Dissensions were now rife between the civil and military authorities in California, and in August, 1842, General Manuel Micheltorena arrived at San Diego from Mexico, with full powers from the government to supersede Vallejo in the military and Alvarado in the civil affairs of California. Micheltorena was received by the people with great rejoicing: bull-fights, fandangos, and other entertainments attested the joy of the populace. But, in the midst of their festivities, all was brought to a standstill: the irrepressible Yankee had entered upon a new role in California. Commodore Jones, of the United States navy, having been hovering about the coast of California, learned in some way that difficulties existed between the United States and Mexico with reference to Texas, which difficulties were likely to lead to the annexation of Texas and California, if not of Mexico itself. The gallant commodore, believing that it was the desire of his government, with the United States frigate United States and sloop-of-war Cyane, on the 19th of October, 1842, entered the port of Monterey, hoisted the stars and stripes, took possession of the capitol, and proclaimed California a part of the American republic. Alvarado, who had not yet been displaced by Micheltorena, surrendered to Jones on the following day. Jones' authority, however, was brief; for, on the day after the surrender, having had information which led him to believe that his acts were premature, and not in conformity with the wishes of his government, he hauled down his banners and quietly departed, having offered apologies for his intrusion. The new commandant, General Micheltorena, thereupon entered upon his duties unopposed.

But difficulties were not yet ended. General Vallejo

and Governor Alvarado being now deposed, having been bitterest enemies, became firm friends, and with General Castro entered upon a new enterprise, into driving Micheltorena out of the country. All the ammunition of the government was stored at San Juan: upon this point the attention of the new revolutionists was directed. In November, 1844, Castro entered the town, captured the mission and the government ammunition. The governor afforded the rebels eight days grace in which to disband and surrender to his authority; but the rebels, regardless of this courtesy on the part of Micheltorena, marched upon the capital. The Mexican military force in the territory was small; and Micheltorena, fearing defeat, called for aid from John A. Sutter, who had been a foreign resident of the country ever since 1839. Sutter responded, and with one hundred mounted men, mostly foreigners, hurried to the rescue. Castro at the head of the rebel band, on the 21st of July, 1845, met the government forces a short distance from Los Angeles, where an engagement took place lasting two days, resulting in the killing of four persons and the unconditional surrender of the government forces.

Once more California was an independent country. The champion of the conquest, General Castro, was now General-in-chief; and Pio Pico, Governor. Micheltorena, together with his officers and soldiers, were shipped to San Blas on board of an American vessel; and Mexican rule ended in California, as the like fate befell the rule of Pico and Castro, as will appear in the succeeding chapter of this volume.

CHAPTER V.

Early navigators-Voyage of Sir Francis Drake-Voyages of Sebastian Viscayno and Vistus Behring-Settlement of Sitka-King George's Sound Company-East India Company-Thomas Jefferson's interest in the Pacific coast-Expedition of John Ledyard: he is arrested by order of the Empress of RussiaVoyage of Vancouver-The King of Spain forbids Captain Cook to enter California-First American vessels on the Pacific coastCaptain Gray discovers the Columbia river-First American vessel enters the Bay of San Francisco-John Brown and Thomas Raben first Americans in California-Trade to the Columbia river-Count Rosanoff in California-Delia Byrd enters San Diego-Russians evacuate California at the request of the United States-Expedition of Lewis and Clark-First settlement in Oregon-John Jacob Astor founds Astoria-Fur trade of Oregon-The British take possession of Oregon-Its restoration to the United States-Astor's fur trade in the Rocky mountainsFirst overland journey to California-Arrest of Jedediah SmithLetter from American seamen in 1826-Letter from Smith to one of the fathers-Death of J. S. Smith-Pattie's expeditionAsiatic emigration encouraged-First settlers in California-First mercantile house in California-Commodore Wilkes' expedition to the Pacific-Discovery of a wrecked Japanese junk-Fremont's explorations-Sutter's hospitality-End of Fremont's second exploration.

THE period which elapsed from the first Anglo-Saxon voyages to the Pacific coast to the discovery of gold forms one of the most interesting chapters in our history. The solitude and primitive order of the vast territory of Alaska, Washington Territory, Oregon, and California were unbroken, save by an occasional adventurer; and California was as little known to the world as the fabled garden of Eden.

Among those who broke the seal of its primitive obscurity on our coast was Sir Francis Drake, who, in 1558, made a voyage to California in the course of his explorations in the Pacific, also General Sebastian

Viscayno, who, under orders of Philip III of Spain, explored California in 1803, where at Point Reyes he discovered the wreck of Sebastian Cermenon's vessel, stranded in 1595 on her voyage from Manilla to Acapulco; and Vistus Behring, a Dane, who was employed by Catharine of Russia to make explorations in the North Pacific and on the coasts of Asia and America.

A

The founding of Sitka, in 1805, by the Russian American Fur Company, which was organized in 1799, and the founding of the King George's Sound Company, organized in London in 1784, with the object of making settlements on the Pacific coast, aided much in developing the country. Between the years 1784 and 1790 the East India Company (English) had despatched several ships to this coast. Thomas Jefferson, acting United States minister in France in 1785, took a lively interest in matters pertaining to the Pacific coast. Connecticut Yankee, named John Ledyard, who accompanied the famous English navigator, Captain Cook, on his last voyage to the Pacific, conceived the idea of exploring the west coast of America. After several ineffectual efforts to secure aid either from the United States Congress or the British government, he went to France and had an interview with Thomas Jefferson, then United States minister in that country, at whose suggestion he undertook a journey across the country to Kamtschatka, thence by sea to Nootka sound or some other point on the west coast of America, thence overland to the Atlantic States. Permission was obtained from the Empress of Russia for Ledyard to pass through her dominions. He proceeded as far as Irkoutsk, in Siberia, on his way to Okhotsk, where he designed to take passage for the American continent.

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Here he was, on the 24th of February, 1788, arrested by order of the Empress of Russia. After being conveyed to the frontier of Poland, he was released, with the injunction never again to set his foot upon Russian territory. Ledyard soon undertook an expedition to explore the source of the Nile; and died at Cairo in Egypt, November 15, 1788

The English navigator Vancouver, who visited the coast in 1793, and spent some time in the Bay of Monterey, contrary to Spanish custom, at least on the Pacific, met with a kind reception and received courteous attentions from the Spanish authorities at that place.

The jealousy of the Spanish toward all foreign intercourse was manifest upon all occasions. The Viceroy of Mexico, on the 23d of October, 1776, wrote to the Governor of California as follows: "That the king, having received intelligence that two armed vessels had sailed from London, under the command of Captain Cook, bound on a voyage of discovery to the southern ocean and the northern coast of California, commands that orders be given to the Governor of California to be on the watch for Captain Cook, and not permit him to enter the ports of California."

Yankee enterprise was seeking wider fields for its operations, and the Pacific was attracting attention. In the summer of 1787, Messrs. Barrell, Bulfinch & Co., merchants, of Boston, Mass., fitted out two vessels and despatched them to the Pacific, with directions to proceed as far north as King George's sound. One of these vessels, the Washington, ninety tons, was commanded by Captain Robert Gray; the other, the Columbia, two hundred tons, was commanded by Captain John Kendrick. A resolution had previously passed