Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-06-28
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.

THE HISTORY OF THE PACIFIC STATES OF AMERICA.
History of California, Volume l, 15i7-lSS0.
By Hubert Howe Bancroft. San Francisco;
4. L. Bancroft & Co.
This volume is number eighteen of the
works of Mr.. Bancroft. These have now
arrived at period treated of in the present
volume which has a more immediate in
terest for readers in America, though for
devoted historical students it cannot sur
pass the preceding volumes leading up to
it, and the growth and production of which
we have watched with keenest interest. MIR.
Bancroft well says that the past of Calitor-
MIA, as whole and in each successive
phase. furnishes a record not eXcelled
either in variety or interest by that of any
New World province. " From the
time when it was a mere field of
cOsmographic conjecture, its position
somewhere on the way from Mex
leo to India, being vaguely fixed by
such bounds as Asia, the North Pole, New
foundland and Florida, it has drawn upon
itself liberal share of the worlds notice
The period of Spanish occupation, of spirit
ual conquest and mission development
growing out of Franciscan effort, Of quiet
pastoral life, with its lively, social monot-
ony, is a fascinating subject that in no part
of America can be studied more advan-
tageously than here.
If any doubt or shadow of speculation
remained concerning the resources of the
author for writing a history of California,
they would be dispelled by an examination
of the list of authorities presented in t&is
volume which he has studied and by
which he fortifies the conclusions reached.
Of these, over 1000 titles are given,
beside many others named in the foot
notes There is. scarcely a Califor-
MIA book, pamphlet, paper or parchment
extant relating in any way to the history OF
the coast which has not had close examina-
ton for the purposes of this history. While
the volume brings us to the opening Of the
present century, the research referred to of
necessity carried the author through al the
period down to the discovery of gold, and
we'll into the Pioneer era. The bibliogra-
phv of Californian history is reviewed, and
listed. and exhaustively treated in chapter
second Of the book before US, and forms
one of the quaintest and most interesting
photographic monographs extant, and is es-
pecially full of interest to early Californi-
ans-notably so, as Mr.. Bancroft has in
Guided in the consideration references to
manuscripts collected by him embodying
the testimony of about 100 California pio-
neers, relating to the period immediately
following the discovery of gold, and ex-
flush times of California.
| The work opens with resume, or glance
at the ground already traversed in the His
! tory of Mexico, in order to give proper
understanding of the course of early events
upon the north border of that country.
| This retrospect puts the reader into excel
| lent frame for taking up the real history OF
California, which begins with the third
| chapter, and opens with a sketch of the
origin of the name California, and closes
with the Northern Mystery, that is,
what was thought and written and pictured
III maps respecting the coast region above
the Californian Gulf from 1880 to 1869.
The maps presented in miniature illumi-
nate this chapter most acceptably. Not the
| least interest in the chapter is found in the
speculation of the author upon the evil
dences before him concerning the disputed
claim of brakes entry into the Bay of San
| Francisco Mr. Bancroft, with courteous
| force, combats, and we must admit, with
success, the theory that Sir Francis ever
| entered upon that magnificent sheet
of water. Had he done so, he
certainly would never have dis
dismissed it with so brief a remark as " a
| good bay:" nor would he have failed to ex-
| plore it eastward as far as it was possible
for the Golden Hind to have made its way,
since brakes real scheme was to find an
interoceanic passage from the North Pacific,
The fourth chapter treats of the motives
and preparations for Spanish occupation,
| and carries us from 1867 to ITO. While
the fifth treats of the occupation of San
to the first expedition from San
Diego to Monterey and San Francisco.
In this chapter the more curious readers
will find satisfaction in examining the tes-
timonies respecting the discovery of the
Bav of San Francisco, and the mysterious
and doubted g port of San Francisco. The
descendants of the Ortega who first ex.
plored the peninsula where San Francisco
sits still live in California. 1t was
most discouraging expedition he
led, since he made u great dis
coverv without being aware of it, and
returned over his land course to the South
without reaping the fruits of his perilous
expedition to the BraZo del Mar, or inland
sea In chapter seven we arrive at the his
tory of the occupation of Monterey and the
founding of San Carlos, San Antonio and
San Gabriel On the Sd of June, 1770, the
mission and Preside of San Carlos Borro-
meo de Monterey was formally founded,
when the water was blessed, the bells hung,
and Father Junipero donning his alb and
stole chanted the Venite creator spiritUS and
planted the cross and sprinkled the beach
and fields with holy water, thus putting
to rOut all Internal foes" after which guns
were fired, the flag of Spain displayed
and sauted, and Portola proceeded to take
formal possession in the name of Carlos III.
Chapter eighth treats of the progress of the
new establishments, and the search for the
" Port of San Francisco" We pass next to
delightful subdivision analytical of the
first reports of the new country sent to
Mexico, and of the labors of Sierra
there. These reports give us glimpse
e Il. -.,lin architentnrn and crlde anri.