get even the slightest intelligence of him, one or two of his brother's letters are here reproduced:

"PORTSMOUTH, September 15th, 1842. "MY DEAR JOHN: It has been a subject of great regret to me that I have never, since the year 1831, at Chatham, either heard from you, or seen any one who could give me the slightest information relative to your movements. I have since then been to India, and stayed there some time. I got on very well in health, and had good pay and a desirable situation there. I managed to acquire the language of the country, and by that means I attained the office of interpreter. I have now been at home one year, and during that time have made frequent application to different houses with a view of obtaining some information about you, but I have as yet learned nothing conclusive. The last time my mother heard from you, you stated that you had been employed in Monterey, in California. I send this to a friend in Liverpool, who says that he has sometimes opportunities of transmitting letters to those countries. I sincerely hope that it may reach you.

"I do not know that you are informed of all that has taken place in our family since my uncle Thomas' death. My aunt Mary is married to a Mr. Joy. My aunt Sarah is dead. My sister has now three children. I am a captain in the Sixteenth, the same regiment I was in when I saw you last at Chatham. It cost me money getting the promotion, but the situation and its emoluments amply repay me for the disbursement. If you write a letter and address it to me, Sixteenth Regiment, Portsmouth-if the letter arrives at any place in England it will be sure to reach me, although I may have left Portsmouthand I am sure I shall rejoice to hear from you, and if I can manage to find out any medium for our communciation together, I will write to you at length. "In the meantime, believe me ever, your affectionate brother,

"HENRY COPINGER."

This letter was sealed in the old-fashioned way, with sealing wax, and directed to "John Copinger, Esq., Monterey, California." On the back is written: "Taken from the Monterey P. O. Oct. 12, '43," and signed with the initials "P. O. L."

"PORTSMOUTH, February 2d, 1843.

"MY DEAR JOHN: Many years have elapsed since we met, but I have never, during my long residence in India, for which country I started in 1831, and returned in 1842, or since my arrival at home, neglected any opportunity of making any inquiries which I could think of, to procure intelligence about you. We have now heard, through the medium of some influential people at the Foreign Office, that you are at San Francisco, Monterey, and I am rejoiced to hear that you are well and in comfortable circumstances. I have also to send my love to a new connection, Mrs. Copinger, your wife. I wrote about

three months ago to you, but fear the communication returned to Liverpool, to which place I sent my letter, and Monterey is very slow; so, perhaps, you may not as yet have received it. My mother, who was very well, thank God, when I saw her last, and I am happy to say yet continues so, writes to you, also, by this conveyance, and tells you of most of the events which have happened in our family-some, alas, very sad ones. Do, my dear brother, write to her; let her know everything that relates to you. My sister Annie is also very well, and William Burgh and all his children. When I was at Paris, some months ago, my uncle and aunt Major, William Major, and his wife, spoke of you most affectionately. My other relations, Henry Major and his family, were all well when I was in Ireland last. His daughter Annie is married to a Dr. Moore; Jane to Mr. Halbert, a clergyman, and Isabella to Mr. Madden, a clergyman. Henry is at Liverpool, intending to be a merchant. Robert is in Trinity College. Poor Fanny Major, who was married to Captain Pajet, of the Seventh Regiment, died last year. She left one son. My dear John, I hope you are happy, and trust that such is the case from all that we hear. I am now much more comfortably situated than when I saw you last, being a captain in the Sixteenth Foot. If you will write to my mother, or to me, direct to Sir John Kirkland, 80 Pall Mall, London, and then the letters will be safe. I do very much wish to hear from you, and am extremely sorry that our situations have precluded our holding any communication by way of letter, as I do suppose that it was only from the circumstance of our not knowing how to send letters to each other, that a cessation of all correspondence was created so long.

"When I was in India, indeed, I could scarcely hope to hear from you, for the very great difficulty there is of sending letters from such long distances, but now that I am in England, and that I can hear from London in about four hours by the post, which comes by the railroad, I do not despair of getting some intelligence of you. But, most of all, I think you will see that it will be well to write to my mother. Whatever you have to say will, I assure you, be most acceptable to me when you write. I have not been in Ireland since November, 1842, which was the month after I arrived overland from India, and do not think that you know any one in this place, Portsmouth, of whom I can make mention so as to interest you. I met Lady Gray the other day, and she, as usual, spoke of you with interest. She was, when I saw her, on a visit to a gentleman in this neighborhood, Sir H. Thompson, and I met her there at dinner.

"I believe that my aunt Mary's children were quite little ones when you were last at home, but George is grown up now and gone out to India as a cadet. The girls were at school in London.

"I have been, myself, thank God, quite well since I saw you, and have never suffered from my long residence in India. I trust that I may hear the

same account of you. I understand that the climate of California is good. One thing I am most rejoiced to hear, which is that you were given a grant of land, on account of your good services as captain of a rifle company.

"Do, my dear brother, let us hear from you.

"Your affectionate brother,

"" 'HENRY COPINGER."

In the year 1836 a revolution broke out in Mexico, and while this was going on, Alvarado was appointed Governor of California, an office which he held until 1842. In the meantime, the differences between the Government and the revolutionists were arranged, but out of the adjustment grew misunderstandings between the civil and military authorities in California. The General Government dispatched General Micheltorena to assume the two-fold power of civil and military governor in place of Alvarado and General Vallejo. On seeing the turn which affairs had taken against them, these two officers resolved to lay aside their disagreements and make common cause against Micheltorena, whom they looked upon as a usurper, and, with the aid of General Castro, to drive him from the country. The triumvirate declared California an independent State, and at once opened hostilities against the representative of the Mexican Government. During the struggle, Lieutenant Copinger espoused the cause of the Californians, and was made captain of a rifle company. In recognition of his services, Governor Alvarado, on the 3d of August, 1840, gave him the Rancho Cañado de Raymundo, embracing twelve thousand five hundred and forty-five acres.

In 1840 Copinger erected an adobe building at the place where Woodside now stands. This old dwelling-house is still standing, but would not be recognized now by those who knew it in its. pristine simplicity. The old walls are hidden by an outside dress of weather-boarding, while within the house is ceiled in accordance with the more modern suggestions of taste and home architecture.

When war broke out between the United States and Mexico, Copinger identified himself at once with the side of the former, and enlisted for active service under the stars and stripes. He was taken prisoner and sent to Mexico, but was afterwards released, when he returned to California, and remained at his ranch until his death, which occurred on the 23d of February, 1847. His remains were interred at the mission burying ground at San José. His daughter Manuela is the only one of his children now living. She was born May 20th, 1847, and still resides, with her husband, Antonio Miramontes, on the land she inherited from her father.

The next pioneer in the order of arrival was Charles Brown, whose name is well remembered. He was born in the State of New York, in 1814. In 1828 he sailed out of New York harbor on the whaling ship Alvins, Captain Brews