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will see from the enclosed order that the venue is changed to Sonoma, and that L. W. Boggs, esq., has been appointed, with yourself and Captain Sutter, as an additional commissioner or judge. This has been deemed necessary, in order to provide for cases that might otherwise arise of difference of opinion between the other two. Captain B. will be directed to conduct the trial on the part of the government. You will please give the requisite notice to all persons concerned of the time and place of trial, as directed in the enclosed order. The governor is desirous that the matter may be definitely settled without any unnecessary delay. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. W. HALLECK,

Lieut. of Engineers, and Secretary of State

for the Territory of California.

Don M. G. VALLEJO.

STATE DEPARTMENT OF THE TERRITORY OF CALIFORNIA,

Monterey, September 15, 1847.

SIR: I am directed by the governor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 7th instant, and also that of the 3d instant, through Major Hardie. Your course in admitting Armijo to bail is, under the circumstances, approved. You will perceive, from papers this day sent to General Vallejo and Governor Boggs, that the trial of the prisoners charged with Indian murders, &c., will take place at Sonoma, on the 25th of October next. The governor directs that in these trials you act as prosecutor on the part of the government and people, and see that justice is done to all the parties concerned. It is desirable that the court should not go into unnecessary formalities, but seek to bring the whole matter to as early a termination as may be compatible with a just and fair trial.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. W. HALLECK,

Lieut. of Engineers, and Secretary of Sate

Capt. J. E. BRACKETT,

for the Territory of California

Commanding, Sonoma, California.

STATE DEPARTMENT OF THE TERRITORY OF CALIFORNIA,

Monterey, September 18, 1847. SIR: Enclosed herewith are copies of custom-house and harbor regulations, which, of course, supersede the temporary arrangements communicated in your letter of the 18th of August. The colonel consents to the commutation of the rations of the men employed as guards at San Pedro, on account of the distance of the port from the military post; but no commutation will be allowed for any other post in your district.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. W. HALLECK,

L'eut. of Engineers, and Secretary of Stute
for the Territory of California.

Col. J. D. STEVENSON,
Commanding, Sc., Los Angeles, California.

STATE DEPARTMENT OF THE TERRITORY OF CALIFORNIA, Monterey, September 18, 1817. SIR: I am directed by the governor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of blank date, and say to you that the existing government has no intention of interfering with your title to the mission of San Miguel; but as the title seems incomplete, and as there are other claimants to the property, it has been deemed best to make a temporary arrangement between yourself and the priest, until the subject could be satisfactorily examined by the proper authorities.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. W. HALLECK,
Lieut. of Engineers, and Secretary of State

for the Territory of California.

WILLIAM REED,
San Miguel, California.

STATE DEPARTMENT OF THE TERRITORY OF CALIFORNIA,

Monterey, September 18, 1847. SIR: You are requested to procure, if possible, the records and papers of the mission of San Francisco Solano (Sonoma) and forward them to this

office.

It is possible that General Vallejo may have old records and papers containing statistical information respecting the other missions, which he would be willing to deposite in this office for safe-keeping; if so, please forward them by the earliest opportunity.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Capt. BRACKETT,

H. W. HALLECK,
Lieut. of Engineers, and Secretary of State
for the Territory of California.

Commanding, &c., Sonoma, California.

STATE DEPARTMENT OF THE TERRITORY OF CALIFORNIA,

Monterey, September 18, 1847. SIR: You are requested to procure, if possible, the records and papers of the mission of San Francisco d'Asis, (also called Dolores,) and of the mission of San Rafael, and forward the same to this office for safe-keeping. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. W. HALLECK,

Lieut. of Engineers, and Secretary of State
for the Territory of California.

Capt. J. L. FOLSOM,

Assistant Quartermaster, San Francisco, California.

While Lieutenant Warner is engaged on ordnance duty, Mr. Bestor will be employed in the civil department, at the rate of $100 per month,

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(including all allowances,) to be paid out of the civil funds of the Territory; it being understood that Mr. Bestor resumes his duties with Lieutenant Warner as soon as his services may be required for topographical R. B. MASON,

surveys.

Colonel 1st Dragoons, Governor of California. MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA, September 20, 1847.

STATE DEPARTMENT OF THE TERRITORY OF CALIFORNIA,
Monterey, September 23, 1847.

SIR: In the absence of the governor, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 17th instant.

By referring to articles 5 and 15 of Commodore Shubrick's instructions of the 15th September, you will find that the difficulties mentioned in your letter have already been provided for. All vessels, not American, engaged in the coast trade, pay the same duties as when coming from a foreign port.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. W. HALLECK,
Lieut. of Engineers, and Secretary of State
for the Territory of California.

Don PEDRO C. CARRILLO,
Santa Barbara, California.

STATE DEPARTMENT OF THE TERRITORY OF CALIFORNIA,
Monterey, September 24, 1847.

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge your letter of the 24th instant, accepting the appointment of alcalde of the pueblo of San José. The governor is now absent; but the moment he returns, I will ask his instructions respecting the town council, and also respecting the cutting of timber on the public lands.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. W. HALLECK,
Lieut. of Engineers, and Secretary of State
for the Territory of California.

J. W. WEEKS, Esq.,

Alcalde of San José, California.

Know all men by these presents, that I, Richard B. Mason, colonel first dragoons United States army, and governor of California, by virtue of authority in me vested, do hereby appoint Chester S. Lyman a surveyor of land for and in the middle department of Upper California. Done at Monterey, the capital of California, this 20th day of September, 1847, and the 72d of the independence of the United States.

Colonel 1st Dragoons, and Governor of California.

Know all men by these presents, that I, Richard B. Mason, colonel first dragoons United States army, and governor of California, by virtue of authority in me vested, do hereby appoint Minor F. Leavenworth second alcalde for and in the district of San Francisco.

Done at San Francisco, this second day of October, 1847, and the 72d of the independence of the United States.

R. B. MASON,

Colonel 1st Dragoons, and Governor of California.

CIRCULAR.

STATE DEPARTMENT TERRITORY OF CALIFORNIA,

Monterey, August 16, 1847.

SIR: Your duties as sub-Indian agent have reference more particularly to the "Gentiles" or wild Indians, but they will also embrace the "Neophytes" or tame Indians of the missions or ranches. The latter will be subject to all municipal regulations established by the alcaldes within their respective alcaldias or districts, and also to all local regulations that you may establish for the government of these Indians-such regulations to be reported for the approval of the governor. You will also regard yourself as the protector of the Indians from the ill-treatment of their employers, and will take proper measures to arraign before some alcalde all persons who may be guilty of such maltreatment, or of any improper conduct towards the Indians of your district. In this matter much is left to your discretion and good sense; and from your knowledge of the character and condition of the Indians, the governor expects that you will do much to induce them to pursue a more honest and industrious course of conduct. In all cases of offence on the part of the whites against the Indians, or of the Indians against the inhabitants of the country, you are the authorized agent of the government for seeing that the offenders are brought to justice. In ordinary cases, the offenders should be arraigned before one of the alcaldes of your district for his action in the premises; but in ex traordinary cases, you will retain the offenders in custody, and immediately report to the governor for his instructions.

You are authorized to call upon any military officer near you for whatever assistance you may require to enable you to carry into effect these or any other instructions you may receive from proper authority.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. W. HALLECK, Lieutenant of Engineers and Secretary of State. SUB-AGENT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS,

District of

HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT,

San Francisco, California, September 27, 1847. SIR: A surgeon's certificate of disability has been received at this office in the case of Acting Ordnance Sergeant J. C. Low, now under your command, together with a letter from Sergeant Low to Colonel J. D. Stevenson, urging his claim to discharge, and asking to be paid as ordnance sergeant.

From the certificate of disability, signed by Assistant Surgeon Parker, it appears that the disease that now affects Sergeant Low was upon him at the time he engaged to serve the United States: this he knew, and still palmed himself upon the government, subjecting it to the great expense of transporting him here to California, where his place cannot be filled. Sergeant Low must therefore abide by his contract-must remain in the service and render his best efforts in some sedentary capacity, such as clerk, or of his own present position, where little bodily labor will hereafter be required.

In relation to his pay as ordnance sergeant, you are aware that such appointments are conferred by the Secretary of War, who, again, is limited by law to certain persons who have served eight years in the army, four of which in the capacity of a non-commissioned officer. Sergeant Low has no such appointment, and is not, therefore, entitled to the pay. His appointment is only that of an acting ordnance sergeant, and such appointment is not recognised by law so as to warrant the payment of money.

You will please communicate the above to Sergeant Low, as the decision of Colonel Mason on his application.

I have the honor to be your most obedient servant,

Major J. A. HARDIE,

W. T. SHERMAN,

First Lieut. 3d Artillery, A. A. A. General.

Commanding, San Francisco, California.

HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT,

San Francisco, California, September 27, 1847. SIR: Governor Mason directs me, in reply to your letter to him of the 11th instant, to say to you that the President of the United States has conferred upon the commander of the Pacific squadron the power to regulate the duties upon all imports into the ports of California, the military commander only receiving the duties when collected, and causing them to be properly disbursed. Commodore Shubrick has already made port regulations, and he alone has power to remit them when they conflict with the interests of any class of citizens or merchants. Colonel Mason will take pleasure in laying your letter before Commodore Shubrick when he returns to Monterey, and has no doubt the Commodore will make such decision in this case as will comport with the best interests of the government.

Your letter refers to the shipment of the lumber from one American port to another-an error you could not have committed, had you reflected that every port in California must still be regarded as Mexican until the Congress of the United States change their nationality.

The port of San Francisco is not an American port, but a Mexican one, held by the American government by right of conquest, and must remain so until further action is had by the Congress of the United States. I have the honor to be your most obedient servant,

W. T. SHERMAN,

First Lieut. 3d Artillery, A. A. A. General.

R. M. SHERMAN, Esq., for

E. & H. GRIMES,

San Francisco, California.

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