REVERE'S CALIFORNIA. * LIEUTENANT REVERE seems to have been employed for

twenty years in the United States Navy, or some other public capacity ; and lie has visited various lands. " I have travelled," he says, " in all sorts of ways in all sorts of countries ; in the toiling diligences of France, and on the broad pack-saddle of a contrabandista'a mule in Spain ; I have been whisked across the Pontine Marshes by half-wild colts guided by shout- ing postillions ; been jolted half to death in Syria and Egypt on the un- steady deck of a desert ship,' conducted by Arabs clamorous for buck- sheesh ' ; travelled dawk ' in India with the last new novel in a palan- quin ; and once had the pleasure to back an elephant in the island of Ceylon. But all these were vulgar joys compared with the rapturous pleasure of travelling [on horseback] in that part of the United States of

America called California."

To this country Lieutenant Revere was ordered before it was part of

the United States ; and he remained on the station till the conclusion of the Mexican war and the possession of California was secured. During that period, the ships in which he served called at some ports along the Western coast of America, and visited most of the harbours in California. On these occasions, Dir. Revere spied " the nakedness of the land" ; and made various excursions in pursuit of pleasure or field sports. At a seemingly critical period during the war, when the sailors of the Ame- rican navy were landed and turned into soldiers, the nautical Lieutenant became commandant of a party of volunteers ; doing some service, going in search of more, holding palavers with chiefs, and not forgetting elk- hunting or similar amusements. Of what he observed and did in Cali- fornia he wrote rough notes, and of the voyage out as well, together with remarks on some political questions respecting land-titles, slavery, and railroads : when ordered to return to California, he left these notes in the hands of a Mr. Balestier of New York for publication. The editor's avo- cations prevented his complying with the wishes of his friend so early as he desired : to what extent he may have improved the style "in the long nights of winter," we do not know; he says that not the " slightest

liberty has been taken with the matters of fact." The manner of the book is smart and lively, but with some of that

* A Tour of Duty in California ; including a Description of the Gold Region. and an Account of the Voyage Round Cape Horn ; with Notices of Lower California, the Gulf and Pacific Coasts, and the Principal Events attending the Conquest of the Califoralas• By Joseph Warren Revere, Lieutenant U. S. Navy. Edited by Joseph N. Balestier, of New York. Published by Francis and Co., New York ; imported by Chapman. forced and outre style of pleasantry which distinguishes men with a Dative vigour and vivacity of mind but whose training has not been in the best school of good taste. In spite of the author's native power, his descrip- tions of natural scenery are rather vague or general ; we are not struck With the picture of a particular place so that we can form an idea of it. As a book of travels, the work is fragmentary in plan ; owing probably to the want of preparation by the author. He has pat down what struck him forcibly, without regard to continuity; and the reader is carried from place to place, or subject to subject. The book is more like a series of papers than a coherent narrative. There is something also loose and unfinished in " the whole thing" ; which may probably arise from the cir- cumstances under which it was written, though it strikes us as being in- herent in the author's mind. The newness of the country, and the im- portance at present attached to news from it, render his sketches of its capabilities and the people which inhabit it interesting, although the dis- covery of the gold region was made after Mr. Revere's departure. There are also adventures with bears, elks, and Indians, as well as stories about the skill of the Californians as horsemen and with the lasso. These pos- sess a peculiar character, from the peculiarities of the country, but have little generic novelty. The following account of killing a bear by the lasso, and the trained sagacity of the horse, are new to us.

" The value of a horse is proportioned to his adaptation to the various opera- tions of a cattle-farm, his courage, skill, and fleetness in the pursuit of wild cattle, and his familiarity with their subjugation and management. The severest test of these qualities is his behaviour in attacking a bear ; a feat often undertaken by *single ranchero, without other aid than his horse, his inseparable friend the riata, (lasso,) and the accustomed knife worn in his garter. Thus equipped, he will lasso the largest and most ferocious bear; and, drawing the brute to a tree, and taking a turn or two around him, will despatch him with his knife, while the sagacious horse keeps the riata fastened to the saddle at its fullest tension. The bear, indeed, is immensely stronger than the horse, and if lassoed by the fore-paw, could, by merely standing on his hind-legs, draw up several mounted men united by their Hates; but skill and intrepidity accomplish what mere force could never effect; and I have seen the fiercest and wildest mountain bull attacked and over- come by a single skilful vaquero, who carried him off as peaceably as if be were a puppy led by a string. On such occasions, the horse exhibits the wonderful sa- gacity of his nature, his sense of his own importance as the trusty ally of his master, and a degree of excitement and pleasure at least equal to that of his rider. The intelligence of the animal then most nearly approaches human reason; and his large expanded nostril, his reeking coat, his cannons approaches to the foe, around whom he lightly careers like a boxer in the arena, the stiffness of his muscles when be plants and braces himself for the sudden and violent jerks of his antagonist, far more powerful than himself, and above all, the careful and jealous watchfulness of his piercing and regardful eye, form a picture of equine sagacity and attitude which would delight a Horace Verret. And when the bellowing and raging bull, at length overcome in the struggle between strength and skill, falls heavily to the earth, cowed and conquered at the feet of the victor, it is surprising to see the apparent scorn with which the noble beast looks on the catastrophe, and how—guiltless of the meaner passion of revenge—he seeks only to recruit his exhausted strength for the next conflict."

Mr. Revere seems of opinion, that however beneficial the gold may be to the United States, and in its reaction to the commerce of California, it will be mischievous if the pursuit retard the development of the industri- ous resources of the country. These be describes as unrivalled,—a good climate, a fertile soil, capable of yielding the productions both of the Temperate and Tropical zones ; a sea teeming with fish, and yielding oil, with shores producing wine. The following description looks panegyrical; but so extensive a traveller as our author claims to be should be a judge of wines and liqueurs.

"The grape is the principal, and indeed at present almost the sole production. of this part of our California. The vineyards of the Pueblo de los Angeles are as luxuriant and productive as any in the world. The species of grape chiefly cul- tivated appears to be of the variety known to us of the Atlantic coast as the Hamburg grape. It produces two kinds of wine. One Is a white wine, clear and transparent, and of a light amber tint, and in taste resembling hock. The other is a tint° or red wine, and its taste and bouquet are something like the La Malque of Marseilles. The vineyards also produce great quantities of ague ardiente or Spanish brandy, of a very pare and colourless description, of an agreeable taste, superior quality, and the highest proof. A most delicious cordial is likewise made, called Angelica; and if the old Olympian gods could get a drop of it, they would soon vote nectar a bore, and old Jupiter would instantly order Master Ganymede tajchange his goblet, and charge it with the new tipple to the brim.

" Wolfskill's vineyard, in the Pueblo de los Angeles, contains forty acres of land and about five thousand vines. It produces a crop of twenty casks of wine, and an equal amount of ague ardiente.' "The grape likewise grows in the San Francisco district; and so luxuriantly, that Mr. Leese made from only two acres of vines in the year I was there, no less than twenty-six barrels of wine and eight barrels of ague ardiente. "The wild grape, which I have seen throughout all the valfies, is, when ripe, of the size of ounce balls, and of an excellent flavour. The olive, date, palm, and other Tropical productions, are sparsely found in San Diego.

a The grape will hereafter be a vast source of wellth to the people of Califor- nia. The volcanic soil favours the growth of the vines, and the varieties of soil and climate will unquestionably produce varieties of wine. As yet, but a single species of grape is cultivated, and that is said to have been originally indigenous. Beyond all doubt, every variety of grape will grow in that magnificent region; and when all the standard varieties shall be introduced from Europe, and grafting and scientific cultivation resorted to, who shall predict the result? Let those who ten years hence shall be drinking a bottle of California champagne at Del- momco's, remember that 4 I told them so.' "

The account of another luxury, in fact the edible double to champagne, furnishes a favourable specimen of the smart style of the book.

" Vast numbers of the same race as those wretched victims which are help- lessly turned upon their backs at the doors of the New York eating-houses, and exposed to the gess of thoughtless and unpitying wayfarers, are found in the Gulf of California. lint what is the sickly tortured trash of those bolting-machines, compared with the luscious calipaah and calipee fresh from the briny sea? And mind you, green-turtle-soup is green-turtle-soup in the Gulf of California, and nothing else. Whether there ever were such a thing as genuine turtle-soup served up at a restaurant, is a grave question to the conscience of the cook. I forbear to press it. But I must express the opinion, that a mixture composed of the gelatinous parts of young veal, mixed with a black sticky paste, and so sea- soned as to taste of nothing but cheap port and pepper, goes down many an un- scientific throat for the real 'green-turtle'—the verdant quality being in fact outside of the bowl, and getting into it only by imputation. But at La Paz there is no deception, and the place is probably haunted by the ghosts of defunct aldermen." To some persona not the least interesting part of a Tour of Duty in California will be the incidental light it throws upon the policy of the American Government and the political ideas of the American people, at

least of such portions of them as hear a part in politics either in deed or word. It seems evident that the annexation of California was the result of a conspiracy predetermined before the war, and understood if not ex- pressed. The foreign settlers were prepared to rise and overturn the

Government under which they lived, at any time. Fremont, under the pretence of scientific exploration, led an organized band of cavalry, with some guns, to support or instigate an outbreak on the part of the foreign.

era ; though, being at first too early, he had to retire till it was time to come back again. The navy was not in sufficient force, according to Mr.

Revere,—unless the Washington Cabinet had an understanding with Eng- land; which seems unlikely. The marine force, however, was enough to seize (fighting was out of the question) any navy the Mexicans could bring against it, as well as all the places on the coast, when war was declared. For this purpose, the naval commanders had, no doubt, secret orders: whether, they were in communication with Fremont is questionable ; each party perhaps being left a large discretion, certain that the end would justify the means. Some of the Californians were averse to Mexican rule, and there would appear to have been two parties among the dissatisfied; one sillily wishing to transfer the country to France or England, the other going for " annexation." That the latter party had an understanding with the Americans, there can be no doubt. We have frequently seen of late how revolutions are accomplished in, Europe : the following is the Cali- fornian mode. It should be observed that Fremont was an officer of the United States ostensibly engaged on a peaceable mission, and that news of the war with Mexico did not arrive till nearly a month later.

"It was our good fortune to reach our ship on the 14th of June, a day me- morable is the annals of California. On that day at early dawn, a party of Ame- ricans detached from a body collected together in or near Slitter's Fort, at New Helvetia on the Sacramento, rode into Sonoma, and suddenly presented themselves in arms to the astonished eyes of the Californians, as a revolutionary party. After seizing the cannon and muskets they found in the barracks, with each other munitions of war as could be found, they captured and carried away as prisoners General M. G. Vallejo, his brother, Captain Salvador Vallejo, Lieutenant- Colonel Pruden, and several other influential persons from whom they feared op. position. A garrison was organized from among the foreigners for the defence of Sonoma, and a messenger sent down to our ship to inform her commander that they were in arms in consequence of a proc!amation issued by Castro ordering all foreigners to quit the territory within forty days under Use penalty of death, declaring their property confiscated, and announcing his intention to enforce his threats to the letter. The messenger further stated, that the insurgents intended never to lay down their arms until they had established the independence cf their adopted country, to which they had been invited with promises of lands and a Republican government; but instead of which, they had been prohibited to occupy lands, and had been oppressed by a military despotism, Sm. &c. "I have now touched a part of Californian history,concerning which, although I was on the spot when the events took place, I was then entirely in the dark, as were all the naval officers of the United States at that time in the country. The proclamation alluded to had not previously been made known even to our commander,. who, as the highest Anterwan officerin the country, would certainly have inquired into such a manifest violation of our treaty stipulations with Mexico, and if necessary would have adopted retaliatory measures. But, pro- clamation or no proclamation, it is certain that the prisoners taken at Sonoma were carried to Captain Fremont's camp; and it is equally a fact, that they were imprisoned in Sutter's Fort, and guarded in the strictest manner by a party of the revolutionists, commanded by Mr. Kerme, one of Captain Fremont's followers. I heard also, that on the first night after leaving Sonoma with their prisoners, the revolutionists, with singular inconsistency, encamped and went to sleep with- out setting sentinel or guard ; that in the night they were surrounded by a party under the command of one Jaen de Padilla' who crept up stealthily and awoke one of the prisoners, telling him that he had a strong force of well-armed ran- chews, who could surprise and slay the Americans before they could fly to arms; but that he, Padilla, before proceeding, awaited the orders of General Vallejo, whose rank and standing entitled him to command. The latter beiug called upon so as not to awake the sleepers, immediately replied, that he should go voluntarily with his guardians; that be anticipated a speedy and satisfactory settlement of the whole matter; and advised Padilla to return to his rancho and disperse his band; positively refusing to permit any violence to the guard, as he was certain it would lead to disastrous consequences, and probably involve the rancheros and their families in ruin, without accomplishing any permanent good result. This was not told to me by Vallejo, but by a person who was present; and it tallies well with the account given by the revolutionists themselves, several of whom informed me that no guard was kept by them that night, and that the prisoners might have easily escaped had they felt so inclined. The same persons also told me, that when Vallejo was called out of bed, and made a prisoner in his own housed* requested to be informed as to the plans and objects of the revolutionists; signify- ing his readiness to collect and take command of a force of his countrymen in the cause of independence, to act against all who might oppose him; adding, that his devotion to that cause was too well known, and his opinion had been too often publicly expressed, to leave room for doubt as to his integrity and sincerity, while his position in the community was a sufficient guaranty of his ability to perform all that he promised. But the majority of the men he addressed were ignorant of the Spanish language, deeply embued with prejudice against the Mexican race, and, not knowing the sterling qualities and unconcealed political opinions of their prisoner, were naturally suspicions of his good faith in thus professing & readiness to unite his fortunes with their own. Moreover, it is not unlikely that they acted under positive orders from whoever they acknowledged as their chief; for they not only refused to compromise the matter in any way, but became sus- picious of those more enlightened and sagacious men of their own number who appeared to listen with favour to the General's appeal. " The next day, a proclamation was issued by the patriots at Sonoma, setting forth their grievances, assuring the peaceable inhabitants of protection, and de- claring their intention to establish a Republican government, independent of hlexico, or perish in the attempt. A flag was also hoisted, bearing a grizzle, bear rampant, with one stripe below, and the words Republic of California above the bear, and a single star in the Union." Other doings of a questionable kind may be read in the volume, together with some speculations (not perhaps so wild as they seem) on the future prospects of California : but to enter into them would lead us too far. The wide experience of Mr. Revere has made him something of a cosmopolitan in feeling as regards forms of government, and rubbed oat-of him the self' sufficiency which is a general trait in home-keeping provincials ; bat, though no Democrat, he is a thorough American on territorial acquisition'