Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-07-08
NEW PUBLICATION.
foR THE NATIONAL rsrrLIrorsCrn.

j FOR THE NATIONAL IsrELLIGEScER
Personal Narrative Of Explorations and me
i dents IN Tsrus, Neo M9eO, California Sonora and ca
i huahuo, connected wiM the United States and Merea
boundary Commission, during he years 1885, 1851, 1885,
j and 1853. BY JOHN RUSSELL BARTLETT, U. s. Com
missioner during that period New York, 1854 vol.
The treaty Of peace between the United States an
Mexico concluded in February, 1848, required that
Commissioner and Surveyor should be appointed til
part Of each Government who, before the expiration
of year, should proceed to and mark the boun
Diary between the two countries The first commits
sioner on the part Of the United States the Hon. J.
Weller after running the small portion Of the line extend
ing from the Bay Of San Diego to the Colorado, wal
and his place supplied by the author of the pre-
sent work. who received his appointment from Presden
Taylor in june 1850 The letter Of instructions from
the Department Of the Interior required him. in addition
to the main duty of running the boundary between the
Gulf Of Mexico and the Colorado collect information
relative to the construction Of road canal railway
to along either bank of the River Sla; avail him
self of every opportunity of acquiring information to
the geography natural history &c. of the unexplored
regions of Texas New Mexico, and California; to collect
information relative to the precious metals qucksil-
ver and the various minerals Ores and other substances
useful in the arts and seek If he had the means Of
doing, for practicable routes through Cali
fornia for emigrants.
In Secretary Stuars additional instructions Of Noyem
Der 4, 1851 it is expressly stated that all the scientific
departments not directly connected with the surveys Of
the boundary line placed under the Commissioners
immediate direction.
1t would have been difficult to find man better fitted
for the purpose by large and comprehensive views
thusiasm for geographical and chronological studes fer
tliy in resources, and powers Of observation and de-
scrpon. Mr.. Bartlett was for number of years the
senior partner Of the we'll known bookselling firm Of
Bartlett Wexford of New York. whose establishmenwas
Of the most attractive places Of resort for literary
men in that city He and is prominent and active
member Of the Historical and chronological Societies Of
New York. extensively acquainted with literary and scen
c characters at home and abroad and author Of the
Progress of Ethnology work which shows his famliar
ty with what has recently been accomplished in that
science. His literary ability has also been shown in
another work of repute the Dictionary of American
isms"
The entire surveying party, they sailed from New
York for Texas in the month Of August following Mr.
Bartlett's appointment consisted Of one hundred and
eleven persons with escort Of United States infantry
under the lamented Col Craig, embracing eighty five
In the personnel various changes afterwards
made.
Mr. Bartlett has udicously divided his narrative into
six portions comprising what may be considered
many distinct journeys, each complete ip itself
L. The first is the journey from Indanoa on the coast
Of Texas where the Commission disembarked San An
tonic and the northern route from that city the same
that followed by Lieut. Bryan in 1s49 to Ell Paso
del Norte which he reached in the space Of thirty
days. The minute description given of the characters
tics of this route must be Of great value emgrants
tending to pursue it.
2. The second division contains description Of Ell
Paso and its vicinity with account of there
10
ngushed Senator of that from Rhode Island and
he prompt execution of his murderers also, the esab
shment of the initial point Of the southern boundary of
New Mexico the Rio Grande and an account of |
sit to the Copper Mines in the Rocky Mountains near
he river Gila aud residence there Of several months
while awaiting the arrival of Col Graham the newyap
pointed chief astronomer.
g. The division comprises journey into the province
If Sonora far Arspe ascertain the mode of
procuring and transporting provisions for the Commission
ind ALSO after second stay the Copper Mines
nonths during which the chief astronomer and surveyor
oned the Commission another journey along the boun
larry line south of the Ga to the Rio San Pedro and
thence through different portion of Sonora from that
before trayersed to Guaymas the Gulf Of California
which he reached the 4th Of January, 1852. This
Quincy undertaken for the purpose of procuring pro-
visions and mules for the Commission but the supplies
each place being very limited in consequence Of the
Expectations of the Apaches he led further and
Their south until he reached Ures the capital of tho State
where he lay for two months and half i'll of fever On
bis recovery he proceeded at once to the coast and
sailed down it from Guaymas to Mazatan and Acapulco
md thence by steamer to San Diego where after sepa
ration Of five months he reoined the parties from the Ga
who had surveyed that river within sixty miles of its
mouth when they break off hasten to the
for provisions These travels in Sonora furnish
us an abundance of and curious information respect
ing the nature of the country and its capabilities, the
geographical position Of Places the nroad of the wild
Indians, and the widespread desoaon that results from
them in consequence of the mbecile and cowardly cha
racter of the Mexican population.
A. The next division describes various journeys in Cali
forna Having proceeded to San Francisco to procure
outfit of tents and camp equpage to have the nsru
ments put in order to lay in provisions &C., and having
could be ready, the Commissioner determined to put
them to in visiting of the many interesting To-
calties of California The principal Of these visits
the Napa Valley and its geysers the quicksilver
mines of New Amaden, the second in Importance in the
world, of which very full account is given.
g. The fifth division contains the return Journey across
the desert to Fort yuma and along the ella river and
through Northern Sonora and Chihuahua to Ell Paso,
which reached the 18th of August 1t comprises
description and history of Fort YUMA an account of
soiourn among the interesting agricultural tribes Of the
ella, the Pmas and Coro Marcopos visit to the Casas
Grandes with history Of previous visits and descrp
tons Of them examination of the silver mines Of Cor
relitos and its vicinity, sc.
g. On the 7th Of October Mr.. Bartlett started from Ell
Paso to reon the surveying parties the Lower Rio
Grande. On account of the danger to which his small
party would otherwise be exposed Of attacks from the
Camanches he took circutous route passing from north
south through the whole length of Chihuahus then
the States of Coahuila Nuevo Leon, and Tamaupas,
vic SnO he Of MAI Of nj han nd Can