In response the President said:
Mr. Mayor—I have received with great gratification these words of welcome which you have extended to me on behalf of the city of San Francisco. They are but new expressions of the welcome which has been extended to me since I entered the State of California. Its greatness and glory I knew something of by story and tradition, but what I have seen of its resources has quite surpassed my imagination. But what has deeply impressed me is the loyal and intelligent and warm-hearted people I have everywhere met. I thank you for this reception.
[SAN FRANCISCO, APRIL 27.]
Monday, April 27, the President and his party reviewed many thousand school children assembled on Van Ness Avenue. Escorted by Mayor Sanderson, General Ruger, and other distinguished citizens, the party were driven through the famous Golden Gate Park. At the entrance the President was met and welcomed by Park Commissioner Hammond, while awaiting the guests inside was a reception committee consisting of E. S. Pilsbury, W. D. English, General Sheehan, Chief Crowley, C. F. Crocker, Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Wilshire, Judge Hawley, of Nevada, ex-Mayor Pond, Colonel Taylor, Marshal Long, Park Commissioner Austin, Mr. and Mrs. Francis G. Newlands, Samuel Shortridge, C. M. Leavy, Surveyor-General Pratt, Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Le Count, Mr. and Mrs. E. P. Danforth, Colonel and Mrs. J. B. Wright, of Sacramento, Mr. and Mrs. Wendell Easton, Mr. Gregory, Mr. and Mrs. Paris Kilbourn, Mr. and Mrs. Timothy G. Phelps, Senator Carpenter, of Los Angeles, Miss Harriet Bolinger, Mr. and Mrs. Bolinger, District Attorney Garter, Mrs. Judge W. T. Wallace, F. W. Sharon, T. B. Shannon, Mrs. B. L. Haseltine, and others.
The reception concluded, the drive was continued to the Cliff House, overlooking Seal Rocks; from thence the party visited Sutro Heights and became the guests of Mr. Adolph Sutro. At the close of luncheon Mr. Sutro, addressing President Harrison, said in part:
Mr. President—I rise to present you a photo-lithographic letter written by Sebastian Viscano, the great Spanish navigator. This is probably the first letter in existence written by any human being from California. It is dated at the port of Monterey, December 28, 1602, named in honor of the Conde de Monterey, then Viceroy of Mexico. It is addressed to the Court of Spain, and states that he (Viscano) had taken possession of this country for his majesty.
The original of this letter I found in hunting through the Archives de las Indias at Seville, Spain. At the date of this letter Queen Elizabeth was still on the throne of England, Louis XIV. of France was not born yet, and the Pilgrim Fathers had not yet landed on Plymouth Rock.
Mr. President, we all thank you for having come to see our beautiful land, and permit me especially to thank you for the honor of your visit to Sutro Heights.
With the closing words Mr. Sutro extended to the President a red plush album inclosing the letter. President Harrison, in accepting it, said: