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APPENDIX.*

OLD TIMES IN CALIFORNIA.

THE rise and development of California and

of the Pacific States and Territories seem to have more interest to the present generation than the slower, steadier growth of Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Dakota, Colorado, etc. The Southeastern States of the Union, though making large progress, have seemingly withdrawn from competition with the Great West.

There are plenty of histories of California, and all I now propose is to supply from my own memory some episodes illustrating the American method for a State or group of States to pass from a lower to a higher grade of civilization. In 1846 there were two distinct Californias-Upper and Lower.

* By special permission and kindness of the Editor of North American Review, we are enabled to give extracts from several very interesting and valuable articles by General Sherman.

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The name of California is generally supposed to come from the two Latin words, calor (heat), fornax (oven). This name might properly apply to Lower, but not to Upper California. Upper California has a temperate climate, and was first colonized by pious people from Mexico, who solely aimed to Christianize the native Indians. When our ancestors were fighting the French in Canada (1756), and afterwards fighting for the Independence of the Colonies from the Dominion of Great Britain (1775-83), these pious people were employed in founding the missions of San Diego, San Louis Rey, St. Juan Capistrano, San Gabriel, Maria de los Angeles, San Fernando, Buenaventura, Santa Barbara, Santa Inez, San Luis Obispo, San Miguel, Soledad, Monterey, San Juan Bautista, Santa Clara, San Francisco de Asiz, San Rafael and Sonoma. The Indians of the Pacific Coast were a most submissive race, were taught agriculture and some of the ruder arts, and the period from 1756 to 1830 is, or was, described as a sort of Elysium.

In 1821 the Republic of Mexico fought for and gained her independence from Spain, thereby

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becoming sovereign of both the Californias. The missions named were soon after "secularized”. that is, were reduced to civil instead of religious rule. The authority of the priests thereby became limited to their churches, schools, gardens, orchards, etc., and Mexico granted their other or surplus lands and privileges to outsiders and immigrants. Old soldiers were thus compensated for services to Mexico, and as a rule these new settlers, or rancheros, devoted their time to the rearing of horses, cattle and sheep. There never was or can be a better description of California in that epoch (1830-35) than is contained in Dana's "Two Years Before the Mast," accessible to every reader.

In 1846 the United States declared war to exist with Mexico, and I, as a Lieutenant of Captain C. Q. Tompkins' company of the Third Artillery, was sent in the U. S. store-ship "Lexington" to California, around Cape Horn, 198 days buffeting with the winds and waves, yet arriving, January 29, 1847, at Monterey, the most speedy and convenient route possible at that day. There was no city of San Francisco

then. Our orders were to occupy and hold Monterey, the capital of Alta, or Upper California. We found there a lieutenant of U. S. Marines (Maddox), and a midshipman (Baldwin), who transferred the public property to us most gracefully, and our Company F, Third Artillery, Captain C. Q. Tompkins, became masters of the situation.

The frigate "Independence" lay in the harbor, commanded by Commodore William Bransford Shubrick, a native of South Carolina, one of the most accomplished gentlemen I have ever met. I happened to be on board that frigate dining with the ward-room officers when the sloop-ofwar "Cyane," Captain Du Pont, was reported off the harbor coming in from San Diego. In that sloop was General S. W. Kearney, of the regular army of the United States, who, with a smart escort, had come across the continent with orders to command the land forces, leaving the navy equal control at sea.

Thus wisely and properly the division of power was adjusted, order and system resulted, and from that day to this Upper California has

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