As soon as these "civil funds" can be collected from the officers now holding them, it is proposed to place them in the hands of some officer, or other responsible person, who will act as treasurer for the civil government, with a fixed compensation for his services. On the arrival of the regular collector and deputies, appointed according to law, a full statement will be made of all the moneys which have been collected in California, and the papers and accounts connected with the expenditure of this civil fund will be sent to Washington, as heretofore, in order that all officers who shall receive or expend the same may be held to a strict accountability.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
B. RILEY,
Brevet Brig. Gen. U.S.A., and Governor of California.
Major-General R. Jones,
Adjutant General of the Army, Washington, D.C.
Appendix L.
Governor Riley took occasion to make an excursion through the gold regions, soon after his affairs with the assemblies were disposed of. A reconnoisance of the valleys of the Sacramento and San Joaquin was made, and particular care given to the matter of establishing military posts for defending the miners and others from the attacks of the Indians. After his return to Monterey, the following despatch was sent to the headquarters of the United States army. The subject of the Indian troubles receives especial consideration.
Headquarters Tenth Military Department,
Monterey, California, August 30, 1849.
Colonel: I found, on my return to this place from a reconnoissance of a portion of the valleys of San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers, general orders No. 1 from the headquarters of the army; and, as I cannot have copied in season for transmission by the steamer of the 1st proximo the military correspondence at these headquarters, I respectfully submit, for the information of the commander-in-chief, a brief summary of reports heretofore made in relation to military affairs in this department.