Following a decade of warfare that devastated agriculture, stock raising, mining, and commerce, Mexico achieved independence from Spain in 1821. Three centuries of assured mercantilism with Spain were abruptly halted, and, with no merchant marine, Mexico was obliged to seek new trading partners. Foreign trade was critically important, for it was the sole source of external revenue through customs duties which were employed as guarantees for bonds financed in London to support the republican government established in 1824. Service on these bonds was, however, impossible, and refunding was the norm, with some payments on accrued interest. With London financiers as principal creditors, Mexico granted numerous trade and mining concessions to British interests. Constantly confronted with internal unrest, revolt, and, finally, the Texian rebellion, by 1837 Mexico was financially destitute. In 1838, these economic problems were exacerbated by increasing claims of foreign nationals for damages during civil unrest, culminating in the “Pastry War” (so-called because of claims of a French baker for unpaid consumption of his wares by Mexican soldiers) with French blockade, bombardment, and invasion of Veracruz between March and December. Although successful in repelling invasion, Mexico agreed to pay French claims, thus increasing the national deficit. Furthermore, rumors of cession of California to Britain in payment of the London debt were rampant.
          This was the situation when, in 1839, Eugène Duflot de Mofras, French attaché in Madrid, was assigned to the reopened legation in Mexico City, with instructions to visit the northwestern provinces of Mexico, report on the value of commerce, observe U. S., British, and Russian interests, and determine feasibility of French posts in the region. Following visits to Jalisco, Colima, Sinaloa, and Sonora in 1840, Duflot de Mofras sailed in April 1841, aboard Ninfa, from Mazatlán, via San Pedro, arriving at Monterey on May 6. On June 11 he met with commandant Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo in Sonoma, continued to Fort Ross, and returned to Monterey in July. On September 1 he sailed up the Sacramento River with A.G. Rotchev, manager of Fort Ross, to New Helvetia, where he met with John Augustus Sutter, with whom Rotchev was to initiate negotiations for sale of the Russian fort. Duflot de Mofras subsequently visited San José, Santa Cruz, and San Francisco, sailing from that port on October 18 aboard Cowlitz to the Hudson Bay Company’s Fort Vancouver, meeting the U.S. Exploring Expedition commanded by Charles Wilkes en route. He returned to San Francisco with Hudson Bay Company director Sir George Simpson and factor John McLoughlin and U.S. agent Horatio Hale on December 30 aboard Bolívar, and continued to Monterey. On January 3 1842, aboard Maryland, Duflot de Mofras sailed via Santa Bárbara to San Diego where he remained from January 18 to January 27, prior to continuing to Mazatlán, and thence to Mexico City.
          Duflot de Mofras visited Alta California at a critical junction in its history, and provided important information on its economic life, demography, foreign involvement, and geography. Of particular value are descriptions of the Russian posts at Ross and Bodega just prior to sale; his clear suggestion of Sutter’s willingness to serve France, given prior service in Europe; and reports on the reputed plot of Isaac Graham and other Anglo-Americans to overthrow Mexican government in California. His conclusions on the California economy are favorable, with estimates of exports far exceeding imports; however, he found San Diego and San Luis Rey to be poor areas. His visit coincided with the presence of the French warship Danaïde in Monterey to protect French citizens, the very extensive exploration of California by Charles Wilkes, and, shortly after his return to Mexico, the invasion of Monterey by Commodore Thomas ap Catesby Jones, USN in October 1842.
          The work of Duflot de Mofras, rather than an account of observations, is a history of Alta California, based upon extensive consultation of sources published by prior voyagers and visitors, and an analysis of its current state, one of the last prior to U.S. invasion. The maps accompanying the text are of great importance historically and demonstrate features, particularly to the interior, not found on other cartography of the period. Interestingly, Duflot de Mofras corresponded with Hubert Howe Bancroft (q.v.) in 1879. A well-annotated English-language translation appeared in a fine press edition in Santa Ana, California in 1937.

——W. Michael Mathes