230 JOHN C. FREMONT 



District, for the sum of three thousand dollars. It is 

 situated two hundred and twenty-five miles north ot 

 San Francisco. The gold-mines which it contains 

 are extremely valuable ; and the Valley of the Mari 

 posas is described as being the most fertile and beau 

 tiful in California. In January, 1852, Fremont filed 

 his claim for this immense tract before the Commis- 

 sioners appointed to ascertain and settle the private 

 land-claims in the State of California. In Decem- 

 ber, 1852, his claim was confirmed by them. In 

 September, 1853, an adverse claim was defended 

 before the District Court of the United States. This 

 tribunal decided adversely to Fremont. He appealed 

 from their decision to the Supreme Court of the 

 United States, which, after a thorough investigation, 

 and a protracted and learned argument by counsel 

 on both sides, established the title of Colonel Fre- 

 mont to the whole tract claimed.* 



* As considerable interest has been excited in reference to this 

 celebrated estate, we append the title under which Colonel Fremont 

 claims, and the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States, 

 respecting it. 



"In 1844, Manuel Micheltorrena, then governor and commandant- 

 general, issued a grant of what is now known as the Mariposas pro- 

 perty, to Juan Alvarado, purporting to be founded upon the patriotic 

 services of Alvarado, who had been conspicuous in the commotions in 

 California which resulted from the centralizing policy of Mexico, out 

 A which grew the Texas Revolution, and was afterward appointed 



