A Spanish set of stamps commemorates the visit of two warships to Prince William Sound on the north-west coast, sailing from San Blas, Mexico, on March 8, 1788. The Spanish authorities in Mexico and California had heard of foreign encroachment in the far north-west and decided to investigate. The two ships sent for the purpose were the frigate Princesa and the smaller packet boat San Carlos. The expedition was commanded by Alferez (Lieutenant) Esteban Jose Martinez and Gonzalo Lopez de Haro. Their instructions were to go to the far north to inspect the reported Russian establishments and to evaluate their strength and future potentials; to examine the coast southwards to Monterey, making frequent landings for exploration and taking possession when considered suitable for the establishment of permanent strongholds. The two vessels went directly to Prince William Sound, arriving very early in the season, but did not meet any Russians or other foreigners. Some landings were made for the purpose of taking possession. The vessels became separated in bad weather and Haro sailed the San Carlos westwards, reaching Kodiak Island, where the Russian settlement of Three Saints had been established. Delaroff. the Russian commander of the post used his intelligence. With great freedom and candour he gave Haro all the information he required about the Russian settlements along the Western Aleutians to Nootka, where he reported the building of a powerful fortress. He admitted the Russians had also many heavily fortified establishments along the coast giving precise details. His exaggerations were believed by Haro, who accordingly reported them to Viceroy Flores of Mexico.
The Spaniards became reconciled to the unchallengeable strength of the Russians but a fortification at Nootka was going too far. All the information was sent with great haste to the Spanish authorities in Spain. Meanwhile the Viceroy of Mexico took it upon himself to issue orders for the capture of Nootka. Martinez and Haro were ordered back to Nootka in the same vessels, the Princesa and San Corlos. They were given instruction to erect buildings for a colony at Nootka, with fortifications for its defence and to assert the authority of Spain over the region to the exclusion of all Russian and other countries' trading ships and other vessels.
The two vessels, heavily armed left San Blas on February 17, 1789, duly arriving at Nootka; the Spanish commander (Martinez) formally took possession of Nootka Sound, which he renamed Santa Cruz de Nutka. Barracks were erected for his soldiers and a shore battery of six cannon on one of the islands was set up, controlling the main entrance to the harbour. Martinez seized some British vessels at Nootka, and word of the seizure reached England. This started charges and countercharges which nearly involved England and Spain in a war. The matter was settled by the "Nootka Convention", by which the whole North-West Coast of America was theoretically thrown open to free trade and settlement by the English.
Before this had been consummated, the Viceroy of Mexico ordered Martinez to abandon Nootka and return to San Blas. All cannon were dismounted from the fortifications and the buildings were turned over to the native chief of the district. The two ships sailed away from Nootka on October 31, 1789.
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