The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-01-10

ready for mailing can be had at the office at six
pence each
The Town of Monterey, on the Pacihc--The
Area OF FreedOm-Our Engravings.
The splendid victories of "Old Rough and
Ready" on the Rio Grande, have not wholly with
drawn the gaze of the world from the brilliant
but boodless, operations of our forces on the Pa
cific. The western coast of Mexico is full of in
terest to the United States, principally for the
reason that California is probably to be the basis
of treaty of peace with Mexico.
All points of Mexico, ndct d, have an interest
at this moment and it is our intention to illustrate
every captured town and city, and every event OF
any importance during the war; and the public
may rest assured of the accuracy Of our pictorial
views. The extensive sale of the annual Ptct0-
rial Herald is sufficient indication ofthe popu-
larity of the illustrations already published in the
Netc York Herald; sufficient TO induce us to in
crease our determination to continue them, even
at a greater cost than we have yet incurred We
have now about a dozen splendid views on hand
which we shall have engraved as rapidly as time
and space will permit.
To-day we give a pictorial illustration of Mon
terey in Alto California, on the Pacific. We are
indebted for this, and for the following sketch of
the place, to a gentleman of this city, who is
familiar with the town almost as he is with our
lace.
This town was first settled by the Spanish in
the year ITO, and during their jurisdiction OF the
country, as well as subsequently, while uader the
Mexican government, it has been held as the cap
itai, and the seat of residence OF the Governor.
The small group of buildings with the church on
the left, comprised the whole town, or what was
6ap ted he xybic oh ad
usually by about forty soldiers, and not until many
years after the first settlement of the country were
there any buildings erected without its premises.
Recently, through the Introduction of foreigners,
and the retirement of a great portion of the sol
diery from the service, gradual extension has
gone on TO the formation of its present limits.
It's population does not exceed fifteen hundred
whites, and the Indians, though once numerous,
have dwindled away to a much less number.
The general occupation of the inhabitants is
raising cattle and agriculture, the better portion
of them possessing ranches, which are located
about in the neighborhood. Their subsistence is
obtained from these places, and the town is con-
sequenuy Invested of all appearance of cultiva-
ton, for hardly garden OF any description is to
be found in the place. The fort on the right, up
on an elevation, was also erected by the Span
large cannon.
Monterey has been distinguished for several
revolts against the Mexican government-for the
expulsion Of English and American residents
for its siege by the United States naval forces UNI
der Commodore Jones, and lastly for it's reduc-
ton by the squadron under Commodore Sloat.
The buildings near the beach, below the fortifica-
ton on the hill, were erected for warehouses for
merchandise, while under examination of the
custom house department. but now they are &C.
cupied as barracks for the United States troops.
The long building, the right Of the Preside, is
called the Casa de Go6ieryio, or Government
House, which is used for offices of the customs,
and for the meeting of the Ercelentisima Diputa-
cion. The remaining buildings are dwelling
houses and stores, which are mostly OF but
story, built OF mud bricks and covered with tiles.
The climate is temperate, though not so pleasing
that of st. Barbara and los Angeles, at the
South; yet the woods and plains yield an abund-
ance to crafty the sportsman and enchant the
botanist. The harbor is much inferior TO that of
San Francisco, but is quite protected from the
south east gales, which, during the rainy season,
are the prevailing winds and the most dangerous.
BY anchoring well under the fort, vessel may
also be protected from the north west winds and
the heavy swell caused by them, which rolls in
and breaks heavily upon the sandy beach. The
anchorage ground is good, and may be found in
from five to ten fathoms Fish here, also, are plen-
tiful, and during the months of June and Juy
t he bay is filed with sardines, which are pursued
by their enemies and forced upon the sands.
The inhabitants at this season easily provided
with food, and the Indians may be seen, day after
day, busily employed with their nets.
AS a commercial place, Monterey has generally
been the most important, from its having great
or circulation ofspece than any other port on the
coast; but San Francisco is much its superior in
the value of its various productions and yearly
explorations. Money is extremely scarce through
out the country, and seldom has exceeded a
circulation OF over ten thousand dollars the
ranchero prelerring rather to hoard up his money
for gambling purposes, than to part with it for
chandize-thus depending entirely upon his sue
cess ofharvest for maintenance. 1t has been usual
to give these kind of people credit for almost any
amount, and to trust to their entire honesty for
the payment thereof, not even exacting a docu.
ment to certify their indebtedness. As it may be
supposed, many of our couutrymen have lost for
tunes in consequence of their total ignorance of
the persons with whom they had bargained. The
Califomians, as people, are universally peace
able, and unnacustomed 60 the trials and dangers
of war, so that party OF two hundred determin-
ed and experienced warriors, might spread DESC
lation throughout their land They have not means
OF defence, and it has been only when stirred up
by a few idle and vicious vagabonds, that they
have dared TO oppose the Mexican powers, and
repeated these acts, from the circumstance that
the experiments were bloodless. The success,
therefore, of our small body of American troops,
cannot admit OF doubt, as to their holding quiet
possession ofthe country, and unless mprudently
quartered, could they be SO surprised as to admit
of defeat. From this fact we may safely conjec-
ture that the recent accounts of massacre at
the town of los AugeLes are without foundation