add, that in the subsequent Relations no mention is made of any such River, Settlements or Harbours, though even little Brooks, are taken Notice of.' And he observes many other Difficulties occur about this Coast. This Harbour made by the River Santo Thome, is evidently that which de Fonte and others call Christabel. Some Settlements had been made there, as these Names were given, but either deserted from the Barrenness of the Country, or had been only frequented by those who went out private Adventurers, in order to trade with the Natives. But as to which River, Settlements and Harbour, were not the Names preserved by Father Kino, it would not have been known that any Persons had been in those interior Parts of California, or that there were such River and Harbour. Father Kino looked upon it as a Thing so well known, as he had no Occasion to defend himself, by giving the Reason of his inserting those Names to protect himself from the Reproach of Posterity. And Venegas before tells us, that as to the Discoveries which had been made for a Century passed, the Papers were lost.
Between the Year sixteen Hundred and eighty-five, and the Time of Venegas's Publication, though in the Year sixteen Hundred and eighty-five, it was well known that there was such a River as St. Thome, this River is exploded out of the Maps by the Geographers, on Account of the Uncertainty; not duly considering that there was as full a Proof as could be required with respect to so unfrequented a Part. The Account being from a Person whose Business it was to make Observations there, who had been so laborious and accurate as to discover, what had been so long desired to be known, whether California was an Island or not, as to which he was believed; and the Truth hath been confirmed by later Observations of what he had reported, That it was not an Island. Therefore there was no Foundation for any Uncertainty in this Case, the same as with respect to the Letter of de Fonte, owing to the Neglect of a proper Enquiry into the Circumstances relating to it, by such an Inquiry the Uncertainty would have been removed.
What hath been said is to shew that the Argument on which so great a Stress is laid, that there is no Account of this Voyage amongst the Spanish Records, is an Argument of no Weight against the Authenticity of this Account; and that as a Publication of this Voyage was not permitted, an Account of such Voyage could not be perpetuated by the Religious, the only probable Means at that Time of preferring it from Oblivion. As it was intended what was the Effect of this Expedition should be kept a Secret, it is not consistent there should be many written Accounts of it; the Officers concerned would be cautious of letting Transcripts be made from their Journals; and it may be attributed to an extraordinary Accident, rather than to what could be expected, that a Copy of the Letter of de Fonte should ever come into the Possession of the English.
These Observations being previously made, we are better enabled to consider, what we have before inserted, the Objection of Venegas for not inserting this Account of de Fonte, as being of little Credit; but he seems rather to wish that we would be of his Opinion, than to imagine that he could convince us by any Arguments; therefore excuses himself as to the Length of the Dispute he might be engaged in. His Manner of expressing himself with respect to this Disappointment in the Secretary's Office, shews he hath a Manner of Address that his Words will admit of a further constructive Meaning than what is set down. The principal Object of his Writing is to incite the Court of Spain to prepare in Time against the ill Consequences of the English making a Discovery of a Passage; and he is to be understood, that it is not only his Opinion that the finding of such a Passage is practicable, but he apprehends it is of the Opinion of the Court also. Declares, that such Opinion hath prevailed from the first settling of Mexico, and that there really is a Passage in such a Manner as a Person who published an Account of this Sort would be permitted to express himself, to have it pass the Approbation of the Licenser; and does not desire to suppress the Account of de Fonte, as it is an absolute Contradiction to what he would infer, there being a Passage, and in such Letter it is declared there is no North-west Passage. For he must have had further and better Authorities for his Assertions of there being a Passage than such, as that single Assertion would prevail against. But desired to suppress this Account, as it was an Account which he knew it was more consistent with the Designs of the Court, it should be continued in Oblivion than revived. Mentions it therefore as the Contents of a Paper published in London, which contained a Narrative of little Credit; and to give the better Authority to what he says, as he could not trust to the Opinion that might be had of such Account on a fair Representation of the Title; to support the Character he gave of it, therefore uses Art, misrepresenting such Title; says it was by Order of the Viceroy of Peru, in the Year 1640, and giving an Account of the most material Transactions and Adventures in this Voyage. Was the Letter so entituled, the Transactions and Adventures of a Commander in Chief of the Navy, in New Spain, he would not be singular in his Opinion, but it would be understood by every one as a Romance, and not deserving of Credit.
This Misrepresentation is intentionally done; for if he never saw the Letter, or had not a right Account of it, on what Authority could he assert it was of little Credit; and that it would engage him in a long Dispute, a Dispute which his Sagacity would point out to him how to determine in a very few Lines, by proving that there was no such Person as de Fonte, Admiral of New Spain; which it was in his Power to do had it been the Case. But what he mentions is so far from a Denial of there being such a Person Admiral of New Spain, that he gives us the Name, and sets forth the Character de Fonte was in, in a more proper Manner than we have it expressed in the Title of the Letter. Bartholomew de Fuentes, Commander in Chief of the Navy in New Spain and Peru, and President of Chili; and he is to be understood not to mean that there was no such Person, but that the Narrative is not credible as to any such Voyage having been made by Admiral de Fonte.
By a Schedule of the King of Spain in 1606 to the Governor of the Philippines, Vizcaino was to be again fitted out to discover a Harbour on the Western Coast of California, for the Reception of the Aquapulco Ship; but the Death of Vizcaino prevented that Design being carried into Execution; as the Court had found so many Disappointments, and such ill Success in these Undertakings, they did not think proper to entrust it to any other Person in the Philippines or New Spain. And Venegas says, Hist of Cal. Vol. i. P. 180. 'During the succeeding nine Years inconsiderable Voyages only were made to California, and these rather to fish for Pearls, or procure them by Barter, than to make any Settlement, and therefore they have been thought below any separate Account, especially as in the subsequent Royal Commissions they are only mentioned in general without any Circumstances.' Though Commissions were given to go into these Parts, without any Account remaining to whom, and on what particular Occasion; it is not to be doubted as in all Commissions of this Nature they would be under an Obligation to make a Report to the Court, and it is not to be understood that these Commissions were continued for nine Years only; and therefore what hath been said as to Parmentiers and the Jesuits, their having been in these Parts, is not the least improbable. By these Commissions they were not confined to the Gulph of California, is evident from Father Kino, as already mentioned, giving Names in his Map to Villages, or occasional Settlements rather, on the River Santo Thome: And he says, P. 299, what made Father Kino desirous of discovering whether California was an Island or not, 'That all the Moderns had placed it as an Island, there being extant also some Journals of Mariners, according to which they went round California through a Streight, and gave the Parts and Places through which they passed their own Names.' It appears from this Account they were permitted, by these Commissions, to rove about, though not to make Settlements, induced by their private Advantage, and the Advantage to the Government was from their Discoveries. Also Vol. i. P. 182, he mentions, 'That a great many private Persons, from the Coast of Culiacan and Chametla, made Trips in small Boats to the Coast of California, either to fish for Pearls, or purchase them of the Indians;' which is agreeable to de Fonte's Account of the Master and Mariners he procured at Zalagua and Compostilo. We may also observe what the Missionaries say, as to the Tides at the Head of the Bay, which still adds to the Authenticity of this Account. 'In those Parts the Tide shifts every six Hours; the Flood, with a frightful Impetuosity, rises from three to seven Fathoms, overflowing the flat Country for some Leagues, and the Ebb necessarily returns with the same dangerous Violence.—However the Pilot went on Shore in the Pinnace, at several Parts, in order to make a complete Drawing of it for his Chart; was equally convinced that this Cape was the Extremity of the Gulph of California, and that the Waters beyond it were those of the River Colorado.' Therefore it was, from the exact Observation of the Tide which this Pilot took so much Pains to make, an unsettled Point from whence the Tide proceeded. Which, at the Time of de Fonte's Expedition, was said to come from the Northward, agreeable to the then prevailing Opinion of California being an Island. According to the usual Practice, though the true Cause of a Phænomena is unknown, to quote that Phænomena that favours a System which there is a Desire to establish as a Truth, not only in support of but to confirm such System, as to render the Truth of it unquestionable.
After Vizcaino's Death, and though the Court of Spain was disappointed as to finding able and sufficient Persons in New Spain whom they could intrust, yet Adventures were made by private Persons, at their own Expence, both for Discovery and Settlements; yet these could not be undertaken without the Permission of his Majesty, who had taken it into his own Hand to grant such Commissions, and mostly required a Voyage to Old Spain to attain them; and the next Expedition that was made, at the Crown's Expence, was conducted by an Admiral from Old Spain, who arrived in New Spain in 1643, Admiral Cassanate, with full Power and Necessaries to equip a Fleet, and make Settlements in California; and he sailed on such Expedition in 1644. By which it is apparent that there were Ships at that Time in New Spain proper for such Expeditions. As he came into these Parts within three Years after de Fonte's Expedition, and took the Command as Admiral of New Spain when he arrived, it is to be supposed the Expedition Cassanate was sent on was too fatiguing for de Fonte, who was therefore retired to his Government of Chili. In the Year 1649 Admiral Cassanate, in Reward for his Services, being after the same Manner promoted to the Government of Chili, de Fonte must be dead at that Time. This Circumstance fixes the Period in which the Copy of this Letter was taken.