and lucrative commerce-the centres whence its attendant blessings knowledge, civilization, and wealth would radiate among savage hordes.. Here are no deserts, but nations already prepared for improvement, and countries gifted by nature with a congenial climate, and with a boundless extent of virgin soil, where the indigo and the tea-plant flourish spontaneou-ly, and where the growth of the sugar-cane, and of every other tropical' production, may be carried to an unlimited extent-regions producing grain in vast superabundance, and rich in valuable staples-cotton, coffee, spices, ivory, gold-dust, peltries, and drugs--all, in fact, that is requisite to impart value and activity to exchange."* Art. III-COMMERCE AND RESOURCES OF ALTA CALIFORNIA. THIS vast and fruitful territory, which by the energy and promptitude of Commodore Sloat, has lately been added to our wide-spread Republic, is, we understand, to be fortified, (that is, its most important points.) and a naval station to be established at San Francisco. This Bay is probably unequalled for extent of safe anchorage; and from its proximity to the cruising grounds of our twenty millions of dollars' worth of whaling ships, is unquestionably the best position which could be selected for such a purpose, on the shore of the Pacific. The following important information, obtained from a highly intelligent officer, lately returned from our squadron in those waters, we have much pleasure in communicating, for the benefit of such of our merchants as are or may be engaged in commercial adventures to that quarter; or such of our enterprising fellow-citizens may be inclined to settle there. Alta or Upper California is situated between the thirty-second and fortysecond degrees of North latitude, and the parts which border on the ocean are between the hundred and seventeenth and hundred and twenty-third degrees of West longitude. Its boundaries on the East have been considered the Rocky Mountains, although the part that has hitherto been settled, is a strip of land on the shores of the Pacific, not exceeding sixty miles in width. The establishment of Catholic missions was first commenced 1769, by the Jesuits, on the following plan: On one side of the large square stands the church, a suit of buildings for the habitations of the priests, for travellers, and a guard-house; on the other side are granaries, work-shops for various trades, cellars, wine-presses, and separate apartments for the Indian boys and girls; at a distance are the habitations for the adults. Attached to each of these missions is a large garden, orchard, and vineyard. Besides these missions, twenty-one in number--the last of which, San Francisco Soland, was founded in the year 1822-there are four Presidios, or towns, viz. San Francisco, Monterey, Santa Barbara, and San Diego; two villages, Pueblo de los Angeles and Pueblo de San Jose, and a hamlet called De Branceforté. The garrison of each Presidio comprised about eighty cavalry with a few infantry and artillery soldiers. The Commandant of each Presidio was the Captain of these troops, and decided all disputes, previous to 1822-till then there were no civil authorities. * The Highlands of Ethiopia; by Major W. Cornwallis Harris, of the Honorable East India Company's Engineers. The residence of the Governor was Monterey, and he was generally a colonel or captain in the army, and sent from Mexico. Formerly, all the land belonged to the different missions, and although distant some fourteen leagues, they respectively bounded on each other. The prosperity of these missions was at its height in 1825, at which time they counted from two to three thousand Indians each, and possessed from six thousand to one hundred thousand bullocks each, and an equal number of sheep. The number of horses was so great that many were killed to save pasturage. Before the year 1622, the trade of these missions was with San Blas and Callao; vessels from these ports were sent here for tallow. The same year, an American vessel arrived in California from Boston, and prepared the way for a trake which has since been carried on almost exclusively with merchants of that port. A law was passed in 1835, taking from the priests the management of the temporalities of the missions, and giving it to the secular administrators, who in a short time ruined the missions, without essentially benefitting themselves. The land has been divided amongst private individuals, and although the cattle of the missions have disappeared, there are as many hides exported as ever. Exclusive of countless wild Indians and some Neophytes, California has about fifteen thousand inhabitants, generally descendants of Spanish and Mexican fathers, but mostly Indian mothers. The baptized Indians, released by the demolition of the missions, are hired by the other inhabitants for servile work, while the latter assist each other in the superior labor of their farms. Such of the Indians as were taught the mechanic arts by the Spanish Padres are mostly dead, and none other of their tribes will ever take their places. The improved farms are held by Mexicans, Californians, and naturalized citizens; the latter become so by merely signing a petition for that purpose, whereupone letter of citizenship is granted, without an oath or any other formality. These farms, comprising from one to eleven square leagues, were granted to citizens with very little expense. The land adjoining the sea-coast is principally taken up-all that which is immediately around the Bay of San Francisco, and a portion of that on either bank of the Sacramento River. A small part only of those on the River San Joaquim is taken as yet. Some of the mission lands still belong to the Government, as well as other unclaimed lands. Some farms have been abandoned, in consequence of depredations committed by wild Indians, who steal thousands of horses yearly even out of enclosures, and near dwellings. These Indians have shown but little fear of late, and have shot sevral farmers with their arrows. There are now about twelve hundred foreign residents in California, mostly settled around the Bay of San Francisco, and on the banks of the Sacramento; three-fourths of these are Americans, and the remainder Europeans. One-third of the males have taken out letters of citizenship, and never expect to speak Spanish, the prevailing language-a knowledge of English being all-sufficient for commercial purposes, even at this early period of the settlement. In 1832, there were less than three hundred foreign residents, and these were sailors who had left their ships or were entrapped by the former government; they have become farmers. The first American settlers arrived on the Sacramento in 1840. The emigrants leave Inde pendence, Missouri, (the starting point,) in April or May, and arrive on the borders of the Pacific in October or November, annually. Some petition for farms; others settle on private grants by consent of owners. These emigrants, on leaving Independence, should be furnished (if a family of five or six,) with 1 good wagon, 1 barrel of flour, 200 pounds of bacon, 30 pounds of coffee, 50 pounds of sugar, 20 pounds of rice, 4 yoke of oxen, 3 cows, and a few cooking utensils. Every male person of fourteen years, and upwards, should be provided with a rifle, 10 pounds of powder, 30 pounds of lead, and 200 percussion caps. After securing his land on either bank of the Sacramento, the setler should prapare his ground at once, and begin sowing his wheat in December. Beans, peas, and corn should be planted in April. Twelve hundred dollars will start a cattle-breeder in California. Wheat produces from forty to fifty-fold under very imperfect cultivation. The Spanish Padres of some of the missions have obtained an hundredfold, and at the mission of San Jose an hundred and eighty-fold was obtained. Wild oats and mustard cover the country; the former to the height of three or four feet, and the latter so high and compact that horses straying amongst it are often lost. Rye and buckwheat have not been proved. Cotton and hemp have been raised, but as yet only in small quantities. Every description of vegetable produces well. Apples, pears, peaches, and quinces, are common all over the country, and in some parts there are limes, oranges, almonds, figs, and walnuts. Plums and cherries have not been tested. Grapes of the finest flavor, and in the greatest profusion grow in different districts. In latitudes south of 34° the best are produced. With imperfect means, wines and brandies are also made in California. The climate is unsurpassed for salubrity: the lowest rate of the thermometer in the shade, at Monterey, in 1845, was 44°, and the highest 86°, although the common range throughout the year is from 60° to 70°. Sailing vessels have about thirteen days passage from Monterey to Mazatlan, but double that number on returning. It takes about fifteen days to sail from Monterey to Columbia River, but only five to return. The entire revenue of California has been received from the custom-house at Monterey, which, for the seven past years, averaged eighty-six thousand dollars. There were no drawbacks to the trade in California; coins, currencies, weights and measures of England and the United States are in common use. Imported goods, such as American cotton and woollen manufactures, shoes, hats, furniture, and farmer's utensils; also groceries, crockery and hardware, and China goods, are sold to the dealers and farmers on the coast at a credit of twelve to twenty-four months, payable in hides, tallow, fat, dried beef, lumber and soap. The Boston ships have generally returned home with twenty to forty thousand bullocks' hides; every dollar of invoice and disbursements, including also a reasonable charge for wear and tear of the vessel, has usually received a hide in return, which is always valued at two dollars. The tallow has generally been bartered with vessels bound for Callao, for hides. A considerable quantity of sea-otter skins were formerly collected, and shipped to Canton. They were valued at forty dollars each. The number at present taken is very limited. In a few years hence there will be exported gold, lead, and a large quantity of quicksilver, also sulphur, coal and slate. The mines of quicksilver are probably the largest in the world, and of the best ore, producing more than 20 per cent, with but small expense of outfit. Under the government of the United States, with some capital, and an increase of that thriving race, the Anglo-Saxons, California could supply all the Polynesian Islands, together with San Blas, Mazatlan, Acapulco, and the N. W. Coast, with the above-named products, as well as wheat, beans, peas, flour, fat, tallow, butter, cheese, pork, beef, salmon, sardines, horses, mules, spars, boards, shingles, staves, and ships. Already shingles, lumber, spars, and horses are shipped to the Sandwich Islands; and beef, fat, wheat and beans to the Russian settlements on the Northwest Coast, bills on St. Petersburg being received in exchange. The exports of 1846 will amount to 85,000 hides; 60,000 arrobas tallow; 10,000 fanegas wheat; 1,000,000 feet lumber, also staves and shingles; $20,000 worth of otter and beaver skins; $10,000 worth of soap; 1,000 barrels wine and aquadiente; 200 ounces of gold. CLASSIFICATION OF DUTIES RECEIVED IN THE CUSTOM-HOUSE OF CALIFORNIA, AT MONTEREY, IN 1844. From Mexican vessels, coastwise from San Blas and Mazatlan. Total...... $5,194 60,316 13,219 $78,739 The cargoes of such vessels as were built in the Republic of Mexico, have paid but 15 per cent ad valorem duty hitherto. LIST OF SHIPPING FROM FOREIGN PORTS AND COASTWISE, ENTERED AT MONTEREY, DURING THE YEAR 1844. LIST OF SHIPPING FROM FOREIGN ports and COASTWISE, ENTERED at MONTEREY, IN 1845 Of the above, 5 were ships of war, 5 whaling ships, and 48 merchant vessels, classed in the following order, viz:-Ships, 23; barques, 17; brigs, 8; schooners, 10-total 58 vessels. The number of men and amount of tonnage is exclusive of ships of war. Bque. Tassot... Vessels. ENTRIES AT CUSTOM-HOUSE, MONTEREY, IN THE YEAR 1845. Brig Fariscia*... Schr. Julian*. Brig Matadort. Ship California‡. Don Quixotet.. Ship Famet.. NOTICES OF THE TRADE CARRIED ON BY THE RUSSIANS AT KIACHTA, upon THE Russian trade with China, by a treaty made between the two countries in 1728, is confined to the town of Kiachta, on the northern frontier of China, which is thus the sole entrepô for the exchange of the commodities of both countries. The Russians are prohibited from trading at Canton, in consequence of the privilege they have of trading overland. In the year 1806, two Russian ships visited Canton, after making a voyage of discovery, for the purpose of taking in a cargo of Chinese produce for Russia. The Canton authorities at first refused, but afterwards permitted them to load, at the same time making reference to Peking. Before the answer arrived, the ships had sailed, but an edict was despatched to Russia prohibiting further intercourse, except by the northern frontier. late years this trade has become of great importance; and the attention of commercial men, connected with China, has been called to the Russian woollen manufactures, which have begun to compete successfully with those of English manufacture, which formerly supplied the Chinese market. Of A few statements, (although necessarily meagre from the want of direct information,) may therefore not be unacceptable. The great advance which Russia has made in the arts during the last half century, will be partially shown by the fact that, in the years 1793-95, she annually imported cloths to the average amount of 3,978,000 silver roubles; the only woollen manufacture then carried on being coarse cloth for the use of the army; while is 1837-39, the import had nearly ceased, and her own manufactures supplied the internal consumption of the empire, besides a large oriental export, chiefly to China, which, in 1842, amounted to nearly 2,000,000 silver roubles. Again, in 1800, the import of tea into Russia was 2,799,900 Russian pounds; and in 1837-39 the average annual import was 8,071,880 Russian pounds. Forty (40) Russian pounds are equal to 36 lbs. avoirdupois. * Chiefly derived from the Chinese Repository for June, 1845. |