cipal nations of Europe. The attention of the Spanish government had long been turned in that direction. Philip II had no sooner ascended the throne then he began to take steps looking to the acquisition of the Philippine Islands for purposes of trade and settlement. In pursuance of these purposes the Viceroy of Mexico was directed to make the necessary preparations for carrying them into effect. A fleet consisting of five vessels, carrying about four hundred men, sailed from Natividad on the 21st of November, 1564, under the command of Miguel Gomez de Legaspi, who had been appointed governor with ample powers, both civil and military, for the government of the islands. He reached the Philippines on the 13th of February, 1565, and at once began the work of reducing them to submission. The resistance of the natives was soon overcome. In April, 1565, he took possession of this important group of islands in the name of the Crown of Spain, and founded the city of Manila. This city soon became a large and flourishing mart of commerce and remained the Spanish metropolis in the East Indies until on the 1st day of May, 1898, the Spanish fleet in eastern waters was completely destroyed by a naval force of the United States under the command of Commodore Dewey. These islands, which had constituted a Spanish dependency, subject to all the rapacity, cruelty and misgovernment characteristic of Spanish domination for three hundred and thirty-three years, passed on that day into the possession of the United States. Prior to the time when Legaspi took possession of the Philippines a return voyage by sailing eastward to the American coast had never been accomplished. In consequence of the prevailing trade winds it was believed to be difficult, if not impossible. Andreas Urdaneta, an Austin friar, whose reputation as a cosmographer had been already established, accompanied the Legaspic expedition. Before leaving Spain he had submitted plans and theories for such a return voyage, and when the time arrived when he should return from the Philippines he was permitted to test his theories and to make such a return voyage to New Spain. He and a brother priest named Father Aguirre, with a sixteen-year-old nephew of Legaspi as nominal captain, sailed in the San Pedro from Zebu, June 1, 1565,. for Acapulco. She continued east to the Ladrones, thence to forty-three degrees of north latitude, and thence the trade winds carried her safely to Acapulco, where she arrived on the 3d of October. This opened up a new route for the commerce of the Orient, which has been used with slight variation, ever since, and is known as Urdaneta's passage. His charts and sailing directions prepared on his first voyage were used for many years, especially by the Spanish galleons, which sailed at regular intervals from Acapulco to Manila and Macao laden with European goods, and returned with cargoes of silks, teas, spices and other oriental products. This commerce, which speedily grew to large proportions, was subsequently di rected to other routes, but in later years it has been demonstrated that its best channel is from Manila and other eastern ports to Puget Sound and thence by rail to New York and elsewhere, across the continent. During the remainder of the sixteenth century but little more was done by the Spaniards in the way of exploration of the northwest coast. Spanish commerce, however, was increasing on the Pacific Ocean and with the East Indies, and a new port farther north than Acapulco was desirable for its protection and accommodation. This was sought for on the California coast, and in 1595 Philip II issued minute instructions to the Count De Monterey, then Viceroy of Mexico, to occupy California and to make a thorough and complete survey of the shores of the Pacific from Acapulco to Cape Mendocino. Three vessels under the command of Sebastian Vizcaino were sent north in the spring of 1596 for this purpose. A settlement was made at La Paz, so named because of the peaceful disposition of the natives, but within the year the place was abandoned and the expedition returned to Acapulco. Dissatisfied with the results secured thus far by Vizcaino, Philip III, who had in the meantime ascended the Spanish throne in 1598, renewed orders for a survey of the coast from Cape St. Lucas northward and sent directions for its immediate prosecution. These orders were issued on the 27th day of September, 1599, and preparations on a very complete scale were made as speedily as practicable for carrying them into execution. Sebastian Vizcaino was again assigned to the command of the fleet, which consisted of three ships, which were considered large in those days and which were named the San Diego, San Tomas and Tres Reyes. The navigation of the fleet was assigned to Admiral Torrebeo Gomez de Corvan. He sailed from Acapulco June 2, 1602, surveyed the western shore of Southern California, and arrived at San Diego on the 10th of November. Proceeding up the coast, the Bay of Monterey was discovered on the 16th of December, and was so named in honor of the Mexican viceroy. From this point one of the ships was ordered back to Acapulco, and a few days later the other two continued their northward course. On the 12th of January, 1603, they arrived off Cape Mendocino, and on the 19th they discovered a high snow-covered peak and headland to which Vizcaino gave the name of Blanco de San Sebastian, now known as Cape Orford. This headland is in latitude forty-two degrees north, and from this point Vizcaino returned with his ship to Acapulco. His crews had all been sadly afflicted with the scurvy, and their numbers and efficiency on that account had been greatly diminished. His consort, commanded by Antonio Flores, continued north to the mouth of a river in forty-three degrees of latitude, but his crew being seriously crippled in the same way, he also returned to the south, and for many years this was the last of the Spanish voyages of discovery on the northwest coast of America. The interests and the navigators of Spain were no longer concerned in the discovery of the Straits of Anian or the finding of a northwest passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Her policy was already directed to the retention of the vast realms in North and South America and across the Pacific Ocean, which she claimed by virtue of a decree of the Roman pontiff, and by right of discovery. She wished to exclude, if possible, those enterprising nations of Europe who were beginning to deny the one and dispute the other, and whose mariners were making themselves familiar with those distant regions and preparing to contest the right of Spain to their exclusive possession. A new era was opening up in the world's history. CHAPTER V. OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. In the various ages of the world human energies have taken different directions. The sixteenth century was pre-eminently the era of the sailors of the sea. The discovery of America at the close of the fifteenth century, together with the increase of general intelligence and enterprise among the western nations of Europe, stimulated in a remarkable degree the desire for participation in exploring expeditions and voyages of discovery which promised such rich returns of fame and fortune for a comparatively slight expenditure of time, men or material. The revival of learning, the invention of the printing press and the introduction of gunpowder about that time, and the love of romance and adventure which had been growing since the age of the crusades, added still further to the disposition to embark in voyages to unknown seas, and to visit the unknown countries of which they were hearing such marvelous stories, and which were supposed to contain incalculable wealth of every description. This feeling was general among all classes of people, from the highest to the lowest, and the governments of these western nations of Europe were not willing that Spain should have a monopoly of the benefits to be derived from the discovery and possession of the new world. These governments sent out their best and bravest men to secure if possible some share in these brilliant acquisitions of territory in the seas and islands which were being discovered and in the new avenues of a rich and growing commerce which were rapidly being opened up by Spanish intrepidity and boldness, not only in the West but in the East Indies. Many bold and enterprising men fitted out at their own expense exploring expeditions, by means of which they hoped to win the favor of their respective sovereigns by the addition of new territory not occupied or possessed by any other power, or inspired by the expectation that they might establish important commercial relations or acquire valuable possessions for themselves. No such incentives had ever before presented themselves to the minds of the ad |