Transcriber's Note: Inconsistent hyphenation, spelling, and accents in the original document have been preserved. Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. California place names were left as printed, regardless of inconsistencies or apparent misspellings. Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. Page 17: Aurquoises changed to turquoises Page 64: "ancle" was the spelling in the quoted text Page 376: United Ship Cyane should possibly be United States Ship Cyane Page 393: 1st U. Dragoons should possibly be 1st U.S. Dragoons Appendix C and E not labeled Appendix C presumed to be the "MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT" Appendix E presumed to be the "despatch of General Persifor F. Smith" [Illustration: MOUNTAIN SCENERY IN LOWER CALIFORNIA.] HISTORY -- OF THE -- STATE OF CALIFORNIA, FROM THE PERIOD OF THE CONQUEST BY SPAIN, TO HER OCCUPATION BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF THE DISCOVERY OF THE IMMENSE GOLD MINES AND PLACERS, A DESCRIPTION OF HER MINERAL AND AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, WITH THRILLING ACCOUNTS OF ADVENTURES AMONG THE MINERS. -- ALSO, -- A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE FORMATION OF THE GOVERNMENT AND CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE. WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS. BY JOHN FROST, LL.D. NEW YORK: HURST & CO., PUBLISHERS, 122 NASSAU STREET. ARGYLE PRESS, PRINTING AND BOOKBINDING 24-26 WOOSTER ST., N.Y. 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.