HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 433 



any unnecessary controversy ^vhich can either en- 

 danger it or impair its strength, the chief element of 

 which is to be found in the regard and affection of the 

 people for each other. 



Z. TAYLOR. 

 Washington City, D. C, January 21st, 1850. 



Executive Department of California, 



Monterey, August 30, 1849. 



General : — I have the honor to transmit, herewith, 

 copies of civil papers and letters issued by me since 

 my despatch of June 30, and to continue my report 

 on the civil affairs of this country from this date. 



Accompanied by Captain Halleck, Secretary of 

 State for California, and Major Canby, Captain Wes- 

 cott, and Lieutenant Derby, of my military staff, I 

 left this place on the 5th July for the purpose of in- 

 specting the military posts in the interior, and of 

 learning from personal observation the actual state 

 of affairs in the mineral regions, and also of allaying, 

 so far as I could, the hostile feeling which was said to 

 exist between the Americans and foreigners who were 

 working in the gold placers. My report on the state 

 of the troops and a more detailed account of my tour 

 will be forwarded with my military papers. 



Passing the mission of San Juan Bautista, we 

 crossed the coast range of mountains near the ranche 

 of Senor Pacheco, and struck the San Joaquin River 

 near the mouth of the Merced ; and, after visiting 

 Major Miller's camp on the Stanislaus, we proceeded 

 to examine the principal placers on the tributaries of 



37 



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