Part 3

The 17th we came to an _Indian_ Town, and the _Indians_ told our Interpreter Mr _Parmentiers_, that a little way from us lay a great Ship where there had never been one before; we sailed to them, and found only one Man advanced in years, and a Youth; the Man was the greatest Man in the Mechanical Parts of the Mathematicks I had ever met with; my second Mate was an _English_ Man, an excellent Seaman, as was my Gunner, who had been taken Prisoners at _Campechy_, as well as the Master's Son; they told me the Ship was of _New England_, from a Town called _Boston_. The Owner and the whole Ships Company came on board the 30th, and the Navigator of the Ship, Capt. _Shapley_, told me, his Owner was a fine Gentleman, and Major General of the largest Colony in _New England_, called the _Maltechusets_; so I received him like a Gentleman, and told him, my Commission was to make Prize of any People seeking a North West or West Passage into the South Sea but I would look upon them as Merchants trading with the Natives for Bevers, Otters, and other Furs and Skins, and so for a small Present of Provisions I had no need on, I gave him my Diamond Ring, which cost me 1200 Pieces of Eight, (which the modest Gentleman received with difficulty) and having given the brave Navigator, Capt. _Shapley_ for his fine Charts and Journals, 1000 Pieces of Eight, and the Owner of the Ship, _Seimor Gibbons_ a quarter Cask of good _Peruan_ Wine, and the 10 Seamen each 20 Pieces of Eight, the 6th of _August_, with as much Wind as we could fly before, and a Currant, we arrived at the first Fall of the River _Parmentiers_, the 11th of _August_, 86 Leagues, and was on the South side of the Lake _Belle_ on board our Ships the 16th of _August_, before the fine Town _Conosset_, where we found all things well; and the honest Natives of _Conosset_ had in our absence treated our People with great humanity, and Capt. _de Ronquillo_ answer'd their Civility and Justice.

The 20th of _August_ an _Indian_ brought me a Letter to _Conosset_ on the Lake _Belle_, from Capt. _Barnarda_, dated the 11th of _August_, where he sent me word he was returned from his Cold Expedition, and did assure me there was no Communication out of the _Spanish_ or _Atlantick_ Sea, by _Davis_ Strait; for the Natives had conducted one of his Seamen to the head of _Davis_ Strait, which terminated in a fresh Lake of about 30 Mile in circumference, in the 80th Degree of North Latitude; and that there was prodigious Mountains North of it, besides the North West from that Lake, the Ice was so fix'd, that from the Shore to 100 Fathom Water, for ought he knew from the Creation; for Mankind knew little of the wonderful Works of God, especially near the North and South Poles; he writ further, that he had sailed from _Basset_ Island North East, and East North East, and North East and by East, to the 79th Degree of Latitude, and then the Land trended North, and the Ice rested on the Land. I received afterwards a second Letter from Capt. _Barnarda_, dated from _Minhanset_, informing me, that he made the Port of _Arena_, 20 Leagues up the River _los Reyes_ on the 29th of _August_, where he waited my Commands. I having store of good Salt Provisions, of Venison and Fish, that Capt. _de Ronquillo_ had salted (by my order) in my absence, and 100 Hogsheads of _Indian_ Wheat or Mais, sailed the 2d of _September_ 1640. accompanied with many of the honest Natives of _Conosset_, and the 5th of _September_ in the Morning about 8, was at an Anchor betwixt _Arena_ and _Mynhanset_, in the River _los Reyes_, sailing down that River to the North East part of the South Sea; after that returned home, having found that there was no Passage into the South Sea by that they call the North West Passage. The Chart will make this much more demonstrable.

_Tho the Style of the foregoing Piece is not altogether so Polite, (being writ like a Man, whose livelihood depended on another way) but with abundance of Experience and a Traveller, yet there are so many Curious, and hitherto unknown Discoveries, that it was thought worthy a place in these_ Memoirs; _and 'tis humbly presum'd it will not be unacceptable to those who have either been in those Parts, or will give themselves the trouble of reviewing the Chart._

OBSERVATIONS

ON

_The Title affixed, and on other Circumstances relating to the Letter of Admiral_ de Fonte, _shewing the Authenticity of that Letter, and of the Account therein contained._

Observations have been made by several Geographers of different Nations on the Letter of Admiral _de Fonte_, to shew that such Letter is not deserving of Credit, is to be thought of as a mere Fiction or Romance, and is a Forgery composed by some Person to serve a particular Purpose. But it will appear, as we proceed in a more particular Consideration of the Title and Circumstances relative to the Letter of Admiral _de Fonte_ than hath been hitherto used, and from the following Remarks on the Subject of such Letter[6], That those Observations made by the Geographers have many of them no just Foundation, the rest afford not a sufficient Evidence to invalidate the Authenticity of that Letter, and of the Account it contains.

[6] Memoires et Observations Geographiques et Critiques sur la Situation de Pays Septientrionaux, &c. a Lausanne, 1765.--Pa. 115, &c.

It is only from a Copy of the Letter of _de Fonte_ that the Translation hath been made, which is now published, as is plain from a Title being affixed, _A Letter from Admiral_ Bartholomew de Fonte, _then Admiral of_ New Spain _and_ Peru, _and now Prince of_ Chili. As _Prince_ is never used in this Sense with us, it is apparently a literal Translation of the _Spanish_ Word _Principe_, consequently this Title was wrote in the _Spanish_ Language, and we cannot otherwise conclude but in the same Language with the Letter. From this and other Defects of the like Sort, which will be noticed as we proceed in our Observations, the Translator must be acquitted from all Suspicion of being any way concerned in this pretended Forgery.

By the Copiest affixing this Title, it is evident he was well assured that there had been such an Expedition.

The Anecdotes, as to the Vice-admiral _Pennelossa_, in the Body of the Letter, what is therein mentioned as to the Jesuits, evidence that a minute and particular Inquiry was made by the Copiest; that he had thoroughly informed himself of every Particular of this Affair; that he was assured that the Account by him copied contained the most material Transactions in a Journal of _de Fonte_'s, and that _de Fonte_ was then, probably from his advanced Age, in the Service of the Government in another Station.

This Expedition not being solely to intercept the Navigators from _Boston_, but also to discover whether there was a Passage in those Parts thro' which the _English_ expected to make a Passage, _viz._ by the back Part of _Virginia_, by _Hudson_'s or by _Baffin_'s Bay; it was an Undertaking which required that the Person who had the conducting of it should not only be a Man of good Understanding, but a judicious and experienced Seaman. The Time required to attain such Qualifications implies, that _de Fonte_ must have been of a mature Age when he went on this Command; and _de Fonte_ being alive at the Time that the Copy was taken, it must have been taken within twenty Years, or in a less Time after such Expedition, as the Copiest speaks of _Pennelossa_ as a young Nobleman. The Copiest therefore could not be imposed on, as his Inquiries were made in such a Time, either with respect to the Persons concerned, or with respect to the Letter not being a genuine Account of the Voyage.

A Person might be so circumstanced as to attain the Favour of copying such Letter, induced by some private Motive, without an Intention of making it publick, as Publications were not at that Time so frequent as of late Days; neither is it less probable that a Copy so taken may, in Process of Time, come into other Hands and then be published.

Mr. _Gage_ observes, in his Dedication to Lord _Fairfax_, 'The Reason of his publishing a New Survey of the _West Indies_ to be, because that nothing had been written of these Parts for these hundred Years last past, which is almost ever since from the first Conquest thereof by the _Spaniards_, who are contented to lose the Honour of that Wealth and Felicity, which they have since purchased by their great Endeavours, so that they may enjoy the Safety of retaining what they have formerly gotten in Peace and Security.' And though _de Fonte_ declares that there was no North-west Passage, yet that there should be no Publication of the Account of the Voyage is consistent with this established Maxim.

The North-west Passage he mentions is not to be understood, in an unlimited Sense, for a Passage between the _Atlantick_ and Western Ocean to the Northward, but the Meaning is confined to that Passage expected by _Hudson_'s Bay: For _de Fonte_ says, that he was to make a Prize of _any seeking a North-west or West Passage_[7]; by the latter he meant where _Pennelossa_ was sent to search; and _Bernarda_ says, there was no Communication out of the _Spanish_ or _Atlantick_ Sea, by _Davis_ Streight; and there was an Extent of Coast which _de Fonte_ only ran along, and had, but at Times, a distant View of; and as to the Jesuits, by whatever Means they got into those Parts, it is evident they had not seen all the intermediate Country. Therefore tho' the Court of _Spain_ was satisfied that the Passage was not where _de Fonte_ had searched; yet there might be a Passage where he had not searched, and publishing this Account of the Voyage would be an Assistance to the Adventurers, as it would confine them in their Searches to those other Parts which were cursorily passed by _de Fonte_, and where perhaps they might succeed: Or this Account particularly describing the Northern and Western Part of _America_, not hitherto known, would be of great Service to Rovers, who had already found their Way into those Seas, by directing them to the Coast and Harbours, and giving them an Account of a Country where they could retire to with tolerable Security from any Interruption from the _Spaniards_, a good Climate, hospitable People, and a Plenty of Provisions to be had; Circumstances which might enable them to continue their cruizing in those Seas much longer than without such Lights as they would receive from this Account they would be enabled to do.

[7] Vide Letter.

It is well known that the _Spaniards_ claimed all to the Northward as their Dominion, which they intended in due Time to acquire the Possession of, and the Publication might give an Insight to the _English_; Settlers in _America_ to be beforehand with them in attaining a Settlement in those Parts.

Their Attempt to intercept the _English_ Subjects, when made Publick to the World, would have given Umbrage to the Court and People of _England_, which the _Spaniards_ would not unnecessarily, and especially at a Time when they had their Hands full of a War with the _French_, who had also incited the _Catalonians_ to rebel, and had joined them with their Troops. The _Spaniards_ were, at the same Time, endeavouring to recover the Dominions of _Portugal_. And _de Fonte_ had respect to the critical Situation their Affairs were in, even before he set out on his Voyage, hence his political Behaviour when he met with the Navigators from _Boston_, committed no Act of Hostility, yet made Use of the most effective Means to prevent their proceeding further.

As no Publication was permitted of this Expedition, this therefore could come but to the Knowledge only of a very few Persons in _Old Spain_. Such a singular Transaction being soon, from their Attention to other Matters, and their Ministry soon after entirely changed, no more talked of, unless it should have been revived by something of the like Nature again happening on the Part of the _English_. As no Attempt was made by the _English_ for almost a Century, this Transaction, in that Time, fell into Oblivion. At the Time such Attempt was renewed, then the _Spaniards_ were better acquainted with the Purpose of our settling in _America_, they had altered their Designs of extending their own Possessions, there was also another Power who might pretend that such Passage, if made, was Part in their Dominion, so obstruct our free proceeding and interrupt our settling; the _Spaniards_ therefore having no immediate Occasion for any Researches back to the Records to acquaint themselves as to the Practicability or Impracticability of our Attempts, or to take Directions for their own Proceedings, the Remembrance of this Expedition continued dormant.

In _New Spain_, the fitting four Ships to go on Discovery, as such Undertakings had been very frequent, it would not engage any extraordinary Attention of the Publick there; it often happened that what was done on such Voyages was kept a Secret. The more curious and inquisitive Persons would attain but an imperfect Account, by Inquiry from the People on board the Ships, as the Ships were divided, and they would receive no satisfactory Information of what was most material, and the principal Object of their Inquiry by those who went in the Boats, as Seamen delighting in Stories often tell what they neither heard or saw. The Consequences of the Voyage not known, because not understood, a weak Tradition of this Expedition would remain to Posterity; and the only Knowledge or Certainty to be acquired, as to this Expedition, would be from Journals accidentally preserved, of some Persons who had gone the Voyage.

Mons. _de Lisle_ gives us an Extract of a Letter from Mons. _Antonio de Ulloa_, wrote from _Aranguer_ the 19th of _June_ in the Year 1753[8], to Mons. _Bouguer e le Mounier_, to answer the Queries they had made on the Subject of the Letter of Admiral _de Fuente_. That curious and able _Spanish_ Officer sent them in Answer, That in the Year 1742 he commanded a Ship of War the _Rose_, in the South Sea; he had on board him a Lieutenant of the Vessel named _Don Manuel Morel_, an antient Seaman, who shewed him a Manuscript; _Mons. Ulloa_ forgot the Author's Name, but believes it to be _Barthelemi de Fuentes_, the Author in that Manuscript reported, that in Consequence of an Order which he had received from the then Viceroy of _Peru_, that he had been to the Northward of _California_, to discover whether there was a Passage by which there was a Communication between the North and South Sea; but having reached a certain Northern Latitude, which _Mons. Ulloa_ did not recollect, and having found nothing that indicated such Passage, he returned to the Port of _Callao_, &c. _Mons. Ulloa_ adds, he had a Copy of such Relation, but he lost it when he was taken by the _English_ on his return from _America_.

[8] Novelles Cartes des Decovertes de L'Amiral de Fonte, et autres Navigateurs, &c. Par de Lisle. Paris 1753.--P. 30.

It is evident, from this Account being seen in 1742, it is not the same from which the Translation is made which we now have, that being published in 1708. And as _Mons. de Lisle_ asserts, that the Letter is conformable with what _Mons. Ulloa_ said at _Paris_ three Years before, with this Difference only, that he said positively at that Time, that the Relation which he had seen at _Peru_, and of which he had taken a Copy, was of Admiral _de Fonte_, this Manuscript, which contained the Account of the Voyage, may rather be supposed to be a Relation, or Journal kept by some Person, who was aboard Admiral _de Fonte_'s Ship, a Friend or Ancestor of _Morel_, than a Copy the same with this Letter, as it only mentioned the Purport of the Voyage, seems not to have the particular Circumstances as to intercepting the _Boston_ Men. This Account is an Evidence so far in Favour of this Letter, as it proves that this Letter is not the only Account that there is of this Voyage, and that another Account was seen and copied at _Peru_ many Years after this Letter was published in _England_. But if it be supposed that it is one and the same Account, and that from the _English_, it would not have been accepted of and kept by _Morel_, and shewed as a Curiosity, unless he was satisfied that it was a true genuine Account of such Voyage, and as to which he would naturally inquire, being on the Spot, where he might probably be informed, and unless he was at a Certainty that what that Account contained was true, would he have produced the Manuscript, or permitted his Captain to take a Copy of it as genuine; yet we may with greater Probability suppose, that this Manuscript which _Morel_ had was no Translation from the _English_, but in itself an Original. Mons. _Ulloa_ speaking of _Morel_ as an antient Seaman, cannot mean that he was in the Expedition of _de Fonte_, only implies his being acquainted with some one who was, with whom, from his Course of Years, he might have sailed, and attained this Journal.

What is said in the Letter of Mons. _Ulloa_, that he forgot the Name of the Author of the Manuscript, but believes it was _Bartelemi de Fuentes_, that the Author of that Manuscript gave an Account of. It must be considered, that when Mons. _Ulloa_ wrote he was in _Old Spain_, many Years after he had seen the Account, and three Years after he was at _Paris_; and though he genteelly answers the Inquiries sent him, agreeable to his Conversation at _Paris_, yet does not express himself so positively as when at _Paris_, as in the Letter he only believes it to be _Bartelemi de Fonte_. _Mons. Ulloa_ would sooner not have answered the Letter than deny what he had formerly said; and if Mons. _de Lisle_ had advanced that for which he had no proper Authority, both as a Gentleman and an Officer he would not have submitted to such a Falshood: But from Mons. _Ulloa_ being tender in the Account, being of a Matter which might not make any great Impression on him at the Time he received it, ten Years since, out of his Hands, and three Years after he was at _Paris_, this Account is more worthy of Credit, and he might be more cautious, now he was to give it under his Hand, to soften the Reproach of his Countrymen for his not acting like a true _Spaniard_, in being so communicative in this Matter. The Account which Mons. _de Lisle_ hath given, was with a Permission of Mons. _Ulloa_ to make Use of his Name, as the Letter Mons. _Ulloa_ sent testifies. Where Mons. _de Lisle_ hath not the Liberty to mention the Name of his Author, he only says, that there was a Person equally curious, and as well instructed in the Affair as Mons. _de Ulloa_, who assured him positively that there was such a Relation.

Though Mons. _de Lisle_ had a particular System to support, yet, at the same Time, he had a great publick Character to preserve. Mons. _Bougier_, _Mounier_, and _Ulloa_, were living at the Time he gave this Account to the Publick; they would be asked as to what they knew of the Affair; and a more particular Inquiry would be made of Mons. _de Lisle_, as to the Information he received from the nameless Person; and as there were several of his Countrymen who did not adopt his System, a Trip in this Affair, as to the Evidence he brings in Support of the Authority of this Account of _de Fonte_, would have given them an Advantage which they would not have neglected, and have done Justice to the Publick, by letting them know there was little of Truth in this Account; but as no Reflections have appeared, we have no Reason to question the Veracity of Mons. _de Lisle_ in this Relation, on any Surmises of Strangers, on no better Authority than meer Opinion, without a single Reason produced in Support of what they insinuate.

This Letter, when published in 1708, was considered only as an Account that was curious; was looked on as of no Importance, and did not engage the Attention of the Publick until the Discovery of the North-west Passage became the Topick of common Conversation, and would have lain, without having any further Notice taken of it, had not the Attempts to discover a North-west Passage been revived. It is from their being produced in a proper Season, that Accounts of this Sort become permanent, assisting in some favourite Design, being thus useful they are preserved from Obscurity and Oblivion. We have an Account, the Author Captain _Don Francisco de Seixas_, a Captain in the _Spanish_ Navy, and is frequently quoted by the _Spanish_ Writers, though he is little known amongst us.--He says, P. 71. '_Thomas Peche_, an _Englishman_, having been at Sea twenty-eight Years, and made eight Voyages to the _East-Indies_ and _China_ during sixteen Years of that Time, spent the other twelve in Trading and Piracies in the _West-Indies_, from whence he returned to _England_ in 1669; and, after continuing there four Years, in 1673, with other Companions, fitted out at the Port of _Bristol_ one Ship of five hundred Tons, with forty-four Guns, and two light Frigates of one hundred and fifty Tons, and in each eighteen Guns, giving out that he was bound on a trading Voyage to the _Canaries_; whence they bore away with the three Vessels, and went through the Streight _Le Maire_, with two hundred and seventy Men, which he carried directly to trade at the _Moluccas_ and _Philippinas_.

'And after continuing in those Parts twenty-six Months and some Days, it appearing to the said _Thomas Peche_ that from the _Philippinas_ he could return to _England_ in a shorter Time by the Streight of _Anian_ than by the East or Streight _Magellan_, he determined to pass this Rout with his large Ship, and one small one, the other having lost Company by bad Weather, or worse Design in those who commanded it.

'And having, as he says, sailed one hundred and twenty Leagues within the Streights of _Anian_, relates, that as the Month of _October_ was far advanced, in which the northerly Winds reign much, and drove the Waters from the North to the South, that the Currents of the said Streight of _Anian_ were such, and so strong, that had they continued longer they must, without Doubt, have been lost; wherefore, finding it necessary to return back, sailing along the Coast of _California_ (after having sailed out of the Channel of _Anian_) and those of _New Spain_ and _Peru_, he went through the Streight of _Magellan_ into the North Sea in sixteen Hundred and seventy-seven, with the Vessels and much Riches, great Part whereof was of a _Spanish_ Vessel which they took on the Coast of _Lugan_.'

Wherefore passing over all the rest of what the Author says in his Voyage, only mentioning what regarded the Currents, he relates, that when he entered into the Streight of _Anian_ he found, from Cape _Mendocino_ in _California_, for above twenty Leagues within the Channel, the Currents set to the N. E. all which and much more the Curious will find in the Voyage of the said _Thomas Peche_, which in sixteen Hundred and seventy-nine was printed in _French_ and _English_, in many Parts of _Holland_, _France_, and _England_, in less than twenty Sheets Quarto: And (he adds) further I can affirm, that I have seen the Author many Times in the Year eighty-two, three and four in _Holland_, who had along with him a _Spanish_ Mestize born in the _Philippinas_, together with a _Chinese_.