States navy, with the frigate Savannah and another small vessel, arrived at the Bay of Monterey, California. The commodore had no instructions from his government to take any hostile steps on the Pacific coast: on the contrary, his mission was peace; but whilst he was at Mazatlan he heard of the annexation of Texas, and of the war waging between Mexico and the United States, and that General Taylor was already marching toward the city of Mexico, and that Matamoras was occupied by United States forces. These things Sloat had learned while on board his vessel at the Mexican port of Mazatlan. The news of these events had been sent by courier privately from the city of Mexico to the Mexican officials at Mazatlan; and although instructions had been issued, dated May 13, 1846, and directed by the President of the United States, to Commodore Sloat, to take possession of and hold Mazatlan, Monterey, and San Francisco, and to declare the country the property of the United States, they had not reached him.

Admiral Seymour, of the British navy, with the lineof-battle ship Collingwood, was at Mazatlan. He had also received despatches from the city of Mexico, and it was evident that all the Mexican officials favored the occupation of California by the British, instead of by their enemies, the Americans, with whom they were

now at war.

The British admiral, basking in the smiles of the Mexican authorities, hoisted sail upon his ship, and the Collingwood majestically moved seaward, bound for Monterey. Commodore Sloat, who was watching with a jealous eye the movements of the British admiral,

half an hour later set sail upon his two little vessels, the Savannah and Preble, and headed directly for Monterey, determined to take possession of the town if he arrived there before the British admiral. The Savannah, being the fastest, reached Monterey first, where Sloat learned of determined efforts being made by the British and Mexican authorities to place California under the protection of the English government.

Governor Pico, the Mexican Governor of the Territory of California, and General Castro, were in favor of this scheme. Mr. Forbes, the English vice-consul at Monterey, was active in making the negotiations; and the American consul, Thomas O. Larkin, also at Monterey, informed Sloat upon his arrival of the state of affairs. This, together with the news of the operations of Fremont and his party at Sonoma, (it is supposed he had heard of them,) and the state of affairs between the United States and Mexico, determined him at once (July 7) to despatch two hundred and fifty marines on shore, and to hoist the American flag over the town of Monterey. A salute of twenty-one guns was fired, and a proclamation issued that California henceforth was a part of the United States.

The dull ship of the British rear-admiral arrived at Monterey only to see the stars and stripes floating over it as a part of the republic of America. The admiral, too, read the proclamation, and saw that he was outwitted by Sloat, and outrun by the Savannah, and that the swiftness of the Savannah and the gallantry of Commodore Sloat had placed California beyond British rule.

The proclamation is as follows:

"TO THE INHABITANTS OF CALIFORNIA:

"The central government of Mexico having commenced hostilities against the United States of America, by invading its territory, and attacking the troops of the United States stationed on the north side of the Rio Grande, and with a force of seven thousand men, under the command of General Arista, which army was totally destroyed, and all their artillery, baggage, &c., captured on the 8th and 9th of May last, by a force of two thousand and three hundred men, under the command of General Taylor, and the city of Matamoras taken and occupied by the forces of the United States, and the two nations being actually at war by this transaction, I shall hoist the standard of the United States at Monterey immediately, and shall carry it throughout California.

"I declare to the inhabitants of California that, although I come in arms with a powerful force, I do not come among them as an enemy to California: on the contrary, I come as their best friend, as henceforth California will be a portion of the United States, and its peaceable inhabitants will enjoy the same rights and principles they now enjoy, together with the privilege of choosing their own magistrates and other officers for the administration of justice among themselves, and the same protection will be extended to them as to any other State in the Union. They will also enjoy a permanent government, under which life, property, and the constitutional right and lawful security to worship the Creator in the way the most congenial to each other's sense of duty will be secured, which, unfortunately, the central government of Mexico cannot afford them, destroyed as her resources are by internal factions and corrupt officers, who create constant revolutions to promote their own interests and oppress the people. Under the flag of the United States, California will be free from all such trouble and expenses; consequently the country will rapidly advance and improve both in agriculture and commerce, as, of course, the revenue laws will be the same in California as in all parts of the United States, affording them all manufactures and produce of the United States free of any duty, and all foreign goods at one-quarter of the duty they now pay. A great increase in the value of real estate and the products of California may also be anticipated.

"With the great interest and kind feeling I know the government and people of the United States possess towards the citizens of Cali

fornia, the country cannot but improve more rapidly than any other on the continent of America.

"Such of the inhabitants of California, whether native or foreigners, as may not be disposed to accept the high privileges of citizenship, and to live peaceably under the government of the United States, will be allowed time to dispose of their property and to remove out of the country, if they choose, without any restriction; or remain in it, observing strict neutrality.

"With full confidence in the honor and integrity of the inhabitants of the country, I invite the judges, alcaldes, and other civil officers to execute their functions as heretofore, that the public tranquillity may not be disturbed; at least until the government of the territory can be more definitely arranged.

"All persons holding titles to real estate, or in quiet possession of land under color of right, shall have those titles guaranteed to them.

"All churches and the property they contain in possession of the clergy of California shall continue in the same rights and possessions they now enjoy.

"All provisions and supplies of every kind furnished by the inhabitants for the use of the United States ships and soldiers will be paid for at fair rates; and no private property will be taken for public use without just compensation at the moment.

"JOHN D. SLOAT,

"Commander-in-chief of U. S. Naval Force on Pacific Ocean.

"United States Flag-Ship Savannah,

"HARBOR OF MONTEREY, July 7, 1846."

The day following, July 8, by order of Commodore Sloat, a party from the United States sloop-of-war Portsmouth landed at Yerba Buena, now San Francisco. and hoisted the American flag on the plaza.

On the 10th, Commander Montgomery, of the Ports mouth, sent an American flag to Sonoma, which was hoisted, and the flag improvised by Ide and his men, known as the "Bear Flag," was hauled down, all welcoming the stars and stripes.

Commodore Stockton, on board the United States frigate Congress, arrived at Monterey July 15, just one

week after Sloat had taken possession of the country; and one week later, Commodore Sloat sailed home on board the Levant.

Stockton was now in full command of the American fleet, aided by Commodore Dupont. Meantime, General Stephen W. Kearney had arrived at Monterey, crossing by way of New Mexico. He had orders from the United States government to take possession of and establish a government for California; but, on his arrival, he found that Sloat, Stockton, and Fremont had already accomplished these things.

One of the forces which conduced much to the successful military occupation of California was the arrival at San Francisco, on the 7th of March, 1847, of Colonel Jonathan D. Stevenson, at the head of one thousand volunteers, raised in New York, to serve, during the war, in California. The conquest of California had taken place before the arrival of this regiment; but it was of invaluable service to the State in maintaining order in the country.

Early in 1846, it was agreed upon by the leading Mexican officials of the Territory of California, as promulgated by the Departmental Assembly, that a convention should meet at Santa Barbara, on the 15th of June, 1846, to consider the future prospects of the country. Before this period arrived, the stars and stripes were hoisted by Fremont; but before this, and before the authorities knew of Fremont's coming to the country, an informal meeting, held at Monterey, at the house of Don José Castro, fully developed that the people were ready for any form of government that would afford them protection and security from their never-ceasing political turmoil.