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one Mijores, a naval officer, crossed the gulf, and going among the rancheros, with a small party, by their influence and exhortations, raised several hundred men; and, dividing this force, they attacked simultaneously La Paz and San José. The former was defended by Colonel Burton with his volunteers, and the latter by Lieutenant Heywood of the navy, and a few sailors and marines. The Mexicans were defeated with great loss. Burton and Heywood occupied adobe houses, which were pierced with loop-holes, and served very well for forts. Mijores led the attack on San José, and was killed outright for his pains, while advancing at the head of his men. He was a gallant fellow, and marched up boldly at the very front of the assailants. Not so Pineda, who undertook to dislodge Burton. This Mexican hero backed his men in the attack, prudently keeping in the rear, and exercising the functions of an "animador." Shraprell shells, however, made havoc among his men, many of whom were killed. It is a sufficient eulogy on the bravery and good conduct of our officers and men to say, that they were a mere handfull, in the midst of a hostile population, cut off from communication with their countrymen, and beyond the reach of supplies or succor.

Guayamas and Mazatlan being garrisoned by our forces, and both the Californias being in our undisputed possession-except that a small body of vagabonds, under the valiant Pineda, were prowling about the interior of the peninsula-the Portsmouth sailed for the United States in the month of January, 1848.

CHAPTER XXIII.

Conclusion.

THE age in which we live is the most eventful which has occurred for centuries. However trite the remark that we live in an age of wonders, it is difficult to realize the extent to which it is true. The race of man never before were conscious of the high destiny which awaits them-never before appreciated their own wondrous God-derived abilities— were never before astonished and startled at their own progressive strides-never before started back at their own enchantments, which seem to mock the fanciful creations of oriental imagination. If man believed, as of old, that he inhabited a vast plain, that the sun and moon were earth's convenient satellites, and the stars scarcely more than the ornamental spangles of her azure robe, he would dispute with omnipotence the attributes of Deity. The advance of science, almost in our own day, has revealed to us that the power and glory of the beneficent Source of life are so far incomprehensible, that the most extravagant flights of human fancy are but beggarly approaches to the most inconceivable fraction of the Almighty's attributes, the mere physical wonders of his universe, serving only to show the man who knows the most, that he knows nothing. But for these wonderful discoveries-foolishly supposed by fanatics to jeopard all religion, because conflicting with the traditional account of the cosmogony contained in the Old Testament-the whole world would ere now have em

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braced Infidelity, and the fool would indeed have said in his heart, 66 there is no God." But now, knowing that none by searching, can find out or even imagine God; appreciating, though but faintly, His mighty works, from the ground we tread upon, to the infinite systems of worlds which lie beyond the highest flights of human thought, we are kept in our proper sphere, knowing that if we accomplish a million times more than we have already done, we still shall not stand perceptibly closer to the nearest outposts of divine power. With all reverence, then, towards the Infinite and Inscrutable Creator, whose might and love pervade the universe, we may speak exultingly of what His ingenious earthly creatures have effected, more to His glory than their own.

It is almost incredible, yet strictly true, that the man is now living, within the compass of whose days the steam engine was first fashioned into a practical operative machine, not only miraculous in itself, but in suggesting, and as it were creating, vast improvements in machinery of every description to which it is applied. Men not yet past middle-life, have been contemporaneous with the introduction of steamboats, the invention of railroads and locomotives, the discovery of the magnetic telegraph and the Daguerreotype, and have witnessed the most marvellous strides of the human intellect in the departments of chemistry, geology, mechanics and astronomy. A new world, in comparison with which the earth is as a bat-ball to a foot-ball, has been added to the list of brilliant planets which revolve around our sun. Nor have the political affairs of the wondrous pigmy who sways the destinies of this little sphere, been uneventful. The French revolution, the career of Napoleon, the conquests of England in India, of France Africa, and more recently the tendency in Europe towards the emancipation of man from the fetters of political tyranny-these and a thousand other wonderful events were witnessed by men of the present day.

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OUR OWN COUNTRY.

But it is the career of our own country, of this western Republic-whose institutions and daily history are now regarded with universal respect and interest-which presents the most wonderful picture of the progress of the human race. Within eighty years, a few colonists, strung along the Atlantic sea-board, have achieved their independence, and become one of the most wealthy and powerful nations on the face of the earth. Occupying a vast territory, this nation has developed its resources with miraculous energy and success, and is rapidly advancing in every department of commerce, agriculture, and manufactures. Powerful in war as well as prosperous in peace, it has, by two resorts to the last argument of nations, taught the world that it may not be trifled with or treated like a child, although still in its infancy. Having shown to the world its ability to protect itself, and its prowess being universally admitted, we may hope that it has sheathed the sword forever.

But great as this nation was, its recent eminence does not approach its present grandeur; and mighty and opulent as it is, the present is but a faint ideal of its future.

A virgin empire has been added to the United States, which, at the outset, brings to the fortunate bridegroom not only far-extending lands, but also an enormous dowry in ready money.

"Westward the star of empire takes its way,"

and the seat of Empire on the Pacific, must, in the course of time, rival the seat of Empire on the Atlantic.

In acquiring California, the United States have become possessed of new elements of greatness. The abundance of the precious metals in the new territory, must rapidly elevate her commercial position, and for the present, vastly enrich the Atlantic cities. Immense fortunes will be acquired in California, and will remain there, to be invested in lands, cattle, commerce, agriculture, and even manufactures.

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Of all the marvels of the present age, few have surpassed the acquisition of California by the United States, the rapid settlement of the new territory, and the sudden discovery of its mineral wealth. The results which are to flow from the immense deposits of gold, can, as yet, hardly be foreseen, but if half we hear be true, there is little doubt that the monetary affairs of the world will be very seriously affected by the depreciation of gold, the great standard and regulator of values.

One of the most magnificent regions of the world is now incorporated with the United States. The foregoing pages bear witness that in fertility of soil, mildness and salubrity of climate, and extent of resources, it is surpassed by no other country on the face of the earth. Abounding in excellent harbors, from its northern boundary to its southern extremity, it possessess every facility for accommodating a wide-spread commerce. Its contiguity to Asia will not only give immediate impulse to that commerce, but will also induce large numbers of industrious Asiatics to seek its shores in quest of employment.

Perhaps in concluding these humble labors, it will not be thought inappropriate to enumerate some of the leading products of California.

Wheat, oats, corn, rye, and all other cereal grains grow luxuriantly. In the more southern parts of the country, the fruits of the tropics flourish side by side with those of the temperate zone.

The forests yield a large supply of timber, not only for the more ordinary purposes of life, but also for ornamental

uses.

The grape flourishes in unequalled luxuriance, and both in climate and geographical features, California resembles the wine countries of Europe. The sugar-cane grows so readily, that the southern part of California, will, ere many years shall elapse, furnish sufficient sugar for the consumption of the whole territory.