| Show THE HISTORY OP OF california WB have received the fourth volume ot of hubert H Ban crofts history of california which is volume XVI of his great work the history of the pacific states the third volume on california brought the reader to the events that occurred in that part of mexico from 1825 to 1836 it related its principal incidents as a territory of the mexican republic and gave the local annals of the san diego los angeles santa barbara monterey and san francisco districts from 1831 to 1840 the fourth volume marks another epoch showing the decay af pf the mexican power and the gradual increase of american ol 01 occupation cu and influence in Cali california califern forn the quarrels of mexican officials and the decline of the mission interests are related in a most interesting manner and the travels adventures and sufferings of the american fortune hunters who braved the dangers danger of the plains and mountains dazzled by the prospects of wealth and fame on the pacific coast are told in that entertaining style and with that fidelity to authenticated facts which mark the literary efforts of the indefatigable author the butter occupancy and the vicissitudes that attended it form an important part of the volume the true c character of the swiss adventurer his commercial enterprise at Sut lers fort whit he did for the development of california and chiefly for his own emolument are narrated and also his de dealings alinga with the russian bussian company whose possessions he obtained and with needy americans whom he patronized and assisted always with an eye to his own profit but after afier all greatly to the advantage of newcom new com ers who were strangers to the country and its resources and were generally exhausted by the tolls toils and trials of their terrible journey from the line of eastern civilization the labors of general Fre montas as the pioneer of the great work of transcontinental survey are duly recorded and an insight is given into the true character of the so called pathfinder who was really but a follower in california of the tracks made by previous explorers still his topographical graphical services and topographical toro what he did in I 1 n the interest ot of science and american supremacy in the province were of no small magnitude and they receive due recognition in this volume the period covered in this part of the history of california reaching to the year 1845 comprises that interesting time immediately preceding the annexation to the united states State sand and the influx of gold seekers and others who lifted the country forward so rapidly into the dignity dignity power and importance of statehood the data which the incidents that are narrated he have ve been compiled are numerous and many of them rare and personal they have been collected and collated with that care and fidelity and their substance and marrow have been extracted and worked into the body of the book with that historical skill which have given the previous volumes fram the pen of mr bancroft so much eminence and importance appended to the volume to is another instrument instalment of the alphabetical pioneer register and index from J to Q giving ingi biographical items of the pioneers w which ch cannot fail to be as valuable as they are interesting we commend volume four of the history of california as a splendid portion of the hb to work |
