, 1878-07-06
The Conquest Of California.
LECTURE uN THE SUBJECT by REV
ALBERT WILLIAMS, UNDER
PIONEER AUSPICES.
From the S. F Morning Call.

'pii VIZ ~ a AhN'bihSo Nhi''
The Rev. Albert Williams. one of the
three clerical "W's" who came to Cat-
ifornin in the days OF 40, delivered II
lecture last evening at the Metropolitan
Temple on THE Conquest of California"
1t WAS strictly historical narrative, care
fully arranged in sequence OF events,
and although somewhat loadrd with de-
tails, which should, however. he very
interesting to local societies that cherish
the annals of American settlement on
the Pacific Coast, it WAS attractive in
style. The audience was numerically
unworthy of the occasion, not more than
fifty being present.
Three lines. said Mr. Williams. con
verge toward california, nnl ARE of i'm
portance IN the survey of its conquest.
Rocky Mountain tnpprrs led the way.
and were the pioneers of a steady and
increasing immigration. The second
converging line was that of trade and
commerce hrtw EN- the Atlantic ports
and the coast of Ca'fornia-thr limited
but naScent for, runner OF vast fleets ot
themerciant marine American wiarrs
also dropped into the harbors, an, some
af'the crews hccane settlers. The third
convrlging lie was the difficulty with
Mexico about Texas, rvpntlnliny in n
casus b''lli aud II brief struggle tor the
possession of California. 1t is somewhat
difficult to trace to its origin lh idea Of
the acquisition nf California for the
United States. The first step to ohtain
the territorial priz. was taken l.,
President Jackson in 1885. 1t WAS II
surprise to The Union when he asked Tor
commission to request from Mexico tie
sale ot thrt portion OF Ar territory sub.
seguenily wrung from her hy conquest
and bv treaty Incidental was the
Wilkes expedition, by which the har-
bors of the coast We're surveyed An
other event was the hosting of the
American flag ut Monterey by Commo
dore Jones. in lS42, under the belief that
war had been declared ugaiu>t Mexico.
Apology was made twenty four hours
afterwards, when the error had been
ascertained. The memorable year OF
1S46 arrived, and United States vessel
Savannah, Commodore Slat, was at
Honolulu. There also was The British
ship OF war ColIingwoui. Sioat had a
premonition of wllnt was impending,
but he kept hls Counsel while maintain
ing the most friendly ,elations with the
British Commander The American
cruiser proceeded 10 Mazatlan, and the
CDlIingwUoi tollc wed in her track.
Nothing was known at the time of the
hostlilies impending, cxrrpr that the
American army was OH the eastern bank
OF the Rto Grande. The information
that dctcrmine, Sluat to sail nOrthward
and hoist the stars and stripes in the
Territory came from two citizens al
America who are now resident here
James X. Boton, then in Mazttlan, and
john PaIr1. The operations of General
.Idylori communicated ly these gentle :
men, lcd 10 the sal NJ Of Inc Savannah
oh tue 7th Of june, 1916, and with n
press ot sail the course was llid for the
harpnr OF Monterey. Meanwhile the
.rcyrIptlon bad broken nut III California
undcr the historic Bear ling Captain
Merritt took the initiative in resistance
ot the Caiioru ans, and he joined Lieut.
John @. Fremont. o had arrived in
the GO .ilry Oh his exploring expedition
Oa the 23I Of June, Sonoma was sur
pri cd, and General Vallejo and other,
taken prisoners. There the Bear far
WAS iuprvised, with it's lone star ana
motto. California Republic" The bat
Tie of Sinia Rosa plains wa. decisive isr
the Auer.eaHs, AMI ID. La Tore retreat.
el to Saa Rducl, which upon being
!1liDwcl be eylcuatei for Sn Francisco.
Northern California Was in p,s,cas.ol al
81 iLe rcyolutioui,ts