The governor was in daily expectation of being superseded by a Mexican appointment; but it was not quite certain that he would resign his honours without giving some trouble. The affairs of California were not yet finally arranged. Commissioners had gone to Mexico, via Acapulco, in order to come to some definitive arrangement.
On the 6th December we quitted Monterey for San Blas, whither I had already despatched the Starling to obtain our letters; the distance to Tepic, where our vice-consul, Mr. Baron, resides, causing a delay of forty-eight hours.
A very severe bilious fever confined me to my cot for some days, and prevented my examining the island of Guadalupe, and searching for others said to exist.
On the 11th December we passed close to Guadalupe, and thence explored a degree on the parallel where an island had been lately reported, but without success, thence southerly, to fall into the parallel of Shelvoes, Shelvocke's, or Shovel Island; steering easterly towards Cape San Lucas, until I had sufficiently determined its non-existence within thirty miles east or west of its assigned position.
The Venus also went over the same ground on nearly the same errand, and with like success.
On the 16th December we passed Cape San Lucas within about half a mile of the rocks, looking into the bay preparatory to a future examination, and passed on for Tres Marias, off which we perceived the Starling on the 18th of December.
