New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-27

voluminous, but not redundant. The
interest and Importance of the theme
warrant it all, including this latest
and not least contribution. Indeed.
these sumptuous volumes are to be
welcomed, not merely as an opportune
incident of the present yea-, which
marks something like an epoch in the
history of the Golden State, but
equally as a permanent addition to
Californian literature which will serve
purpose that no other work pre-
cisely meets. The range in character
is enormous, from those romances of
Bret Harte and Helen Hunt Jackson
which cause the past to live again in
perfect verisimilitude, to the encyclo-
padic annals of Bancroft, which pre-
sent an unsurpassed storehouse of de-
tailed facts, chiefly set down as facts
and nothing more. Mr.. Eldredge and
his colaborers have produced a work
which stands somewhere nearly mid
way between those two extremes, and
which partakes of the character OF
both. 1t is sufficiently detailed ard
accurate to serve autnentic his
tory, and at the same time ia so in
stinct with the spirit of the theme,
adventurous, romantic, heroic, tragic,
and what not else, as to provide read
ing as entertaining as it is instruc-
tive.
The narrative begins with the ad-
ventures of Columbian days, and con-
tinues coherently down to the pres
ent time. On the whole there is a
judicious division of space among the
chief sub-topics, though here and
there some matter of real interest is
overlooked or sighted. Much space is
appropriately given 10 the attempts
of Russia to acquire California, yet
strangely there is no mention what
ever of the final defeat of those de-
signs in John Quincy Adams's read
ing of the riot act to Baron Tuyii
one Of the most noteworthy episodes
in our early diplomatic history. There
is a blistering reference to the muir
derer of Balboa. yet Pedrarias's name
is not mentioned. Another regrettaole
blemish is the failure to mention,
from time to time, the years IN which
the events recorded occurred. Even
so important date as the year OF
Portola's expedition has to be searched
for in a footnote, or laboriously cal
culated from previous dates given IN
preceding chapters. Once more, there
are occasional Characterization OF
men which seem too sweeping to pass
as matters of course, such as that OF
Fremont as a "fustian hero lrreso.,,
lutte and cowardly. The pathfinder
was doubtless preferable as \ sclen-
fist and explorer, rather than as d
military commander, but II seems a
little gratuitous to indulge IN the
filings at him which this work contains g.
So much for its most obvious de-
fects. More numerous and more
conspicuous are its merits, when
indeed are great. There is painstak-
ing rehearsal Of all that IS known con-
corning the first visits OF owned men
TO that coast, including, OF course. tne
voyage Of Drake in the Golden Hlnd:
That Drake did skirt the California
coast, and make at least one lahdlhs
there, is unQuestionable. Just wnere
the landing was is not TO be accurate
" determined, though we may be rea-
sonaby confident that 1t was not on
the site of San Francisco. The au-
thor notices. of course. the extraor-
binary statement that Drake put PACK
from these explorations because OF tne
bitter, freezing cold which he and MS
comrades encountered. Certainly, any
such weather would be phenomenal
anywhere on the Californian or ore-
gon. or even the Alaskan Pan Handle
coast, in July, which was the time OF
wear when Drake is said to have met
with il. The ingenious explanation
suggested in this work is as plausible
as anv-namely, that no such weather
was found-but that the false state
ment concerning it was purposely maze
10 discourage others. from going
thither until the English had opportu-
nity to make their possession OF the
coast sure.
But possession was not taken and
California was quite neglected. Inc
Spanish did not, indeed. occupy the
land for many years; until French and
British exploits east of the Rocky Noun
tains caused Galvez to fear that pres
eLtly they would push on to the PACING.
That fear was we'll founded. though 1t
was not realized for half century,
when in connection with the Louisiana
Purchase jefferson sent Lewis and
Clarke to Oregon. But it served Just
after the French and Indian war to
move the dilatory Spanish government
to send an expedition to California TO
open up that transmontane adjunct TO
the Louisiana Territory which had just
been transferred to Spain by France.
Galvez himself was not permitted TO
lead the expedition. but his place was
taken by Portola. who thus, as late as
1769-'70. began the real history OF Cal
ifornia
The story of the founding Of the
missions is full of fascinating interest.
II brings the California narrative
down to the prelude to the American
conquest, and is followed by the story
of the latter achievement. 1t is to be
remembered that California. New Mex
leo and Arizona are the only parts OF
the United States that were taken
through sheer conquest for the sake OF
conquest. as the purposed spoils of
war. The taking of the Northwest Ter
ritory was merely the confirmation OF
what had been done long before. IN
Colonial Days, and Porto Rico and the
Philippines-which are not parts OF
the United States. but merely of It's
outlying estate-were taken incident
ally in a war which had been begun
for an entirely different purpose.
Following the conquest came the
discovery of gold; one of the most
dramatic episodes in the history OF sd-
venture and fortune seeking. There
have been other rushes TO gold mines,
in Alaska, in South Africa, in Aus
tralia and elsewhere; but never has
there been anything quite comparable
with the migration of the Argonauts
Of 1s49. That in turn led to the or
gsnizstion of government and the ad.
mission of the territory as a state Of
this Union, the thirty-irst. II must
have been NORWOOD and gall to the
pro-slavery leaders to have California
admitted as a free state, after its hsv-
ing been seized for the sake Of enlarg-