The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 16, July 1912 - April, 1913 Page: 71
464 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
The Approaches to California
1907, when Amundsen completed his four years' voyage by sailing
into San Francisco Bay. It is an interesting illustration of the
view here set forth that the ship in which the navigation of the
Northwest passage was finally accomplished now floats upon a pond
in Golden Gate Park.
Up to the beginning of the eighteenth century so little had
been done towards elucidating the geography of the north and
northwest of America that it would be unsuitable, in the present
instance, to go into details respecting the earlier explorations.
The activity shown by Peter the Great in sending out Bering was
not confined to Russia, the commercial ambitions of other Euro-
pean nations, particularly England and France, led, at the same
period, to world-wide explorations looking to the development of
foreign trade. As one of the great unexplored areas of the globe
was the Pacific Ocean, it was inevitable that the search for a North-
west passage would be taken up again with renewed vigor. The
new advocate of the quest was Arthur Dobbs, and owing to his
persistence three expeditions were sent out before the middle of
the century. The Hudson's Bay Company equipped two ships
which sailed in 1737 but never returned. The English govern-
ment detailed two ships in 1741 which did not get beyond the
confines of Hudson's Bay. Finally, Dobbs succeeded in raising
sufficient money by public subscription to send out two ships more
in 1746. One of these Dobbs named the California, thus indicat-
ing the further object of the undertaking; and it is of interest to
know that the scheme for which Dobbs could obtain such gen-
erous support contemplated that "if a discovery should be made
of this passage, . . . a considerable settlement should be made
in California; . . . that settlement should be made the rendez-
vous for all ships going from or returning to Europe, . . . and
should be the head settlement, as Batavia is to the Dutch in India,
and from hence the trade might spread to Asia, India, Mexico,
and Peru; and from this place the islands in the great South Sea
might be discovered, and a commerce be begun with them."
The exploration of the South Sea did not wait upon the chart-
ing of a Northwest passage. After Anson's voyage (1740), Byron
(1764), Wallis and Carteret (1766), and Captain Cook (1768,
1772, 1776) continued the work he had commenced of exploring
the Pacific Ocean-and of alarming the Spanish authorities in
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 16, July 1912 - April, 1913, periodical, 1913; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101058/m1/77/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.