JESUITS IN CALIFORNIA.

65

rected to the Gulf of California, which his fleets navigated throughout. Beyond the gulf, they passed into the great river opening into it-the Colorado of the West. On either side of this gulf, the settlements attempted for many years were unsuccessful. The attention of the Jesuits was at last turned in that direction. The restless enterprise of this society did much, very soon, to advance the condition and make known to the world the territories into which they found entrance. Soon were their establishments in a prosperous state. They had begun to operate upon the natives-to civilize them, and to herald the doctrines of the cross in their midst. These labors were not without their reward; but a jealousy of the political intrigues of the order in Europe, banished them from Portugal, from Spain, and from the Spanish possessions of California. The fifteen or twenty stations which the Jesuits had supported, with their churches and forts and store-houses, etc., now passed into the hands of the Dominicans. The Indian tribes which had been reduced into a partial civilization, by the severest but perhaps the only efficient agencies, now relapsed as rapidly as they had advanced, and when the revolution of 1822 severed Spain from her trans-Atlantic provinces, and California had united under the Mexican Constitution of 1824, the Indians, set free from all restraints, indulged their natural vices, and the missions fell entirely into decay. When Santa Anna trampled under foot the Constitution of 1824, California made a show of resistance, but at last yielded to the wily policy of the Dictator. Since then, in common with the other Mexican states, she has been the theatre of continual revolutions. Even while we write, a movement is reported in progress for her entire emancipation from Mexican misrule.

The population of California is not all aboriginal, or Spanish. Foreigners have been attracted, by the facilities of trade, etc., to make settlements in the country, to the no small annoyance of the Mexican authorities. At the present moment, the whole population is not above thirty thousand, of which only a very small portion are Europeans. California has a small commercial intercourse with the United States. Merchant ships bring from there, hides, tallow, etc., the abundant productions of continental California, in exchange for our manufactured articles. The American fur traders, from the vicinities of Missouri, have their hunters, trappers, etc., scattered through much of the territory, and especially in the vicinity of the Colorado river.

Whether California will ever become of any great importance in the history of the world, or advance to any conspicuous position, either agriculturally, commercially or politically, is susceptible of the greatest doubt. To Mexico, from remoteness of position, and other causes, it must ever be of trifling importance. In itself, it has little prospect beyond a nerveless imbecility. To great commercial nations, the fine harbors opened along its coast on the Pacific, for the protection of merchant ships and navies in their distant Indian voyages, will always be attractive. Its intermediate position, too, between the fur trading posts of North-west America, and the fisheries of the Southern ocean, as well as its proximity to the Sandwich group of Islands, are relative advantages of the highest con

sideration. What remains to be said about the territory, may be summed up in a few words. Scarcely a country in the world is cursed with a soil more hopelessly sterile. Everything is burned up from the want of rain. For years at a time, scarcely a cloud breaks into showers. Spots there are, fertile spots spoken of, along the banks of the Colorado; but of the Colorado and its vicinities, little is known. The country watered by that stream, and stretching upward to the mountains, is almost an unexplored wilderness. Where artificial irrigation is possible, agriculture, it is thought, will thrive. On the Pacific coast, in the vicinity of St. Francisco bay, 38°, and at San Bernard, 34°, there are favored sites. In the heart of the country, rich veins of gold ore exist; and on the Gulf of California, pearls of rare beauty and preciousness have ever been afforded."

In relation to the geography, soil and climate of Oregon, we have the following:

In the third great valley of Oregon, or that between the Blue and Rocky mountains, a barren wilderness, for hundreds of miles, presents itself alone to the wearied traveler. Scarcely a relief to the eye can be found, from rocks heaped upon rocks in wildest profusion. Here the soil is seldom irrigated by the blessed streams and showers of heaven. Here all is dry and parched, and vegetation droops and dies in the vain effort to imbibe its nourishment from the soil. Freezing nights shoot death through the tender foliage of plants, which, in the day season, have been parched with heat. Here and there, at remote spaces, a river site furnishes an exception to the dark picture; but even then, scanty indeed are the promises to agricultural industry. Pasture lands, however, may be found in many parts, and certain grasses appear to thrive under every disadvantage. We dare affirm that this region will be the last sought by civilized man. Little is there here to invite his footsteps. Little is there in the boundless, undulating, treeless plains, where the scanty streams dry up, and even the deer, the elk and the buffalo are compelled to seek more favored spots. Lawless men, it has been thought, will find refuge and shelter here. Spoliations and depredations will be easy on the regions either side of the mountains. Brigands and robber chieftains may grow up into power, and co-operating with the savage man, revengeful from long oppression, carry dismay and death before them. These are among the reflections of Washington Irving, in relation to this region. Yet there are beauties in it too.

"The monotony of these immense landscapes,' says he, would be as wearisome as that of the ocean, were it not relieved in some degree by the purity and elasticity of the atmosphere, and the beauty of the heavens. The sky has that delicious blue for which the sky of Italy is renowned. The sun shines with a splendor unobscured by any cloud or vapor, and star-light on the prairies is glorious.

In the second great valley, or the middle valley of Oregon, between the Blue and Far West mountains, nature begins to grow more bountiful, and scatters her favors with readier hand. Water, however, is still the great desideratum, and were artificial irrigation possible, the soil in all probability would be very fertile. The only drawback would be the variations of temperature between the night

66

AMERICAN POPULATION IN OREGON.

61

and day, which are here very considerable also. Districts of abundant pasture lands lie scattered in every direction, and seem to promise this as a great cattle country. The herdsman will find abundant encouragement, and if there be no deception, his cattle may range over a thousand hills." The Walla Walla river fertilizes a small portion of this valley, and throws it into a garden spot, where civilized life has broken upon the desolation, and the smiling hills and landscapes, with fruit, flowers and grain, have gladdened the hearts of the children of men.

The Pacific, or westernmost valley of Oregon, is the great agricultural region of that section of the globe. On either side of the Columbia, it stretches from the Straits of Fuca to the waters of the Umpqua river. South of the Columbia are located the Eden spots of all Western America. In this valley of fifty thousand square miles-susceptible, to a large extent, of profitable cultivation-a population equal to that of many of our States could be supported to advantage. Hills and valleys range themselves over its surface, and forests, dense forests, the most magnificent in the world, are spread abroad with a munificence of donation. Here, if anywhere, must be the seat of empire, population and wealth, beyond the Rocky Mountains; here, while the inhospitable and barren regions around remain in their primitive desolation. The climate of this favored spot is genial, and the thermometer in summer ranges seldom higher than 80°. During that season, cool and refreshing breezes from the westward and north-westward constantly prevail. The winters are rainy, though mild and healthy. This season of rain sets in about October, and prevails till April; it is regular and constant, but seldom so violent as to retard the usual occupations of the people. At times, however, the storms baffle description, if Washington Irving be relied on. “The sun is sometimes obscured for weeks, the brooks swell into roaring torrents, and the country is threatened with a deluge ;" but these things soon pass away, and nature smiles out again. A winter in this section of Oregon, is represented by all authorities as temperate, and not unlike that of some of our Southern States. Population, hardy and enterprising, from the American States, have already been attracted to the spot, and are still migrating thitherward in large companies. Farms, villages and towns have grown up; agriculture, commerce and government have followed close in their rear, and the "useful man," with his axe and his plow, is developing the fruits of industry and civilization. We shall have occasion again to recur largely to this section; at present, let us finish the merely physical or geographical sketch with which we set out.

The following extract will exhibit the progress of American emigration:

The earlier operations of the Americans in Oregon were signal failures, as we shall have occasion to see. Three or four years ago there were hardly five hundred of our citizens in all that region, and these were simply farmers, graziers or mechanics, and were located about the Willamet and Walla Walla rivers. In 1843, one thousand persons, of all ages, emigrated from the Mississippi Valley to these distant borders. They carried with them horses, cattle, wagons, and every other matter necessary in so extensive an enterprise. Since

that period, a constant tide has been setting thither, and the last ac- ! counts are, that many thousands, from all sections, are even now congregated in Missouri, enthusiastic for the great westward move

ment.

A single passage in relation to the value of Oregon to the U. States: There are views of Oregon to which the mass of our people are not yet accustomed. It seems to many chimerical to connect that country intimately with the commerce of the East Indies and the Pacific Ocean. But who shall prescribe bounds to national enterprise, and particularly to the enterprise of a nation like ours, so boundless in resources. It may be asked, can we not participate more intimately in the eastern trade than we yet have done? May not our commerce to the opening ports of China, for example, rival, if not surpass that of any people on the earth? The commerce of the East Indies has for ages been a glittering object in the eyes of trading nations. They have sought it, and grown up to power and influence under its support. What, for instance, were the Italian republics, until the bounteous products of the East were thrown into their lap; and where were Venice and Genoa and Pisa, when the Portuguese, by a shorter passage to the Indies, had cut off these rich resources? Britain, too, what has been her advance since she has enjoyed an almost monopoly of this invaluable trade? If possessions on the Pacific Ocean will facilitate such a commerce-if they be necessary to its existence-then, surely, we will not be neglectful of these possessions. There are various ways in which they might be valuable. Let an overland communication from ocean to ocean be established, and the Pacific coast will be of inestimable importSuch a communication would give us a monopoly of the trade of the Pacific, and bring to us its untold wealth.

ance.

Art. XI-POST OFFICE REFORM.

WHEN Rowland Hill was pressing the matter of cheap postage upon the people of England, the strong argument was used, that if a law were passed prohibiting parents to speak to their children till they had paid sixpence to government for permission, the wickedness would be so palpable that there would be an end to the tax, in that form of exaction, in twenty-four hours. This was spoken at a time when a clear revenue of over $7,000,000 was derived annually from the British post.

Men were set to work in calculations. It was found that the whole expense of conveying a letter did not average more than the fractional part of a penny, and the people deemed that exactions in this particular were the most cruel and odious of all. Rowland Hill and his party prevailed.

On the 10th January, 1840, the present Penny-post System went into effect by acclamation. It provides for no rate, whatever the distance, other than 1d on a letter of half an ounce weight. The opponents of the system cried out that it would prove ruinous to the government, and at first they seemed to be sustained by facts.

In 1840 it fell, under the new system, as low as £495,914. But from that period to this, there has been a constant augmentation, indicating strong prospects of a recovery of the full amount of former periods. The clear revenue of the department, in 1841, was £564,407, and in 1842, £700,000, which rate of increase, if preserved until 1850, would reach the ultimatum of the old system.

The number of letters received in the London General Post Office. were, in

1839.. 1840.

1841.

21,892

48,055

69,818

And for the whole kingdom, the number of letters passing through the mail, was for every

According to the report of the Postmaster-General, submitted to Congress in 1843, it appears that the whole transportation of mail at that period was 20 million miles in Great Britain, and 35 millions in the United States. The gross revenue in the former instance being $11,421,907, and in the latter $4,295,925.

The influence of the British system of reduced postage operated so strongly on this side of the water, that public sentiment was aroused everywhere in favor of reform. Our old system was conceived to be far more onerous than there was any necessity for, and it was thought that reduced rates would be equally, if not more advantageous to government.

The following list will show the revenue and expenditures of the Post Office Department in the United States for the years named:

No measure was more universally popular than the Post Office Law which went into effect in July last; and although many of its defects were soon perceived, and grievous ones, too, yet as a whole it was an earnest of an approach to a correct system. There is no principle more strictly correct than this, that such a monopoly as the Post Office Department ought never to be tolerated as a source of