Southern telegraph., 1838-08-15
EXTRACT FKOM IRVING'S ROCKY
MOUNTAINS.

The peninsula of California was settled
in sixteen hundred ninety eightbythe Jesults
who, o,certainly,a ,as far as the natives were con-
cerned, have generally proved the most be-
nificent OF coonists. In the present instance
they gained and maintained footing in
the country without the aid Of military
force, but solely by religious influence.
They formed treaty and entered into the
most amicable relations with the natives,
then numbering from twenty-five to thirty
thousand souls, and gained hold upon
their affections and control over their minds,
that effected complete change in their
condition. They built eleven missionary
establishments in the various valleys of
the Peninsula, which formed rallying pla-
ces for the surrounding savages, where
they gathered together as sheep in the fold,
md surrendered themselves and their con-
sciences into the hands of these spiritual
pastors. Nothing, we are told, could ex-
ceed the implicit and affectionae devotion
of the Indian converts to the Jesuit faith
ers; and the Catholic faith was dissent
mated widely through the wilderness.
The growing power and influence of the
Jesuits in the new world, at length excited
the jealousy of the Spanish government,
and they were banished from the colonies.
The governor, who arrived at California
TO expe them, and take charge of the coun-
try, expected to find a iich and powerful
fraternity, with immense treasures boarded
in their missions, and an army of Indians
ready to defend them. On the contrary,
he beheld a few venerable silver-haired
priests coming humbly forward to meet him
f1lowed by throng of weeping, but sub
missive natives. The heart of the Cover
nor, it is said, was so touched by this unex
pected sight, that he shed tears; but he
had to execute his orders. The Jesuit'
were accompanied to the place Of their EN-
barcatlon by their simple and afectionatt
parishioners. who took leave of them will
tears and sobs. Many of the latter aban
doned their hereditary abodes, and wander
cd off to join their southern brethern, 81
that, but remnant remained in the PENN
suIa. The Franciscans Immediately sue
ceeded the Jesuits, and subsequently tn,
Dominicans; but the latter managed thei
affairs i'll. But two of the missionary es
adjustments are at present occupied b
priests; the rest are all in ruins, excepting
one, which remains a monument of tn
former prosperity of the order. This is
noble edifice, once the seat of the chief q
the resident Jesuits. 1t is situated in
beautiful valley, about half way betwee
the Gulf of California and the broad oceaT
the peninsula being here about sixty mile
wide. The edi6ce is of hewn stone, on
story high, two hundred and ten feet i
front, and about fifty-fve feet deep tn
walls are six feet thick, and sixteen fe,
high, with a vaulted roof of stone, abo,
two feet and half in thickness. 1t is no
abandoned and desolate; the beautiful va
ley is without an Inhabitant-not a huma
being resides within thirty miles of IL
place!
In approaching this deserted missic
house from the south, the traveller pass,
over the mountain of San Juan, suppos,
to be the highest peak in the California
From this lofty eminence, a vast and ma
nifcent prospect unfolds itself; the gre
Gulf of California with the dark blue s
beyond, studded with islands; and in an
ther direction, the immense lava plain
- San Gabriel. Tue splendor Of the china
D gives an Italian effect to the immense pr
pect. The sky is Of deep blue coIC
10, and the sunsets are often magnificent
Fe-yond description Such is slight a
imperfect sketch q this remarkable pen