CHAPTER XIII THE BEGINNINGS OF Foreign COMMERCE THE mission system was opposed to a true colonial development in California. Its direct aim may be described as the spiritual exploitation of the country, in the achievement of which the Franciscans desired freedom from colonizing interference. The ultimate object, indeed, was to civilize the converted Indians; and if the process could have been successfully carried out there would have resulted new societies, the possible basis of new States. But this, for various reasons, was not to be the outcome of the missionary activity. The natives there, as elsewhere in North America, were destined to form a most insignificant element in the developed communities of modern times. In California, civilized societies grew up slowly outside of the missions, to some extent in spite of them and yet indirectly by their aid. One means which contributed largely to this result during the first thirty-five or forty years of the nineteenth century was the development of California's commerce with outside nations. By a consistent policy of trade monopoly the Spanish government had succeeded in arresting the development of all its colonies, even those which, like Mexico and Peru, possessed the exceptional economic advantage implied in vast deposits of the precious metals. This policy was a fundamental cause of that widespread revolt of the SpanishAmerican colonies, which marked the first quarter of the nineteenth century. California at the beginning of the nineteenth century, had not yet revealed its mineral wealth, and the settlement of the territory by white men was to be on account of its great extent of fertile soil, fit for agricultural and grazing purposes. But these natural advantages would fail to attract colonists unless they could be assured of a market for their products. Prior to the year 1800, no trading vessel proper visited California, such trade as existed being carried on with the Spanish transports carrying supplies to the missions and presidios. It was an unsystematic, monopolistic, and wholly inadequate commerce, contributing but little to the prosperity of the country. Several schemes for the development of a more regular trade were considered by the government before 1800, but no important results accrued. So the situation. would have remained to the end of the Spanish rule, had it not been for the coming of foreign traders to the harbors and roadsteads, and the gradual rise of an export trade not contemplated by the governing authorities. La Pérouse was the first foreigner to sail into a California harbor after the Spanish occupation. He was no merchant, though he purchased a quantity of supplies for his vessel, as did Vancouver a few years later. Both navigators were impressed with the commercial possibilities of the country and they called attention to the great number of sea-otters, the value of whose furs had so recently been discovered by Cook's men in Canton. La Pérouse considered the furs of California hardly, if at all, inferior to those of the more northerly coasts of America. The Spaniards were in his time just realizing the importance of the fur trade, and he found at Monterey an official with a government order for all furs that should be collected at the presidios and missions. For several years an attempt was made to conduct this business through Manila, with Canton, but owing to poor management failure ensued. Vancouver seemed to regard California, as it was controlled and managed by the Spaniards, in the light of a nineteenth century. California at the beginning of the nineteenth century, had not yet revealed its mineral wealth, and the settlement of the territory by white men was to be on account of its great extent of fertile soil, fit for agricultural and grazing purposes. But these natural advantages would fail to attract colonists unless they could be assured of a market for their products. Prior to the year 1800, no trading vessel proper visited California, such trade as existed being carried on with the Spanish transports carrying supplies to the missions and presidios. It was an unsystematic, monopolistic, and wholly inadequate commerce, contributing but little to the prosperity of the country. Several schemes for the development of a more regular trade were considered by the government before 1800, but no important results accrued. So the situation would have remained to the end of the Spanish rule, had it not been for the coming of foreign traders to the harbors and roadsteads, and the gradual rise of an export trade not contemplated by the governing authorities. La Pérouse was the first foreigner to sail into a California harbor after the Spanish occupation. He was no merchant, though he purchased a quantity of supplies for his vessel, as did Vancouver a few years later. Both navigators were impressed with the commercial possibilities of the country and they called attention to the great number of sea-otters, the value of whose furs had so recently been discovered by Cook's men in Canton. La Pérouse considered the furs of California hardly, if at all, inferior to those of the more northerly coasts of America. The Spaniards were in his time just realizing the importance of the fur trade, and he found at Monterey an official with a government order for all furs that should be collected at the presidios and missions. For several years an attempt was made to conduct this business through Manila, with Canton, but owing to poor management failure ensued. Vancouver seemed to regard California, as it was controlled and managed by the Spaniards, in the light of a |