The Sun.
London, England, 1840-08-29 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY OCCURRENCE

IN CALIFORNIA.

NAY 25.—The Mexican barque barque Guipuscoana had
lately arrived at San Blas from Upper California, with
forty-six prisoners on board, twenty-four of whom were
British subjects, and twenty-two North Americans. It
appears that California is still ruled by the same persons
who formed themselves into a temporary Government,
and virtually separated that country from Mexico in
1836 ; but some time ago, finding that they were likely
to encounter a strong party in favour of Mexico, they
sent over a deputation to offer their adherence to the
Republic, on the condition of their being confirmed in
their posts. This proposition, in consequence of the
inability of the Mexican Government to do otherwise,
was agreed to, and those self-elected rulers have ever
since governed the country nominally as a dependency of
Mexico. It seems, however, that the foreign settlers,
chiefly consisting of English and Americans, had increased
so much as to inspire jealousy and alarm on the part of
this usurping Government, which, being composed of
men of low origin, devoid of education, and without
any knowledge of the princirles of government, thought
they had only to dispose of this raco of intruders as
their own will and pleasure directed. They in the first
place got up some accusation against a Mr. Graham,
an American settler, and who had acquired some pos-
sessions and property in the country, and who was ini-
mical to some of the rulers. This person they resolved
to get into their power, and ordered an armed force to
proceed to his house, and to take him dead or alive. This
force went in the middle of the night,found Graham in bed
defenceless, but they did not capture him without dis-
charging their fire-arms into his bed, and seriously wound-
ing him, after which they carried him to Mounterey
in triumph. This formidable person haring been
secured, their next step was to issue a general
order for the arrest of all English and American in-
habitants of Upper California, which was effected to
the number of upwards of two hundred. Those con-
fined in the prison of Mounterey were very illAreated,
put in irons, and confined in a very small space. During
this time the farms and other property of the prisoners
were taken possession of by the Government officers,
and plundered and destroyed in all manner of ways.
The whole, however, were liberated, except the forty-
six before mentioned, amongst whom is Mr. Graham.
These persons came to San Blas under the charge of
one of the members of the California Govern-
ment, whose name is Castro, and who was one of
the leaders of the separation of 1836. This per-
son had the whole of his prisoners in irons during the
voyage from California, and treated them, while on
board, with great cruelty. On their arrival at San
Bias they were immediately marched on foot to
'Tessin, a city fifty miles inland, the intention of Castro
being to continue their route to the Mexican capital, a
distance of nearly a thousand miles I He was, how-
-1 ever, prevented from putting his intention into execu-
tion, by the interference of Mr. Barron, British Vice-
consulat that place, who, on investigating the affair,
found that there was no accusation against them of any
men
to
particular
capitalcrime; and, considering
of Mexico, beneaththat to a
vertical
ma: e these
h sun,
and in such hands as Castro and his guards, would be
a punishment worse than death, took up their cause
with his usual zeal and energy, and not only requested
that they should go no further, but that they sho-ald
be properly lodged and treated till their case was repre-
sented to the British and American Ministers in Mexi-
co, and that Castro should be immediately put in safe
custody until the orders of the Mexican Government
should be received respecting him, and until he should
answer for his unjust and atrocious conduct towardsthose
people whom he had been the chief instrument of tear-
ing from their possessions and families, as well as
for the cruel and tyrannical manner in which he had
Latish
properly
and
A
treated them and others in California, and particularly
on their voyage to San Blas. It is only doing justice to
the Mexican authorities in Tessic, to acknowledge that
they most readily conceded Mr. Barron's. request, and
Castro, with his subordinates, arc prisoners, whilst the
lodged,merican and treated
with due humanity.
British and AinericansTahree
Minis-
ters in Mexico have been informed of all that has taken
place, and proper steps will no doubt he taken, not only
to do justice to those now here, but to ensure security to
our countrymen and others who have selected Califor-
nia as the country of their residence. The American
corvette San Lours, and the French corvette Donald('
had proceeded to California before the arrival of the
Guipuscoana at San Blas, but did not fall in with her
at sea. The British corvette Satnarang was also on the
west coast of Mexico when the accounts arrived from
California of such arrests having taken place, but as she
was under orders for Chili, could not proceed with the
other men-of-war to investigate the affair."
Some of our readers may have become acquainted
with the singular and beautiful country in which the
above narrated events occurred, from a work published
last year b Mr. Forbes, entitled a " History of Up-
per Lower California." These lawless arrests of
British and American subjects seem to call for inquiry
on the part of her Ma,jesty's Government, as the Soma-
rang, being freighted with bullion for the southern
coast, was prevented from proceeding to investigate the
affair in company with the American and French cor-
vettes. Along the west coast of Guatemala, Mexico,
and California, no British ship of war is permanently
stationed, but a vessel is sent down by the Admiral on
the station twice a year to collect money for England.