PEEFAOE. 



I (JNDERTAKE to write tlie resources of a state, wMcli, 

 tliough young in years, small in popiilation, and remote 

 from the chief centres of civilization, is yet known to the 

 furthest corners of the earth, and, during the last twelve 

 years, has had an influence upon the course of human life, 

 and the prosperity and trade of nations, more powerful than 

 that exerted during the same period by kingdoms whose 

 subjects are numbered by millions, whose history dates 

 back through thousands of years, and whose present stock 

 of wealth beo^an to accumulate before our continent was 

 discovered, or our language was formed. I write of a land 

 of wonders. I write of California, which has astonished 

 the world by the great migration that suddenly built up 

 the first large Caucasian community on the shores of the 

 North Pacific ; by her vast yield of gold, amounting within 

 thirteen years to $700,000,000, which has sensibly affected 

 the markets of labor and money in all the leading nations 

 of Christendom ; by the rapid development and great extent 

 of her commerce ; by the greatness of her chief port, which 

 at one time had more large ships at her anchorage than 

 were ever seen together in the harbor of either Liverpool, 

 New York, or London ; by the swift settlement of her remote 

 districts ; by the prompt organization of her government ; 



