£6 history or California. 



oncers from the country, declaring that they -would 

 remain independent until the federal constitution was 

 restored. The general government issued strong pro- 

 clamations against the Californians, and sent an expe- 

 dition to re-establish its authority. But Genera] 

 Urrea, by whom the e: ition was comma 

 declared in favor of the federalists, and the inhabitants 

 governed themselves until July, 1S3T, when they 

 swore allegiance to the new constitution. 



Things went on quietly in * la until 1842. 



In that year. Commodore Jones, while cruising in the 

 Pacific, received information which led him to b 

 that Mexico had declared war against the I 

 States. lie determined to strike a blow at the 

 posed enemy, and, according!; peared before 



Monterey, on the 19th of October, 1842, with the 

 frigate United States and the sloop-of-war Cyane. 

 He demanded the surrender of all the castles, | 

 and military places, on penalty, if refused, of the visi- 

 tation of the horrors of "war. The people were asto- 

 nished. A council decided that no defence could be 

 made, and everything was surrendered at once to the 

 unexpected Americans. The flag of the United States 

 was hoisted, and the commodore proclamation 



to the Californians, inviting them to submit to the 

 government of the United States, which would pro- 

 tect them in the exercise of their rights. The procla- 

 mation was scarcely issued, before the commodore 

 became aware of the peaceable relations existing 

 between the United States and Mexico, and he accord- 

 ingly restored the possession of Monterey to the 

 authorities, and retired with his forces to his ships, 

 just twenty-four hours after the surrender. This 

 affair irritated the inhabitants considerably, and, no 



