310 CALIFORNIA AFTER THE DISCOVERY OF GOLD. 



her waters ; now, a fleet of steamers plough her ample rivers 

 and bays. Then, not a school-house, public teacher, magazine, 

 or newspaper, could be found in the whole territory ; now, they 

 are met with in most of the larger towns. Then, the tastes 

 and passions of an idle throng rang on the guitar and the fan- 

 dango ; now, the calculations of the busy multitudes turn to 

 the cultured field and productive mine. Then, California 

 was a dependency of Mexico, and subject to revolutions, with 

 the success of every daring military chieftain ; now, she is an 

 independent State, with an enlightened constitution, which 

 guarantees equal rights and privileges to all. Then, she was 

 in arms against our flag ; now, she unrolls it on the breeze, 

 with the star of her own being and pride glowing in the con- 

 stellation which blazes on its folds. 



" Three years ago, and San Francisco contained three hun- 

 dred souls ; now she has a population of twenty-seven thou- 

 sand.* Then, a building-lot within her limits cost fifteen- 

 dollars ; now, the same lot cannot be purchased at a less sum 

 than fifteen thousand. Then, her commerce was confined to a 

 few Indian blankets, and Mexican reboses and beads ; .now> 

 from two to three hundred merchantmen are unloading their 

 costly cargoes on her quay. Then, the famished whaler could 

 hardly find a temporary relief in her markets ; now, she has 

 phrenzied the world with her wealth. Then, Benicia was a 

 pasture, covered with lowing herds ; now, she is a commercial 

 mart, threatening to rival her sister nearer the sea. Then, 

 Stockton and Sacramento City were covered with wild oats, 

 where the elk and deer gamboled at will ; now, they are laced 

 with streets and walled with warehouses, through which the 

 great tide of commerce rolls off into a hundred mountain 

 glens. Then, the banks of the Sacramento and San Joaquin 



* According to the last accounts, it ha.- increased to 4: 000. 



