natives with all kinds of goods and "notions," for which they received hides, tallow, and peltry; these found a market chiefly in Boston. Many foreigners were settling about the coast; and across the plains and from Oregon came considerable numbers of Yankees, always a terror to the Spanish and Mexican settlers. England, France, and the United States had their consuls at Monterey, the capital, and the ships of their respective nations seemed to increase and hover suspiciously about the ports.

All attachment to Spanish rule had long since died out, and Mexico, always in the throes of intestine war, had neither security nor attraction for the native population of the country, now the sole rulers of California. The Indians had long before ceased to be the willing slaves of the people. The masses were reckless, indolent, and illiterate, living off the flocks and herds which roamed over limitless acres. Agriculture was almost entirely unknown; the hand of skill and industry had never brought forth from the rich soil the rewards of the husbandman; roads, bridges, canals, and wheeled carriages were unknown; the iron horse had not yet crossed the Mississippi, nor looked out upon the placid waters of the Pacific ocean. All branches of art and manufacture were yet a mystery. Codes of laws, courts, and juries, with doctors, lawyers, and schools, were unheard of. Carpets, cook-stoves, window glass, and wood floors were never seen; milk, butter, cheese, and eggs were something of which the people knew not even by name, although cattle dotted every hill, and the genial climate and prolific soil, without the aid of man, supported all stock the whole year around.

What is now the city of San Francisco was a scattered

village of mud and adobe huts, with a few hundred inhabitants, who alternately waded through sand and mud unaided by streets, and no other light than that which the tallow candle or whale oil afforded. Navigation upon the inland waters of the State was confined to a few whaleboats in the possession of the resident foreigners. The great forests, fisheries, quarries of granite, and beds of coal were undisturbed. The sands of the Yuba and Feather rivers still concealed their golden treasure, and the great bosom of nature, which held in its gigantic and stern embrace the mineral wealth of the foot-hills and Sierras, still refused to man the secret which two years later electrified the world, and brought the most unknown and fairest portion of the globe into close social and commercial relations with all parts of the world, and so materially aided in developing California, in 1870, to its status of five hundred and sixty thousand active, educated, and progressive people, in the possession of real estate to the value of two hundred million dollars, and personal property worth one hundred million dollars, and an area and capabilities to sustain a population of seventy million.

The third expedition under Fremont was projected by Congress during the early part of 1845; and in the spring of that year started across the plains and the Rocky mountains to the Pacific, with instructions to endeavor to find the best route from the Rocky mountains to the mouth of the Columbia river. After a most hazardous journey, he arrived with his faithful guide and escort, Kit Carson, and his men, (six of whom were Delaware Indians,) the whole company consisting of sixty-two men, within a hundred miles of Monterey, where he halted, and proceeded in person to the head

quarters of General Castro, the Mexican general in charge of the territory. His object was to obtain a pass for himself and company to go to the San Joaquin valley, where hunting and pasture were abundant. He received a verbal promise from the general that it would be all right, to go where he desired, and that, on his word of honor "as a soldier," he would not be molested. Fremont and his party were soon on their way to the valley.

Three days after this, General Castro had raised an army of three hundred native Californians, and sent a despatch to Fremont, notifying him to quit the country at once, else he would march upon him and put to death his whole company. This treachery did not much surprise Fremont, who replied that he would leave when he was ready. He prepared for action, entrenched himself on "Hank's Peak," about thirty miles from Monterey, and overlooking that village, where he raised the American flag. The whole company was well armed, each with a knife, a tomahawk, two pistols, and a rifle. Castro now came dashing on with cavalry, infantry, and artillery; but, after making a few ineffectual attacks, always galloped off before coming within range of Fremont's bullets. Castro issued bulletins and proclamations daily of the impending destruction of the little band, but always keeping out of rifle-range of the entrenchments. After four days of this fighting, Fremont broke camp and started on his journey toward Oregon. Castro was not

visible.

Fremont had proceeded into Oregon, and had reached Klamath lake, when he was overtaken by Lieutenant Gillespie, of the United States army, who had left

Washington the previous November, crossing the country from Vera Cruz to Mazatlan, and who arrived at Monterey in a United States sloop-of-war, and started up the valley in search of the explorers. Gillespie had letters to Fremont from the Secretary of State, and it is supposed they, or other letter him from friends at Washington, caused him to retrace his steps and return to the valley of the Sacramento. This move had been quickened by the fact that, on the very night after receiving his despatches, and while all were asleep, the Indians broke into his camp and assassinated three of his Delaware Indians, and might have slain the whole company had it not been for the vigilance of Kit Carson, who sounded the alarm.

Fremont soon returned to the Sacramento valley, and encamped near the mouth of the Feather river, where the settlers soon flocked around him. Great alarm was caused by reports that General Castro, with a strong force of cavalry, was on the march to attack them. A company of twelve volunteers, headed by Mr. Mersite, started for the Mexican fort at Sonoma, in Sonoma county, and on the 15th of June, 1846, entered and captured the post, where they found two hundred and fifty stand of arms and nine cannon. Here they captured General Vallejo, and took him a prisoner to Sutter's fort at Sacramento.

William B. Ide, a New England man, was left to garrison the fort at Sonoma, with a force of eighteen men. General Castro having charge of the department of Sonoma, issued his proclamation, calling upon his countrymen to rise and drive the marauders from the soil. On the 18th of June, Ide issued his proclamation to the people of Sonoma, to defend themselves, and

calling upon them to assemble at Sonoma, and assist in establishing a republican government.

Following is Ide's proclamation:

"A proclamation to all persons and citizens of the District of Sonoma, requesting them to remain at peace, and follow their rightful occupations without fear of molestation.

"The Commander-in-chief of the troops assembled at the fortress of Sonoma gives his inviolable pledge to all persons in California, not found under arms, that they shall not be disturbed in their persons, their property, or social relations, one with another, by men under his command.

"He also solemnly declares his object to be, first, to defend himself and companions in arms, who were invited to this country by a promise of lands on which to settle themselves and families, who were also promised a republican government; when, having arrived in California, they were denied the privilege of buying or renting lands of their friends; who, instead of being allowed to participate in or being protected by a republican government, were oppressed by a military despotism; who were even threatened by proclamation, by the chief officers of the aforesaid despotism, with extermination, if they should not depart out of the country, leaving all their property, arms, and beasts of burden; and thus deprived of their means of flight or defence, were to be driven through deserts inhabited by hostile Indians to certain destruction.

"To overthrow a government which has seized upon the property of the missions for its individual aggrandizement, which has ruined and shamefully oppressed the laboring people of California by enormous exactions on goods imported into the country, is the determined purpose of the brave men who are associated under my command.

"I also solemnly declare my object, in the second place, to be to invite all peaceable and good citizens of California, who are friendly to the maintenance of good order and equal rights, and I do hereby invite them, to repair to my camp at Sonoma, without delay, to assist us in establishing and perpetuating a republican government, which shall secure to all civil and religious liberty, which shall encourage virtue and literature, which shall leave unshackled by fetters agriculture, commerce, and manufactures.

"I further declare that I rely upon the rectitude of our intentions, the favor of Heaven, and the bravery of those who are bound and