Chapter I: 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 AFTER THE 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 DISTINGUISHING IT WHEN FOUND; TOGETHER WITH
THE ASSAY, REDUCTION, AND REFINEMENT OF 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