To go farther he must have boats." In 1782, April 25, the corner-stone of a new church was laid at San Francisco.

Three padres were present, together with the Mission guard and a body of troops from the presidio.

In the Mission records it says: "There was enclosed in the cavity of said corner-stone the image of our Holy Father St.Francis, some relics in the form of bones of St.Pius and other holy martyrs, five medals of various saints, and a goodly portion of silver coin." In 1785 Governor Pages complained to the viceroy, among other things, that the presidio of San Francisco had been deprived of mass for three years, notwithstanding the obligation of the friars to serve as chaplains.

Palou replied that the padres were under no obligation to serve gratuitously, and that they were always ready to attend the soldiers when their other duties allowed.
In November, 1787, Captain Soler, who for a brief time acted as temporary governor and inspector, suggested that the presidio of San Francisco be abandoned and its company transferred to Santa Barbara.
Later, as I have shown elsewhere, a proposition was again made for the abandonment of San Francisco; so it is apparent that Fate herself was protecting it for its future great and wonderful history.
In 1790 San Francisco reported 551 baptisms and 205 deaths, with a present neophyte population of 438.

Large stock had increased to 2000 head and small to 1700.
Three years later, on November 14, the celebrated English navigator, George Vancouver, in his vessel "Discovery," sailed into San Francisco Bay.