LOG OF THE COLUMBIA 325
29. Don. Van Francisco De La Vondego, 166 which was the name of the Governor, gave a grand entertainment, at his house, at which all the Officers of the Fleet partook. Fifty four persons sat down to Dinner, and the plates, which was solid silver was shifted five times, which made 270 Plates. The Dishes, Knifes and forks, and indeed every thing else was of Silver, 167 and always replaced with spare ones. There could be no mistake in this as they never carried the dirty plates or Dishes from the Hall where we dined (as / thought, on purpose to let us see the quantity of plate used by Spaniards in South America.)
31. This day got all ready to heave down, by the Spanish Sloop of War, the Governor having granted us his permission.
August 1. Haul'd along side the Spanish Ship, 168 fix'd our purchases to her, and soon had the Columbia keel out. But was oblig'd to right her again, as she made too much water, her upper works being quite weak. Capt. Gray determin'd to give over the Idea of heaving her out, and accordingly gave orders to prepare to lay her ashore on blocks.
2. N. Latt. 49 30' ; W. Long. 126 30' This day haul'd the Ship upon the beach at high water, and placed a long round log along her keel fore and aft, endeavouring to trip her over it, but the Bottom being so flat, she wou'd turn keel out. Other logs was laid, and moor'd with Cannon on the Beach, with an intention of laying the Ship's Fore foot on them, which we accordingly did at high water, the logs laying as far aft as the fore Chains. This method answered our most sanguine expectations. At low water, or half ebb, the ship's bows lay'd four feet above the beach. In this situation we scuttled her
1 66 Don Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra; one of the most interesting figures in the Spanish regime on this coast; his entrance into our history it gripping; no reader can forget his courageous voyage in the little Santiago in 1775. He was a fit representative of the courtly Spaniard; and while he was commandante at Nootka all visitors, of every nationality and of every kind of vessel, unite in bearing testimony to his constant courtesy and his unfailing kindness.
167 Ingraham records that when he dined with the Governor, Quadra, a few days later, he had an excellent dinner and everything was served on silver. He adds that it was Quadra's custotm to invite to dinner all commanders of vessels regardless of rank or nationality. Even when Vancouver and Quadra visited Maquinna at Tashees, the Spaniard took care to have the dinner served on plate. Vancouver's Voyage, vol. a, p. 354, 8vo. ed. 1801: Washington Historical Quar- terly, vol. 5, p. 304.
i68Of necessity this must be the Acttva; for the Aromas* was then engaged on the survey of Queen Charlotte Islands, under Camaano; while the Pnnceta lay at anchor guarding Fidalgo and his men at Neah Bay.
