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_.