+++ The building of his house in company with the inventive old padre likewise gave pleasure to Don Guillermo. Father Arroyo taught his friend sufficient Indian dialect to converse with the laborers in their own tongue. This helped Hartnell in his constant purpose. An educator by nature, he sought to find and develop the distinctive quality in each human being, even the lowly Indian in whom it often lay too deep to be easily perceived. His appeal was subtle, penetrating. It produced tangible results and enduring devotion. In the past he had attributed his unusual success in Indian labor relations to patience alone, and now he would be aided by knowledge of their language, as was the ancient padre. ++ Neither McCulloch nor Mr. Begg ever gave Hartnell credit for the time and effort he had spent in establishing and maintaining good relationships with employees and clients. The impatience of the senior partners contributed not a little toward the failure of a most promising firm. Now Dr. Anderson was building a fortune on Hartnell’s foundation. ++ Since Don Guillermo’s main purpose in becoming a ‘ranchero’ was to feed and clothe his family, he planned to diversify his products as seldom was done on the great cattle ‘ranchos.’ Already, working with the Soberanes, he had planted fruit trees, grapevines, and grain. The ‘siembra,’ or sowing of wheat and corn, started in December, with harvest from July to September. Irrigating and picking came at variable times, depending on species and unpredictable rainfall. Vine-tending, grape-gathering, and wine-making composed one seasonal occupation; as did butchering, hide-curing, tallow-rendering, and soap- and candle-making. The greatest excitement occurred in connection with cattle-raising, at the great rodeo (roundup of cattle) in April or smaller ones throughout the year for slaughtering, doctoring, dehorning, and branding. ++ The size of ‘la matanza’ depended on whether rainfall was sufficient and timely during winter months. Following an abundant spring growth of grass and grain, a large-scale slaughter of fattened cattle took place at each mission some time in mid-summer. +++
Tag Archive: John Begg Lima Peru
+++ When the ‘Danube finally did appear, she had a splendid assorted cargo. Goods were being sold along the coast when the heaviest blow of all fell upon Hartnell. Driven before a terrific gale, the long-expected, greatly longed-for vessel was wrecked on the rocks off San Pedro. Down with her went Hartnell’s last hope for success in a life of trade. The cargo, partially damaged, was salvaged and sold at public auction a month later, and Hartnell wrote to Mr. Begg in deep despair: ++ ’Everything which I undertake appears to miscarry . . . . the flattering hope I had conceived of the advantages which would accrue to me from my connexion with Coit have been dashed to the ground. I am now reduced to the necessity of informing you that I have no longer any prospect of being able to fulfill my engagements to you, and to request that you will appoint someone to wind up our affairs and make a bankrupt of me at once. I am perfectly willing to give up everything I possess to satisfy my creditors and this is all I have it in my power to do.’ ++ Even before the wreck of the ‘Danube,’ Don Guillermo had commenced to worry distractedly about his burden of debt, besides the daily necessity of feeding, clothing, and educating his family. His mental state is indicated in a fragment of his handwriting – scratched-out sentences of a letter never sent, but rescued by chance from the wastebasket. No name, no address, no date remains. It is a cry of despair: ++ ’I can scarcely recover anything of the debt owing to me here. I made a most foolish agreement in Lima which I shall have to repent of as long as I live. I had no occasion whatever to have compromised myself as I have done, but there is no remedy and I must get out of the scrape as well as I can.’ ++ When Hartnell’s last hope was dashed with the ‘Danube’ against the rocks near San Pedro, his final fear was realized. No word came from Mr. Coit concerning future speculations on the California coast. Hartnell had hoped for a long-term association with the wealthy American, and now received not one personal message, merely terse communications from Coit’s lawyers in Boston discussing insurance and cargo salvage. ++
+++ ’No news particular only the potatoes and pumpkins are looking up every day. . . . . ++ ’Captain Beechey joins me with his kind compliments to Mr. and Mrs. Hartnell. ++ ’Wishing you a good passage and a speedy return.’ ++ Six weeks before sailing, when Hartnell first arrived in Santa Barbara, he had written William Logan telling of the projected voyage. In answer, a letter was awaiting him at Lima, dated March 30 from Hacienda del Monte Puno in the Andean highlands, and saying: ++ ’Mr. Begg mentions your now being in Valparaiso and expected daily in Lima. I hope when you sailed from California you left Mrs. H. [and] little Billy with another little squire as a companion in good health and spirits along with all other relatives and friends. ++ ’I am happy to hear of your arrival, hoping that you will have an amicable drawing up of the establishment Accts. and clear up any former doubts and reflections that may have arisen from little or no foundation; and have not the least doubt, but Mr. Begg and yourself will make a future relationship and continue the specn. in California which I think well of.’ ++ Of his own affairs, Logan reports that mining problems in the Andes, which he lacks the experience and knowledge to solve, have forced him into the decision to resign from his present situation, and he has not made up his mind about the future. He expects to see Hartnell soon in Lima; and of all his California companions, Logan most anxiously inquires after “our old cowled friends. . . . .and in particular how P. Jose Maria Zalvidea, Sanchez, Peyree, and Ripoll are holding out.” He has heard rumors of the persecution of Spaniards and hopes they are unfounded. In conclusion he asks: “How does our best friends Cot and Mancisidor pass their time? Do once more think of an old servant and friend and communicate some news to him respecting the different changes you have had since I left.” +++
++ ’And if you do spare a few days to make sales of the cargoes that go to you from this it appears you wish that I who am toiling from years’ end to years’ end and getting bald and blind in the concern should pay you for doing what is no more than your bounded duty; but you must either turn over a new leaf or I shall no longer have the pleasure of subscribing myself, your affectionate Partner.’ ++ Settling such important matters by correspondence became impossible. Months must intervene before there was the possibility of an answer. Meanwhile, distressing rumors were reaching the coast concerning the increasing depression in England. As hostilities slowly ceased on the South American continent, a resultant check occurred in the business of such companies as James Brotherston’s. Suspension of payments by English banking houses was attributed, by Mr. Begg, to overissuance of paper in speculations on foreign securities. Mr. Begg even had retailed the rumor, which Captain Lincoln refused to credit, that Brotherston and Company itself had failed. ++ Hartnell’s presence in Lima became imperative when the company ship ‘Aurora’ brought a harried letter from McCulloch: ++ ’The cares and anxieties of the last 10 months have literally made an old man of me before my youth is half finished. . . . .John Begg & Co. have written you by this conveyance intimating to you their intention of putting a stop (for the present) to the California Establishment and requesting you to wind up the concern, and make out a Balance Sheet of how the affairs stand; I am of opinion that this is only a temporary winding up, at least I would fain hope so (I can’t get Mr. Begg to speak decisively) for it would be a great pity to give up the concern just at the time when. . . .there was every chance of some good business being done. I do not like the idea of our sowing and other people reaping the fruits.’ ++ Mr. Begg, in the same month of May 1826, announced to the resident manager of McCulloch, Hartnell and Company: ++ ’It is now our wish to bring the Firm to a termination, and completely to wind up all its transactions, before we enter into new articles of copartnership with your Mr. Hartnell. … +++
+++ On the heels of his British house guest came an equally interesting Frenchman, Auguste Duhaut-Cilly, commanding ‘Le Heros’ on a voyage of trade and exploration ‘autour du monde.’ Like Beechey, the French captain was a keen observer, and likewise left a written account of his travels which has been widely read and translated into languages other than his own. Hartnell heard of Duhaut-Cilly’s appearance on the California coast about the time the ‘Blossom’ sailed for Sandwich. On February 22 he wrote to Don Jose in Santa Barbara that “every moment we expect a French merchant vessel which planned yesterday to leave San Francisco.” ++ A month later, after an opportunity of becoming well acquainted and performing friendly offices for the Frenchman, Don Guillermo wrote a letter of introduction to his father-in-law, recommending Duhaut-Cilly without reserve. ++ Though warned by Mr. Begg “that it is the policy of France to have a possession in these seas,” and aware that the Frenchman might have a purpose similar to Captain Beechey’s the Englishman asked his father-in-law to offer unstinting hospitality to his new friend. He truly liked the man, considering him “a gentleman of pleasing personality and many accomplishments.” Of the meeting in Santa Barbara, Duhaut-Cilly himself says (translation from French): ++ ’We went to see the commandant, Don Jose de la Guerra y Noriega. He dwelt in the presidio, while waiting for the completion of quite a fine house he was having built without; and for which I was bringing him some beams I had taken on board at Monterey. In Don Jose we found a well-informed and estimable man, surrounded by a large and charming family, from whom we had a gracious and hearty reception. His large fortune and fine character were the cause of his enjoying a great influence in the country; and although he was a Spaniard, he had just been nominated delegate to the Mexican congress. ++ Already Hartnell had sent congratulations to the old Spaniard, saying: “I have been exceedingly pleased to hear of the new honors conferred upon you by the nation.” +++
+++ CHAPTER 3 ++ Diplomat ++ FOR ENGLAND ++ INTENSE competition distressed William Hartnell. He envied Father Cabot’s calm assurance that “the soul of commerce is friendly intercourse,” but run-ins with wily rivals like Mancisidor and William Gale had long since disillusioned him. Begg and McCulloch, being natural-born traders, seemed actually to enjoy the contest, themselves not above trickery, as when the Scot advised his partner “to keep back for a few days” an important letter from Lima addressed to Mancisidor. ++ We know that Hartnell’s own record of honesty in England and South America had not been without blotches. But his conversion seemed complete; and the reputation he built for himself in California was as “a man who enjoyed and merited the respect and friendship of all who knew him, being perfectly honest and straightforward in all his transactions, of most genial temperament, and too liberal for his own interest,” according to Bancroft’s ‘Pioneer Register.’ Such a man was considered to be a lamb among wolves, as competition became increasingly intense and unscrupulous. ++ One rival trader who remained a true friend to Don Guillermo was the Scot Dr. Stephen Anderson, a resident of Lima associated in business with Mancisidor. Not a great deal is remembered of him today, but during the ‘twenties and early ‘thirties he was known by everyone of consequence living along the west coast. Early mention of his trading activity in Alta California occurs in the Hartnell-McCulloch correspondence of 1824. From that year on, Anderson was a frequent visitor to California ports, acting as supercargo aboard various vessels. Contemporary references indicate not only that he was a good businessman and congenial companion, but that he became famed as a man with magic powers, being an M.D. actually capable of practicing medicine. Doctors were few and far between in the western hemisphere, and most “cures” were worse than the original complaints. +++
+++ … When the new house burned down, on December 17, Hartnell wrote an unsympathetic letter advising Tivy to erect a shed near the beach for the deferred ‘matanza.’ It also could serve as a shelter for the homeless Irishmen. ++ A change in governors brought about the second blow. Jose Maria Echeandia, lieutenant colonel of engineers, was sent from Mexico City to succeed the popular ‘hijo del pais,’ Don Luis Arguello. Don Luis had been accused of being too easy going, drinking too much, granting too many favors to his friends, notably Macala y Arnel. Echeandia gave orders that foreign trade again be restricted to the ports of Monterey and San Diego, and that heavy new duties be levied in addition to the old. Since duties always had been the largest items of expenditure on Hartnell’s account books, the enforcement of such orders would mean ruin to the pioneer British firm. ++ The resident manager wrote to Begg and Company on December 3: “If vessels are not allowed to touch at all the places they have been accustomed to do, the priests will sooner let their produce rot in the missions than attempt to carry it by land to the two above mentioned ports.” ++ Carrying his special permit from Arguello “to trade in all the ports of California and also in all the landfalls and bays nearest the missions,” William Logan sailed in December on the ‘Speedy’ from Monterey to San Pedro, only to be refused admittance to the harbor which actually was his home. In a rare rage, he continued southward to San Diego for a personal interview with Governor Echeadia. ++ Logan found the newcomer nursing his health in San Diego’s all-year sunshine, and thought he had a pleasing personality. Nearing forty years of age, Echeandi was tall, slight, brown-haried, and very fair-skinned. He seemd aristocratic and even gentle, preoccuppied with his own ill health and so absent-mnded as to ask his secretary before signing a document, “What is my name?” ++ Logan secured special persission to unload and reload the ‘Speedy’ in San Pedro. But no commitments on future legislation were forthcoming. ++ All during December the outlook grew blacker. On Christmas Eve came the wreck of the ‘Esther’ and the loss overboard of Captain Davis, perhaps the ablest officer in the company’s service. … +++
+++ Hartnell himself commenced to look forward to the expiration of the mission contract. Its usefulness had been outlived. ++ During the early days of the contract, Mr. Begg and even McCulloch often had charged the California partner with lack of exertion, with absorbing too completely the spirit of the land. But such accusations ceased as it became plain to all that a business depression was settling slowly over Europe and South America, causing the failure of many speculative concerns, threatening the very existence of James Brotherston and Company and thus, indirectly, of Begg and Company and MacCulloch and Hartnell, subsidiary as they were to the Liverpool concern. ++ The development of personality through defeat is an elusive subject, difficult to understand. It took increasing fortitude to withstand such bitter blows as fate delivered in quick succession to ambitious Hartnell. Even his partners admitted that he was showing strength of character to a surprising degree. ++ During a November storm the ‘Young Tartar,’ the company’s invaluable coasting schooner, was beached at San Diego. David Spence made herculean efforts to salvage her, but Hartnell wrote sadly to his father-in-law: “There is no hope of saving the Ex-Young Tartar.” ++ Early in December it was discovered that Mr. Tivy devoted himself entirely to his own affairs at the ranch leased by the company for its curing business. The first impression had been deceptive. After a quarrel with the ranch owner, Tivy and his assistants had been turned out of comfortable quarters in the main house. Thereupon the Irishmen spent all their time in building another house, because Tivy expected his wife and children to come by the next company ship. ++ They allowed the months of the ‘matanza’ (yearly slaughtering of cattle) to come and go, making no effort to erect sheds and perform other seasonal duties. Hartnell’s explanation is the kindest one possible: ”Such perverseness was due not to bad intentions on Tivy’s part, but to his youthful egotism, for he pitted his opinion concernIng the timing for the annual matanza against those of all other ‘rancheros’ in the country.” … +++
++ Mr. Begg has not yet heard (on September 28) that profits on the ‘John Begg”s cargo already have exceeded expectations, and the company’s prospects now seen as rosy-hued as Hartnell’s personal life, in the fall of 1825. ++ By every ship these days come letters of congratulation and the expression of affection from faraway friends. Most welcome perhaps are two communications in October from Dr. Wyllie. Hartnell’s adventurous relative and “family doctor” had sailed the past year from Lima with a cargo for Calcutta. After becoming involved in the Indian-Burmese war, with three armies of 10,000 men each (his explanation is vague), Wyllie somehow, somewhere, picked up “a beautiful brig well loaded with India Goods.” ++ This news, coming from Cape San Lucas, interests Hartnell exceedingly. For a long time he has been urging Begg and Company to sanction a trade with the vessels from Canton and Manila which frequently put in at California ports, claiming that “India cottons, nankeens, china crepe, sayasaya are preferred here to anything that can be brought from Europe.” Trade in the Pacific islands and countries of the Far East he feels would unlock the “treasure house of the world.” ++ Wyllie does not learn about the Hartnell-de la Guerra nuptials until his arrival at Mazatlan in Mexico. From there he sends congratulations from “your old cronie” in bird-track handwriting which is very hard to decipher: ++ ’It has given me infinite satisfaction, here to learn that you are not only well, but married and doing well. Prosperity, I trust, will long attend you & yours.’ ++ Congratulations from fatherly Mr. Brotherston do not reach Hartnell until more than a year after the marriage. Writing from Liverpool, on January 20, 1826, he mentions Teresa’s brother Juan, who is being educated in England: ++ ’My young charge which I see you have made a Brother in law I am happy to say is quite well and is making very rapid progress in his studies. He is remarkably quick and I expect to make a distinguished character of him.’ … +++
+++ Having just finished “and got into play” an extensive store for retail trade, McCulloch seemed really on the job in Lima. The previous year he had been sent here, there, and everywhere on Begg and Company business, while conditions were so unsettled in Peru, until he came to the point of telling Mr. Begg that he wanted either to remain in Lima to promote his own partnership, or return to California until the expiration of their contract. ++ There was too much at stake for the ambitious Scotsman to become another man’s servant at his own loss. This outburst resulted in an agreement: ++ ’I take the whole of the management of the California business into my own hands, having only to consult him as to the disposal of the Produce, charting Vessels, etc; so that if you play your cards in that quarter as well as we will ours we will make a very handsome thing of it. . . . By the next Vessel. . . .you may expect without fail to have a good Bookkeeper, as also Cash & Goods. By next conveyance Mr. Begg will send you a very handsome Calesa [single-horse chaise] for Mrs. H.’ ++ How welcome were these words from McCulloch, although only words they proved to be. It was more than a year before a bookkeeper actually appeared, and no ‘calesa’ and not enough cash ever came from Mr. Begg. The “old man’s” letter of congratulation on Hartnell’s marriage was more restrained than McCulloch’s: ++ ’It gives me pleasure to hear of your marriage and I sincerely wish you all the happiness you could deserve. . . .I hope the additional motives you have for industry and exertion will make you equally diligent in the prosecution of the business. You have a great deal to do before losses are made up and the balance successfully turned in your favor.’ +++
