the harbour of Monterey, they had by accident found their way as far as
the Bay of San Francisco. The significance of their discovery was not
appreciated at the time, either by themselves or by those at
headquarters to whom it was reported; but later explorations so clearly
established the value of the spot for settlement and fortification, that
it was determined to build a presidio there. Some years previous to
this, as we have seen, a mission on the northern bay had been part of
Junipero's ambitious scheme; and though at the time he was forced by
circumstances to hold his hand, the idea was constantly uppermost in his
thoughts. At length, when, in the summer of 1776, an expedition was
despatched from Monterey for the founding of the proposed presidio, two
missionaries were included in the party - one of these being none other
than that Father Palou, whose records have been our chief guides in the
course of this story. The buildings of the presidio - store house,
commandant's dwelling, and huts for the soldiers and their families -
were completed by the middle of September; and on the 17th of that month
- the day of St. Francis, patron of the station and harbour - imposing
ceremonies of foundation were performed. A wooden church was then built;
and on the 9th of October, in the presence of many witnesses, Father
Palou said mass, the image of St. Francis was borne about in procession,
and the mission solemnly dedicated to his name[4].

It was at San Luis Obispo on his way back from San Diego to Monterey,
that Father Junipero learned of the foundation of the mission at San
Francisco, and though he may doubtless have felt some little regret at
not having himself been present on such an occasion, his heart
overflowed with joy. For there was a special reason why the long delay
in carrying out this portion of his plan had weighed heavily upon him.
Years before, when the visitador general had told him that the first
three missions in Alta California were to be named after San Diego, San