| 1068 and reverence and obey the true and loyal priesthood of the order of Melchisedeck and of Aaron, restored to the rightful heirs the authority of Israel; or the death and famine will consume them, and the plague sweep them quickly down to the pit, as in the cases of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, who pretended to the priesthood, and rebelled against God's chosen priests and prophets in the days of Moses.
We wish to call the attention of all the elders and saints to the subject of the circulation of this proclamation. Let them bear in mind, that they are all equally concerned in this matter with us, and that it is in fulfilment [fulfillment] of an express commandment of God that it is published. We shall have to distribute a great number of them gratis, and as the saints are under equal obligation with ourselves to have it published, we hereby call upon them to resist us with pecuniary means, in the fulfilment [fulfillment] of this. This may be effected by the presiding elders of conferences and branches raising contributions in their several districts and forwarding the moneys thereby received to us, here for that purpose. We have twenty thousand copies in press, and when they are out we do not wish the distribution of them to be confined to the agents of our publications alone, but request that all the presiding elders, officers, and members of all the branches will exert every means in their power to have copies forwarded to all the clergy and men of note in their circuit, and thereby clear their garments of the blood of all men, that they may be found spotless at the judgment seat of Christ.
WILFORD WOODRUFF.
CALIFORNIA.
Albert M. Gilliam, late U. S. Consul at California, is of the opinion that the government of California must saon [soon] fall into the hands of the American race, and that a railroad direct from San Francisco, either to New Orleans or some point on the Red river, might be made to great advantage. Mr. G. is engaged in writing a work on Mexico, &c.
The following letter from a correspondent of the New York Journal of Commerce, furnishes interesting particulars:
California, July 1845.
By almost every newspaper from the United States and many from England, we find extracts and surmises respecting the sale of this country. One month England is the purchaser; the next month, the United States. In the mean time the progress of California is onward; and would still be more so, if Mexico would not send every few years a band of thieving soldiers.
Should the supreme government allow the Californians to rule their own country they would have peace and prosperity. General Don Jose Castro, a native of Monterey, is now at the head of government as commandant general; Don Pio Pico, as governor. Mexico promised General Micheltorena, eight thousand dollars per month from the Custom house of Mazatlan, and all the duties entering the custom house of California, to support his troops.
General Castro has sent Senor Castanares to Mexico as commissioner, giving his reasons why he drove all Mexican officers and soldiers out of the country; puts himself at the disposition of President Herrera, and asks for only three thousand dollars per month from Mazatlan, promising with this sum and the resources of the custom house of Monterey, that he will maintain peace and order throughout California; and objects to any civil or military officers from Mexico. This, Castro can perform; but Herrera will not put confidence in it. We have now news that Mexico is fitting out an expedition of troops in Acapulco for California, the expenses to be paid by two or three English houses in Mexico, who, it is said, are responsible for the pay for eighteen months. In December last, when General Micheltorena, was met in the field by the Californians about half way between Monterey and the Yerba Buena, (San Francisco) he agreed to a treaty with the natives, obligating himself to send out of California, within ninety days, all his soldiers. Senor Castro in the mean time to withdraw his forces to a mission, whose resources were placed at his disposal, on the field. On the signing of the treaty, the Californian agent of the Hudson's Bay Company and his clerk were present. This gentleman resides at the Yerba Buena, where the company own land and buildings, selling goods and purchasing furs and hides. Their last shipment was in April.
Within a month after the signing of the treaty, the Californians found that General Micheltorena had sent his chief officer to Mazatlan for more soldiers, and made no preparation to ship the soldiers who were with him. They therefore again collected and on February 23d, after fighting with cannon, General Micheltorena capitulated, and was sent with all his forces to San B[?]as, where most of his men ran away from him.
The business of the Hudson's Bay Company, is now under the charge of the English vice consul for California, who has brought a bill against the new government of California for powder, lead, and lances, supplied by the late agent to the natives last October and November, when they rose against the supreme government
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