Three years later, on November 14, the celebrated English navigator, George Vancouver, in his vessel “Discovery,” sailed into San Francisco Bay.  His arrival caused quite a flutter of excitement both at the presidio and Mission, where he was kindly entertained.  The governor was afraid of this elaborate hospitality to the hated and feared English, and issued orders to the commandant providing for a more frigid reception in the future, so, on Vancouver’s second visit, he did not find matters so agreeable, and grumbled accordingly.

Tiles were made and put on the church roofs in 1795; more houses were built for the neophytes, and all roofed with tiles.  Half a league of ditch was also dug around the potrero (pasture ground) and fields.

In 1806 San Francisco was enlivened by the presence of the Russian chamberlain, Rezanof, who had been on a special voyage around the world, and was driven by scurvy and want of provisions to the California settlements.  He was accompanied by Dr. G.H. von Langsdorff.  Langsdorff’s account of the visit and reception at several points in California is interesting.  He gives a full description of the Indians and their method of life at the Mission; commends the zeal and self-sacrifice of the padres; speaks of the ingenuity shown by the women in making baskets; the system of allowing the cattle and horses to run wild, etc.  Visiting the Mission of San Jose by boat, he and his companions had quite an adventurous time getting back, owing to the contrary winds.

Rezanof’s visit and its consequences have been made the subject of much and romantic writing.  Gertrude Atherton’s novel, Rezanof, is devoted to this episode in his life.  The burden of the story is possibly true, viz., that the Russians in their settlements to the north were suffering for want of the food that California was producing in abundance.  Yet, owing to the absurd Spanish laws governing California, she was forbidden to sell to or trade with any foreign peoples or powers.  Rezanof, who was well acquainted with this prohibitory law, determined upon trying to overcome it for the immediate relief of his suffering compatriots.  He was fairly well received when he reached San Francisco, but he could accomplish nothing in the way of trading or the sale of the needed provisions.

Now began a campaign of strategic waiting.  To complicate (or simplify) the situation, in the bailes and festas given to the distinguished Russian, Rezanof danced and chatted with Concha Argueello, the daughter of the stern old commandant of the post.

Did they fall in love with each other, or did they not?  Some writers say one thing and some another.  Anyhow, the girl thought she had received the honest love of a noble man and responded with ardor and devotion.  So sure was she of his affection that she finally prevailed upon her father (so we are told) to sell to Rezanof the provisions for which he had come.  The vessel, accordingly, was well and satisfactorily laden and Rezanof sailed away.  Being a Russian subject, he was not allowed to marry the daughter of a foreigner without the consent of his sovereign, and he was to hurry to Moscow and gain permission to return and wed the lady of his choice.