HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



81 



territory before the conquest, were continued until 

 altered by the governor and council. 



On the 15th of August, 1846, Commodore Stockton 

 adopted a tariff of duties on all goods imported from 

 foreign parts, of fifteen per cent, ad valorem, and a 

 tonnage duty of fifty cents per ton on all foreign ves 

 sels. On the 15th of September, when the elections 

 were held, Walter Colton, the chaplain of the frigate 

 Congress, was elected Alcalde of Monterey. In the 

 mean time, a newspaper called the " Californian," had 

 been established by Messrs. Colton and Semple. This 

 was the first newspaper issued in California. 



Early in September, Commodore Stockton withdrew 

 his forces from Los Angeles, and proceeded with his 

 squadron to San Francisco. Scarcely had he arrived 

 when he received intelligence that all the country 

 below Monterey was in arms and the Mexican flag 

 again hoisted. The Californians invested the " City 

 of the Angels," on the 23d of September. That 

 place was guarded by thirty riflemen under Captain 

 Gillespie, and the Californians investing it numbered 

 300. Finding himself overpowered, Captain Gillespie 

 capitulated on the 30th, and thence retired with all 

 the foreigners aboard of a sloop-of-war, and sailed for 

 Monterey. Lieutenant Talbot, who commanded only 

 nine men at Santa Barbara, refused to surrender, and 

 marched out with his men, arms in hand. The frigate 

 Savannah was sent to relieve Los Angeles, but she 

 did not arrive till after the above events had occurred. 

 Her crew, numbering 320 men, landed at San Pedro 

 and marched to meet the Californians. About half 

 way between San Pedro and Los Angeles, about 

 fifteen miles from their ship, the sailors found the 

 enemy drawn up on a plain. The Californians were 



