Arrive San Francisco
January 11, 1853Ship Magellan
Captain L. Cazalis
From Havre, France
Passage
Daily Alta California, January 11, 1853Monsieur, the French Consul in San Francisco: I have the honor of enclosing you the report of my voyage between Valparaiso and San Francisco.
I left Valparaiso at 6 o�clock on the morning of the 26th November. On the 30th of the same month, I passed in sight of the Islands of Ambroise and St. Felix. My course in the Southern Hemisphere offers nothing remarkable. I continually had steady and moderate S.E. breezes.
On the 15th December, crossed the Equator in longitude 118š. I kept the S.E. winds up to latitude 4š North, and from the 4th to the 9th degrees I had variable winds from the Southard, accompanied with the rain from off the land. I then caught the S.E. breeze again, after half a day of calm, and they run me into latitude 123š North and 128š of longitude. I was then at least 300 leagues from San Francisco. I had then been out only 28 days and found myself in the way of making a quick passage; but I was becalmed 13 days, during which, thanks to the sailing qualities of the Magellan, I made 200 leagues to the Northard; during the whole calm weather I was enveloped in thick fogs. I had very foul weather for the three days preceding my arrival at this port. The winds were baffling from S.E. to S.W., and finally hacked round to N.E. The sea was running very high, especially on nearing the land. Yesterday, 9th instant, I arrived on the Bar, where I took a pilot, who anchored me in the roads at 11 o�clock P.M. I took every precaution to preserve the ship against any injury she might sustain from the heavy rollers, which were tumbling in.
I left Havre with 270 emigrants, 20 of whom I have landed, and who have found employment. The report which was addressed by me to the French Consul at Valparaiso mentioned the perfect order which has ever existed on board the Magellan. I have the honor, on this occasion, Monsieur the Consul, to announce to you, officially, the continuance of that good state of things. The officers and all on board have ever preserved their obedience and respect. Thus, the internal arrangement of the Magellan has ever presented the appearance of a numerous and united family. This result, Monsieur the Consul, is the consequence of the reciprocal accomplishment of our obligations � the passengers, in observing the regulations of the ship and ourselves, in our constant efforts and solicitude to render as little disagreeable as possible to the poor emigrants a dreary passage of six months. I should be wanting in the feelings due to my heart, if I failed to recommend, in an especial manner, the passenger troupe of the Magellan. It is in general well composed, and they give every evidence of being excellent subjects. I have the honor to recommend them to you as such.
I am also much pleased with my crew, whose duties, generally arduous, are necessarily made onerous from the fact of having 300 passengers to care for.
I have the honor to salute you, and remain your servant,
L. Cazalis
Note: A French student who is preparing his Master's Thesis on immigration
to California read the above and wrote: "The Soci�t� des Lingots d'Or was the
largest attempt to send poor French gold seekers to California during the rush.
It had official approval and backing and did manage to ship close to 4.000 people."