New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-10-08
NEW PUBLICATIONS

D. Applston Co
The contents Of this volume are more compre-
hensiye than would be inferred frou its general
title. They are not limited TO the principal city
Of the Golden State, but include zoe hi'tory Of
the discovery, settlements, add progress of Cal
Arpis, complete narrati'e-of the gold dis
coveries, notices Of many Of the prOminen' c'ti-
zens Of the country. and a great amount a mis-
e<llsneous details, which can hardly be- oa.sed
under sny distii c.ive head. The volume forms
q perfect mine of information; and, though often
showing a want Of unity AID finish, arising from
the mode of its preparation, vii for some timo
to come, doubtless, be consulted az the standard
book of reference on the subject TO which it is
devoted.
In the early history of California. the Catholic
Missions occupy conspicuous place. The hrss
enterprise OF the Spaniaris for the conversion OF
the natives was connected with the voyage Of
Otando in 1883. During two years the admiral
and his missionary priests met with various sue
cess among the Indians of the Peninsula, maay OF
whom were sonSerted to Christianity, while often
their progress was thwarted by the obstuacy Of
rebellious tribes and still more by the barrenness
of the country and the difficulty Of supporting ex-
istence. The mission of san francisco gas not
established till nearly hundred years later |" The
Fathers showed much good TASTE in selecting the
site of the mission buildings, which was a small
fertile plain. embosomed among gentle, green clad
hills, little more than mile from the shore and
about two miles from the center OF the present
City of San Francisco. Several tiny riyulets Of
~. oi.N tha hos
united streams we're conducted 10 the bay by Que
larger creek, known BY the name Of Mission Creek.
Turther north the land WAS one continued success
sion of bleak sand hills, among which the present
city il situated. An exception, however, must DO
made of the spot where the presido wSs estab-
lshed, which indeed was very prettily and agree
ably situated A small cove lay to the eastward
of the pre- sido, within the narrow entrance To the
BAY. where good anchorage ground and shelter
could be had. This was the original port of the
mission, though lattcrly the cove of Yerba Buena,
few miles distant, and within the bay itself, was
more frequently adopted as harbor."
In 1902 the missions amounted to eighteen IA
number, including an Indian population OF
1862 They were supported by contributions
which was managed by trustees in Mexico, who
transn itted to California the proceeds, together
with the salaries allowed TO the missionaries by
the Crown.
The missions were originally formed on the saIno
general pNn, and they planted at such distances
from each other to allow abundant ROOM for su ,-e
Quent development. They were either established on
the sea. coast, or few miles inland. Twoniy thirty
miles indeed seems al the distance the missionaries
hed proceeded into the interior beyond which narrow
belt the couitry was uneXplored and unknown Eech
mission bad a considerable piece OF the best land n
tho noighborhood aside for s agricultural and
toral purposes, which wGs commonly about hioon
miles square Bat beside this selected territory, there
was generally much moro yacant land lying oetwcen
the boun0nies OF the missions, ana which as rho r-
crease Of their stocks required space for grazing
was gradually occupied by the docks and herds Of t,c
Fathers nearest TO whose mission lay tho Prcyiou"y
uneScppit district Over too bounds the Fathers
v.lU uuv OPERATIONS vi gigantic farm. rhsr
cattlo goaeray numbered rem ten Thousand 10 tweuy
thousand and their shcep nearly rs mum rous-
though stme ssiOps had upward Of three theSc
Eumbefs-whch fed over perhaps hundred Thousand
aces of fertile land.
Near the center of snch farins placed the mis-
sion hubGipgs. Those consisted Of tho church, ich
was other butt OF stone II that material cOuld DC pro-
eured in tho vicinity of 0fOtcg, which nre bricks
dried in the sub, and was IA eubstsntGl, urge, and
richly decorated an eTeo i0D az tho means OF tho mis-
sion Woad permit, or the ekll ald srCGg ~ Their
servants could construct. In The Interior pcfuroe aud
hangipgs decorated the walls who the affairs woro
ORR amented with marble pillars Of verions colors, md
upon and near them atOod various articles OF massy
gold and silvs plate. proiusoD Of gliding and taw
cry SPAR ling objects eau and pleased the eye OF
The simple CONGREGATIONS. ABOUND, beside tue
church, and often in the form Of square grouped
the hsbitations OF tho Fathers aud their household
servens, and the various ganaIies aud workshops Of
the poopo; while al the distance Of one or 40 hum
dred ytlds stood the bus Of the Indians The former
budding were constructed OF dobes, aAi covered With
brick tiles rHl and miserable m8eTials AZ tte bcs'.
The huis of the Indians Wero occasionally o of tho
same materials, but more CONNOLLY s,ro formed Of
tw rough poles, stuck in tho ground with the points
boz ding toward the coAtCr Ike n cone, au1 wore
covered with rcec and I.Gss- An dtoGe vol 81 COZ
siderable hight sometimes iLcOsed the whole village.
Tho direction Of the aifoiTs Of the settlement in
TIC hanos Of one of tho Fathers, on finally Cadcd
president but aitorWard pTcect; and each protect
lndepcncen Cit IN his o@E miss0n, and practically
supreme Ill al its temporal GGd nearly IA al rs spirit
u8l matters TO any human authority.
thus the Father might be considered 10 have lived
something in tho s IL of the p,tTiarch Of tho dss OF
JOB ana Abraham. They indeed were generally ira0
rant and urle'cIed men, kDo@is2 il tie more han
be ptcLan cal ties o. their church, and what else
tltir mar uss Of devotion and tho treasures Of the
ives of the sainis taught them; but hey seon 10
have been personally dcYOu scl!deSyiDg, and bcuo'
ECent Ia then own simple way. Ihoy thought tley
do God service, and perhaps much moro tho !ndiacs
then selves in catching, tanning, and converting them
to Christianity. That tblr voca.ioa IN the world,
auO they faithfully obe, Cd It's calls vi ou'y. II ever
stern ssry, OK sometimes tOrgonuiness OF tpo
value Of life 10 tte Wild Indians prompted them, or
"a, IT inifay gusrGs and eXeCutOnCrs 70 The sgugh-
Ter OF a ,iUe now and tnon OF tie fierce, they
hb, ard unractab.o natives, Toy were scfuQuiously
tful fist Ol ali 10 bapuzo the dootned and, there
toe though tie nHpleSs ebCspcs lost 4ithly he arc
the II, dom OF savage stGc. their souls Gero saved
a, they entefed in 0 ard enjoyed paradise fo'oveA
IowaJo the cOLytTts actually oomCsucaied sefy-
ants, they always showed each an Gheelona!e klnd-