| 1069 of Mexico. General Castro has promised payment for the amount demanded.
The British government have appointed one of their subjects who formerly resided in New York, (where he owns property), vice Consul of California. The salary is small, but as he can live on his rancho or farm, he has no expense in entertaining company &c. The French consul lives in Monterey, with a salary of over four thousand dollars yearly. There is not one English or French vessel doing business on this coast, nor has there been for years. These consuls therefore have nothing to do apparently. Why they are in service, their government best knows, and Uncle Sam will know to his cost.
Almost the whole foreign trade of California is in the hands of Americans. There are now seven Boston ships and barks here. The American consul has a jurisdiction of one thousand miles of sea coast, while the nature of the trade is such, that he has barely any fees. Government allows no salary. The fees of the consulate are under two hundred dollars the year. The stationary bill about the same; which is now allowed by the department of state.
There are many owners of large tracts of land in California, who hold them under the idea of the country changing owners; having no present use for them, as the Indians, tame and wild, steal several thousand head of horses yearly from the ranchos. Most of these horses are stolen for food. The Indians cut up the meat in strips, and dry it in the sun. While this continues, grazing of cattle cannot be profitably conducted. There is no expectation that the government will find a remedy. Nothing but the fear the Indians have of the American settlers will prevent it. They steal but a few horses from foreigners, as there is too much danger of being followed. Mexico may fret and threaten as much as she pleases, but all here in California, governors and generals, give California land to all who apply for it; and from the nature of things they will continue to do so.
Foreigners arriving here expect to live and die in the country;-Mexican officers to remain two or three years, and then to be shipped off by force, unless they choose to marry natives, and become Californians body and soul. The ports of California, with the exception of Mazatlan, are the only Mexican Pacific ports that flourish. All others are falling and falling fast. Here there is much advance in every thing, and the country presents each year a bolder front to the world. It must change owners. It is of no use to Mexico, but an eyesore, a shame, a bone of contention. Here are many fine ports; the land produces wheat even to an hundred fold; cotton and hemp will grow here, and every kind of fruit there is in New England; grapes in abundance of the first quality; wine of many kinds is made, yet there is no facility of making. Much of it will pass for Port. The rivers are full of fish; the woods of game. Bears, seal, and whales can be seen from one view. The latter are often in the way of boats near the beach. Finally, there is the bay of San Francisco, with its brnches [branches]. This bay will hold all the ships in the United States. The entrance is very narrow, between two mountains, easily defended; and perhaps the most magnificent harbor in the world; and apparently of as much use to the civilized world as if it did not exist. Some day or other, this will belong to some naval power. This every native is prepared for. When Captain Armstrong called on the governor (a native) to give back the country in the name of Commodore Jones, Senor Micheltorena and officers were expected here in a month, to take command. The governor said he preferred Com. Jones should retain the command rather than Gen. Micheltorena.
Words cannot express the advantage and importance of San Francisco to a naval power. There are five hundred to one thousand American whalers, with twenty thousand American seamen, in the Pacific; half of them will be within twenty days sail of San Francisco. But while the port belongs to Mexico it is a safe place for whale ships. In a war with England, France, or Russia, should one of these nations own the port, and at some future day declare war against the United States, what will be the result? San Francisco must be obtained, or the Oregon and California must become a nation within themselves.-Time is continually bringing this into notice; and one of the two must soon be consummated. If the Oregon dispute continues, let England take eight degrees north of the Columbia, and purchase eight degree south of forty-two, from Mexico, and exchange.
The Oregon will never be a benefit to the United States, if England owns San Francisco. Vessels sometimes lie within the bar of the Columbia thirty or forty days, waiting an opportunity to go out. When once out, they can reach San Francisco in four days; a steam boat in less than two days. The time will soon arrive when, by steam, a person will go from Columbia to Monterey and back, in less than four days. For navigation, the Columbia is of little use. A few English ships could prevent any vessel going in, even if the wind allowed them Whalers from the north west now pass the place for California.
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