Page:Vol 3 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/134

114 Spain, García Sarmiento de Sotomayor, conde de Salvatierra and marqués de Sabroso, arrived at Vera Cruz, and in the following month took charge of the government. During his administration an expedition was despatched to the coast of Lower California, in charge of Pedro Porter y Casanate. Troops were enlisted, and a large number of persons made ready to embark on board the fleet; for it was said that the pearl fisheries of that region were second only to those discovered by Vasco Nuñez de Balboa. When all was in readiness the vessels were destroyed by fire. A second expedition was fitted out and set sail a few years later, but resulted in failure. In 1648 Casanate returned to report to the viceroy that he had failed even to discover any spot suitable for a settlement.

During this year Salvatierra was appointed to the viceroyalty of Peru. His conduct meets with the approval of the chroniclers of his period, although the condition of affairs during his regime was far from prosperous. Spain was engaged in external wars and the suppression of internal revolts; the attention of her sovereign was concentrated almost exclusively on European affairs, and though cédula followed cédula in quick succession they contained little save demands for money. Throughout the provinces commerce and