of the mine down to a valley well supplied with wood and water, in which the furnaces are situated. These furnaces are of the simplest construction, exactly like a common bake-oven, in the crown of which is inserted a whaler's trying kettle; another inverted kettle forms the lid. From a hole in the lid a small brick channel leads to an apartment or chamber, in the bottom of which is inserted a small iron kettle. This chamber has a chimney. In the morning of each day the kettles are filled with mineral, (broken in small pieces,) mixed with lime; fire is then applied, and kept up all day. The mercury, volatilized, passes into the chamber, is condensed on the sides and bottom of the chamber, and flows into the pot prepared for it. No water is used to condense the mercury. During a visit I made last spring, four such ovens were in operation, and yielded in the two days I was there 656 pounds of quicksilver, worth at Mazatlan $1 80 per lb. Mr. Walkinshaw, the gentleman now in charge of this mine, tells me that the vein is improving, and that he can afford to keep his people employed even in these extraordinary times. This mine is very valuable of itself, and becomes the more so, as mercury is extensively used in obtaining gold. It is not at present used in California for that purpose, but will be at some future time. When I was at this mine last spring, other parties were engaged in searching for veins; but none have been discovered that are worth following up, although the earth in that whole range of hills is highly discolored, indicating the presence of this ore. I send several beautiful specimens, properly labelled. The amount of quicksilver in Mr. Forbes's vats on the 15th of July was about 25,000 pounds. I enclose you herewith sketches of the country through which I passed, indicating the position of the mines, and the topography of the country in the vicinity of those I visited. Some of the specimens of gold accompanying this were presented for transmission to the department by the gentlemen named below; the numbers on the topographical sketch, corresponding to the numbers on the labels of the respective specimens, show from what part of the gold region they were obtained: 1. Captain J. A. Sutter. 2. John Sinclair. 3. William Glover, R. C. Kirby, Ira Blanchard, Levi Fairfield, Franklin H. Ayer; Mormon diggings. 4. Chas. Weber. 5. Robert Spence. 6. Sernal & Co. 7. Robert D. Neligh. 8. C. E. Picket; American Fork, Columa. 9. E. C. Kemble. 10. T. H. Green, from San Fernando, near Los Angeles. A. Two ounces purchased from Mr. Neligh. B. Sand found in washing gold, which contains small particles. 11. Captain Frisbie; Dry diggings, Weber's creek. 12. Cosumnes. 13. Cosumnes; Hartnell's ranch. 14. A small specimen, supposed to be platina, found mixed with the finer particles of the gold. I have the honor to be your obedient servant, General R. JONES, R. B. MASON, Colonel 1st Dragoons, commanding. Adjutant General U. S. A., Washington, D. C. [No. 38.] HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT, SIR: I have the honor herewith to enclose you a copy of a letter from Lieutenant Colonel Burton, which was received here on the evening of the 6th instant. The instructions asked for by him were anticipated, and are contained in a letter addressed by my order, dated June 17, 1848, sent him by the United States storeship Southampton, on the 6th of July, a copy of which letter you will find among the military correspondence sent you by this opportunity. I enclose herewith the original petitions from citizens of the towns of La Paz and San José, Lower California, one of which is addressed to the Congress of the United States. Many of these people assisted our garrisons there, and dread the consequences of their conduct, since it is known that Lower California is to be given back to Mexico. I must say in their behalf, that, by active assistance, and by neutrality, they have contributed much towards upholding our authority in the peninsula; for Lieutenant Colonel Burton had at La Paz only 112 men, and it was not in my power to reinforce him until the 20th of March last, so that it is doubtful whether he could have held his post without such aid. This consideration entitles them to a favorable hearing of the Congress of the United States. The mutineers referred to by Lieutenant Colonel Burton will, most probably, come to Monterey, and will necessarily have to be discharged and let loose in the country, to swell the number of bad men already here. The man, Lawson, charged with murder, will also have to be discharged, as a military commission cannot now be assembled, and, as the act was committed in Mexican territory, the man is not liable to be tried by the courts of the United States. I enclose you herewith charges preferred by Lieutenant Colonel Burton against two of his officers, Lieutenants Buffum and Lemon, of the United States volunteers. These officers reached Monterey in the ship Southampton, June 13, and were, by my order, assigned temporarily to the companies under the immediate command of Colonel Stevenson. They, too, must be mustered out of service with their companies, without trial. I have the honor to be your most obedient servant, Brigadier General R. JONES, R. B. MASON, Colonel 1st Dragoons, commanding. Washington city. LA PAZ, LOWER CALIFORNIA, SIR: Enclosed herewith, I send you, by special express to San Diego, the accompanying documents from Mexico, directed to Colonel Mason. Official news of the ratification of a treaty of peace with Mexico has reached me, through Commodore Jones, and I am anxiously awaiting instructions respecting my movements from deptartment headquarters. I request instructions, also, respecting those inhabitants of Lower Cali-. fornia who have taken up arms in our favor, during the late disturbances' in the country, relying upon the assurances that Lower California would never revert to the republic of Mexico, made to them by Commodore Shubrick, in his proclamation issued at San José, November, 1847, and contained in the statement of the President of the United States, in his annual message of 1847, that it "should never be given up to Mexico." These assurances were received in good faith; and among the better class of population in the country great pleasure was evinced at the prospect of receiving, in Lower California, a just and permanent govern ment. As nothing is said, in this treaty of peace, respecting persons in the sitnations of these inhabitants of Lower California, they are left to the mercy of Mexico; and many have appealed most earnestly to the agents of the United States in the country for protection, saying that their property will be confiscated, their lives and those of their families endangered, if they remain in the country after the American troops leave, and requesting that means of transportation may be furnished them for the removal of their families and effects to Upper California, Oregon, or such other of the United States as they may select for their future residence. Enclosed here with, I send two communications, which will exhibit, in some measure, the state of feeling in the jurisdictions of La Paz and San José. On the 8th of May last I sailed for Mazatlan, via San José, for the purpose of procuring a vessel of war to proceed to Mulige and disperse the remnant of the enemy's force reunited at that place after the action of Lodos Santos. The news from Mexico, at that time, was of such a nature that Commodore Jones thought there was no urgent necessity for this movement, and it would be advisable to await further information from Mexico. Two days after my arrival in Mazatlan, I was taken sick with fever and ague, and detained until the 8th of June, when I sailed for Cape St. Lucas. After a passage of ten days I arrived in San José. I reached this place on the 23d instant, after a detention of ten days in San José. I regret to report that I found this command in a great state of excite ment. On my arrival in Mazatlan I found a party of ten men, to whom I had given a leave of absence for fifteen days, (previous to my departure for Mazatlan,) for the purpose of visiting some of the islands in the harbor of La Paz, with a small sloop. Immediate measures were taken to send these men back to the place, and they arived here on the 28th of May. These men, hearing the news of peace in Mazatlan, appear to have returned here with an idea that they were released from further military rule, and immediately commenced an excitement, which soon became beyond the control of the officers. On the 3d instant, Captain Steele sent a small vessel to Mazatlan, re questing assistance from Commodore Jones, who sent the Independence to this place immediately. The Independence arrived on the 18th instant. On the 2d of June, Captain Steele, then commanding, addressed a communication to department headquarters, enclosing charges against the leaders, and requesting a general court-martial for their trial. On the 5th of June, Captain Steele again addressed Commodore Jones and department headquarters, reporting another outbreak, and the command setting order at defiance. On my arrival I found the ringleaders at liberty, and the excitement somewhat abated. The next day ten of the most prominent of the command in the late troubles were sent on board the Independence as prisoners; and on the 26th three more. The command is more quiet, and I anticipate no dis turbance. On the 25th instant some sailors from the Lexington were permitted to come on shore on liberty, and had a drunken frolic in the quarters of one of the married men, named Lawson. Both man and wife became intoxicated; a quarrel ensued; and about half-past 10 o'clock in the evening the man shot his wife with his musket. She died a short time after. The man is in irons on board the Independence. Enclosed herewith are charges preferred against him. As there is a prospect of a speedy removal from this place, I would request that the court-martial applied for by Captain Steele may be convened after our arrival in Upper California, and not at this place. It will be advisable not to detail any of the company officers in the command upon the court. It will be necessary to try the case of private Macguire, referred to in my application for a military commission, March 10, 1848, at this place, as the principal witnesses in it are Californians; such is not the case with private Lawson. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communications of March 18, April 26, and May 2, 1848. Musician Farley, referred to in yours of March 18, is at this post, and will be returned to Monterey by the first opportunity. The board of survey ordered in yours of April 18, 1848, to examine into the claims of those friendly to our flag who have sustained damages during the attack upon this place and San José, will be formed as soon as Commodore Jones arrives here. He is daily expected from Guaynas. I send enclosed herewith the return of this post (in duplicate) for April, 1848, with copies of the written orders issued during that month. The return and orders for May have been forwarded to department headquar ters via Mazatlan. I am, sir, with much respect, your obedient servant, Lieutenant W. T. SHERMAN, H. S. BURTON, Lieutenant Colonel N. Y. Volunteers. A. A. A. General 10th Military Department, Monterey. A true copy of the original on file in this office. W. G. SHERMAN, First Lieutenant 3d Artillery, A. A. A. General. HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT, Monterey, California, August 17, 1848. Muy Honorable Congreso de los Estados Unidos: Señor como que los Fines de la Sosiedad jamas podran dirigirse á la Dicha de ernos y a la adbursidad de otros de hay a qui los Hombres no deben estipular tombenciones, ni aser pactos que no se dirigan al vien comun y á una felicidad solida. ¿Como podremos llaman Patriotas a los perturbadores de nuestra sosiego, ya los Raptores de nuestras esearos vienes? La esperansia nos a echo sentir el quyo de la siranid que profesan los militares de nuestra nacion, y non estremesemos al recordar su echos. En ningun punto se dieron a conaser mas que aqui en donde disembolbieron toda la Rapasidad de su genio y dieron a salier quienes eran. Pero vien notorio es quienes fueron las que formaron la rebolucion y no deran que ningun Hombre de vien sequiera sus malba dos Huestes. Las Hombres de bein del pais señor estan por el orden y aspiran á la felicidad de esta peninsula, y como la esperansia nos ha echo ver que despues de mas de tresientos años de desenbierta jamas si a tratado de protijirta ni ilustrar la ni por los españoles in por los Miguraros? Podremos esperar en lo subresibo algun vien cuando a los que no hemos sido adictos a los ladrones nos llaman tracidores y venan nuestro esterminio? ¡No lo permeta Dios que buelbamos a esperimentar mas rigores de nuestra mal sistemada republica! Dichasas nasatros si el Gobierno de los Estados Unidos nos admite bajo de su protusion y agrega a sus Estados este (por tantos años) desgraciado continento. Na señor asi lo deseamos y prosternados ante la V. M. N. impetramos esta gracia, los que subscribirnos a nombre de los pueblos. San Jose, del cabo, Mayo 13, 1848. JOSE MIGUEL CHOSADO, Alcalde. JOSE IGNO. DUARTO. HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT, Monterey, California, August 18, 1848. SIR: I transmit herewith copies of letters, &c., pertaining to the civil government of California up to this date. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, R. B. MASON, Colonel 1st Dragoons, commanding. General R. JONES, Adjutant General, Washington, D. C. HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT, Monterey, California, April, 1848. SIR: I am in the receipt of your letter of the 10th instant, reporting the arrest of Canfield, Barnes, and others, charged with passing counterfeit gold coin purporting to be the coin of the United States. I do not think they can be properly tried by a military commission, as you suggest. I do not wish to try before military courts any cases that are not clearly such as military courts should take cognizance of. "Tis |