amined it, "about twelve miles E. N. E. of the city of Downieville, and a few miles north of the culminating rocky summits of the Sierra Buttes." A careful and scientific examination of this mine has established the fact, (attested by no less an authority than Professor H. Schrotter, of Vienna) that the ore which it yields contains an average of sixty per cent. of pure iron, and is equal to the best Swedish ores; and gives the further assurance, that California is not only rich in gold and copper, but also in what is really the most useful, if not the most precious of metals.

Having become largely interested in the ownership of these valuable deposits, and being confident that they can be made available for the purpose of manufacturing iron, Mr. Fay looks forward hopefully to the time when from this branch of metallurgy will spring a new industry which will not only amply reward his own patient efforts, but augment, in a wonderful degree, the wealth of the State.

Mr. Fay's residence is still at San Francisco, where he expects to pass the remainder of his life.

WILLIAM I. FERGUSON.

BY THE EDITOR

HE history of political parties in California is illustrated with the genius of brilliant and ambitious minds from every section of the American Union: and of these it is noteworthy that a large and disproportionate number, prior to their advent in California, exercised a conspicuous leadership in public affairs in Illinois. Baker, McDougall, Ferguson, Campbell, Hoge, Hardy, Pratt-these are but a few of the ardent spirits sent forth by the Prairie State to the shores of the Pacific, endowed with the charms of oratory, strengthened by enlightened experience, and learned in the science of law.

William I. Ferguson was born May 9th, 1825, at Monongahela City, Pennsylvania, the native State of his father and mother. His grand-parents came to the United States from Ireland. His father, Benjamin F., was a carpenter and builder. William was the oldest of six children. When he was ten years of age, his parents removed to Springfield, Illinois, where his father died, and where his mother, sisters, and two brothers, now reside.

William received a common-school education. After leaving school, he clerked for a short time in a store; then, having determined to prepare himself for the bar, he applied himself closely for some years to the study

of law in the offices of Judge Logan, Col. E. D. Baker, and other prominent lawyers of Springfield. He received his license to practice before he attained his majority, and soon obtained a good business. Politics, as well as law, had a charm for him. When he was a very young man, he became noted as an eloquent and forcible speaker. He had been raised a Whig, but, on becoming a voter, espoused the Democratic cause. He was several times elected city attorney of Springfield, and his name was placed on the Democratic electoral ticket in the presidential election of 1848, he then being only twentythree years of age. In 1850 he was a candidate for the State Legislature, and ran far ahead of his ticket; but was defeated, there being at that time a very large Whig majority in his district.

The editor has received the following reminiscences of Mr. Ferguson, from Mr. W. H. Herndon, a leading lawyer of Springfield, formerly a law partner of President Lincoln. Mr. Herndon wrote his narrative hastily, intending only to furnish data for this sketch, without expecting that his language would be adopted by the editor:

OSCAR T. SHUCK, Esq.,

San Francisco, Cal.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., March 20th, 1869.

DEAR SIR:-I knew Hon. William I. Ferguson as early as 1836, when he was going to school. I sold his father Gillies' Greece for William to read. He read it well and with admiration, and was enthusiastic over its contents. He was fond of good history. About the year 1835, '6, or '7, I was president of a young men's debating society in Springfield, Illinois Ferguson joined it, and he soon assumed a leadership in it. He was a number-one talker in the society. He generally studied his subject well, would converse with older heads, read books and papers, and thus became well informed on the subject under debate. He admired conversation more than reading. He would absorb all that was said; would assimilate it, digest and use it. I do not think he loved mathematics at school; but grammar and rhetoric were favorite studies. He was a close reader of Byron, Shakspeare, and Milton. William was an openhearted, spontaneous young man; would go to any lengths for a friend, even when a mere lad. He did not love to fight with boys; had too much good-will and sense. About the year 1837 or 1838, he was a clerk in a store in Springfield, owned by Bell & Speed, where he remained about one year. This occupation was decidedly

distasteful to him; his active brain and impulsive nature yearned for nobler employments. His father then put him to learn the carpenter's trade, but the boy was still unsatisfied. When pushing the jack-plane at his trade, he embraced every leisure moment to creep down into the shavings and read history or poetry. About this time, his friends thought he must die with the consumption. However, by keeping in the open air, and taking much physical exercise, he got well. In the year 1842, he went into the law office of Hon. S. T. Logan of Springfield; he received his license in 1843. He and Hon. David Logan, now of Oregon, son of Hon. S. T. Logan, read law at the same time and place. They were boys of much promise, because they had by nature large minds, and were studious, determined, and patient. Ferguson, upon being admitted, went into an extensive practice at once. He was social and beloved. He knew how to attract and tie men to him. He was more of a thinker than a reader; was a great absorber of what was said in conversation. He soon came to be the first criminal lawyer at the Sangamon bar, among such men as Lincoln, Logan, Baker, McDougal, Bledsoe, Stuart, and others. I have watched the young man in a hard case with admiration: he was calm and self-possessed, knowing his case thoroughly. His leading characteristic, in mind, was his quick, excellent judgment. His reason was no better than that of a thousand other men. His intuitive judgments were admirable, keen, correct, and quick as lightning. He told what the law was when hearing it discussed, even before it was decided by the Court. He caught hints how to manage his case by closely watching the ideas of opposing attorneys. Ferguson intuitively knew that the opposite attorney's side was antagonistic to his. Hence he never was at a loss to know how to manage a case, for a defendant especially.

Mr. Ferguson was chosen in this city on the Fourth of July, 1840, to be the orator of the day, over such men as Lincoln, Logan, and others. His oration was truly eloquent: it was finely, grandly eloquent. He gained great honor on that occasion. I forgot to say that one of William's habits was to read aloud, and walk the room, when so doing, backwards and forwards: he loved to read orations— Greek, Roman, English, and American. He was when about say from sixteen to twenty-two, always repeating them: he would go into the deep woods and there speak to a tree, or to me as well as others of his friends. In politics he was raised a Whig: he turned Democrat about 1844.

On one occasion he and I were going to court in Christian county. Hon. David Davis was judge of what may be called the Sangamon District or Circuit. On the road we heard that Judge Davis was too ill to attend Court. "Hush," said young Ferguson, "and we'll have some fun: we'll tell the people that we are authorized to hold Court for Judge Davis." So we rode to the county scat, and after breakfast in the morning Ferguson had Court open, as appeared to the crowd, in a legitimate way. The Sheriff knew no better, nor did the clerk, nor the lawyers. I kept still-said nothing. One lawyer made a motion, and during the time it was being argued,