PREFACE.
The occupation of California by the people of the United States, and the discovery of its rich gold mines, form a new era in the history of the world. According to present appearances, these events forebode a complete revolution in monetary and commercial affairs. The receipts of gold from California have already produced a sensible effect on the financial affairs of our country; and far-seeing people predict an entirely new state of things with respect to the relative value of money and property.
Still more important effects are anticipated from the establishment of a new, rich, and enterprising State of the American Union on the shores of the Pacific. Railroads across the continent will soon transport the rich products of Eastern Asia, by a quick transit, to the Atlantic cities and to Europe; and a passage to China or India, which was formerly a serious undertaking, will become a pleasant excursion.
To gratify the public curiosity with respect to the history and present state of this new member of the Union, is the purpose of this volume. In preparing it, the author has passed rapidly over the early history, and dwelt chiefly on recent events, and the actual state of the country, as he considered that, by this course, utility would be more effectually consulted.
In the Appendix he has introduced the constitution of California, and some official documents, whose importance demanded their preservation in a permanent form.
CONTENTS
| CHAPTER I. | Page | |
Geographical Outline of California | [7] | |
| CHAPTER II. | ||
Discovery of California | [11] | |
| CHAPTER III. | ||
From the first Settlement to the Revolution in Mexico | [20] | |
| CHAPTER IV. | ||
From the Revolution till the War between the United States and Mexico | [24] | |
| CHAPTER V. | ||
From the Commencement of the War till its Close | [27] | |
| CHAPTER VI. | ||
Discovery of the Gold Placers | [36] | |
| CHAPTER VII. | ||
Adventures of some of the Miners, and Incidents connected with Mining | [56] | |
| CHAPTER VIII. | ||
Description of some of the Cities and towns of California, before and afterthe discovery of the Gold Mines | [87] | |
| CHAPTER IX. | ||
The Formation of a State Government | [118] | |
| CHAPTER X. | ||
Present state of California | [132] | |
| CHAPTER XI. | ||
The different Routes to California, and their respective characters | [181] | |
| CHAPTER XII. | ||
Recent Events connected with, and happening in, California | [218] | |
| CHAPTER XIII. | ||
The Mineralogical and other characteristics of Gold, and the mode of distinguishingit when found; together with the assay, reduction, and refinementof Gold | [233] | |
| CHAPTER XIV. | ||
| Additional Recent Events | [243] | |
| CHAPTER XV. | ||
| A General View of California at the present time | [255] | |
| CHAPTER XVI. | ||
| Natural History of California | [275] | |
| Appendix | [287] | |
THE
HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA