Letter from Theodor Hartweg to the secretary of the Horticultural Society of London [George Bentham]

Information

Title: Letter from Theodor Hartweg to the secretary of the Horticultural Society of London [George Bentham]

Scope & content: Written from Mazatlan [Mexico]

Letter No 6

He left Tepic [Mexico] on 14 Mar for San Blas [Mexico] and sailed the following day on a 'small coasting schooner' for Mazatlan, arriving on 20 Mar; he discovered that there was 'not the slightest chance' of gaining passage for Upper California [United States of America]; the U.S. ship Portsmouth, which was expected to sail for Monterey [California] left last week 'under sealed orders', possibly to San Blas or Acapulco [Mexico]; he asked Commodore Sloat [John D. Sloat, captain in the United States Navy] for a passage, but was told it was not possible 'under the present circumstances'; the country still politically unsettled, and some departments are revolting against the new government, Mr Slidell [John Slidell, American minister plenipotentiary to Mexico], 'the American plenipotentiary' received his passport and Americans are expected to 'begin hostilities' as soon as he has embarked; he intends to return to San Blas, where he has heard a schooner is loading for California

Hartweg's expenses for 12 Mar-8 Apr 1846 comprise 'a cargo mule' $5, 'expenses on the road and at San Blas' $2.5, 'passage from San Blas to Mazatlan' $27 and 'expenses in Mazatlan' $34.2