niSTORY OF CALIFOIINIA. 255 



tcr to any of that dug in the mines of California. It 

 contains large quantities of platina, and is said to be 

 of a richer character. The mines just discovered are 

 situated about two hundred miles from Oregon City. 

 The consequences of this discovery may be easily ap- 

 prehended. Oregon will secure a larger share of the 

 emifcration from the Atlantic States than she had 

 before, and her progress will be rapid, for her soil and 

 climate render the country an attractive place of re- 

 sidence. But will the progress of California be less 

 rapid in consequence of this? We think not. The 

 united attractions of the two territories will operate 

 for the benefit of both, and only tend to increase the 

 quantity of emigration. 



CHAPTER XV. 



A GENERAL VIEW OF CALIFORNIA AT THE PRESENT TIME. 



We have followed the narrative of the events in the 

 history of Californi<a up to the present time. We 

 have traced her progress from her first settlement up 

 to the time when she appears as a sovereign republican 

 State ; and we have seen the effects of her vast 

 metallic wealtli working wonders in a short space of 

 time. We have seen her towns before and after the 

 gold discovery, and marked the contrast ; and we have 

 seen her territory become thickly peopled, and her 

 resources developed in a space of time which other 

 territories less favored, would rccjuire for an infancy. 

 We have also considered her soil, climate, productions, 

 and population, and exhibited each subject as fully as 



