There will be found in these volumes no long-drawn narratives or descriptions. In no part of this series has my system of condensation been more strictly applied. I am firm in the belief that the record is worth preserving, and for its completeness I expect in time the appreciation and approbation of all true Californians. Unless I am greatly in error respecting what I have written, no intelligent reader desiring information on any particular event of early Californian history-information on the founding or early annals of any mission or town; on the development of any political, social, industrial, or religious institution; on the occurrences of any year or period; on the life and character of any official or friar or prominent citizen or carly pioneer; on the visit and narrative of any voyager; on the adventures and composition of any immigrant party; on any book or class of books about California; or on any one or any group of the incidents that make up this work-will accuse me of having written at too great length on that particular topic. And I trust the system of classification will enable the reader to select without inconvenience or confusion such portions as may suit his taste.

To government officials of nation, state, and counties, who have afforded me and my agents free access to the public archives, often going beyond their official obligations to facilitate my investigations, most hearty acknowledgments are due. I am no less indebted to Archbishop Alemany of San Francisco and Bishop Mora of Los Angeles and Monterey, by whose authority the parochial archives have been placed at my disposal; and to the curates, who with few exceptions have done much more in appreciation of my work