HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



129 



on, gun followed gun from the fort, the echoes rever 

 berating grandly around the bay, till finally, as the 

 loud ring of the thirty-first was heard, there was a 

 shout : ' That's for California !' and every one joined 

 in giving three times three for the new star added to 

 our Confederation. 



" There was one handsome act I must not omit to 

 mention. The captain of the English bark Volunteer, 

 of Sidney, Australia, lying in the harbor, sent on shore 

 in the morning for an American flag. When the first 

 gun was heard, a line of colors ran fluttering up to the 

 spars, the stars and stripes flying triumphantly from 

 the main-top. The compliment was the more marked, 

 as some of the American vessels neglected to give any 

 token of recognition to the event of the day. 



" The Constitution having been signed and the Con 

 vention dissolved, the members proceeded in a body 

 to the house of General Riley. The visit was evidently 

 unexpected by the old veteran. When he made his 

 appearance, Captain Sutter stepped forward, and 

 having shaken him by the hand, drew himself into an 

 erect attitude, raised one hand to his breast as if he 

 were making a report to his commanding officer on the 

 field of battle, and addressed him as follows : 



" l GENERAL : I have been appointed by the dele 

 gates, elected by the people of California to form a 

 Constitution, to address you in their names and in 

 behalf of the whole people of California, and express 

 the thanks of the Convention for the aid and coopera 

 tion they have received from you in the discharge of 

 the responsible duty of creating a State government. 

 And, sir, the Convention, as you will perceive from 

 the official records, duly appreciates the great and 

 important services you have rendered to our common 



