366 CALIFORNIA SUBJECT TO MEXICO. [1828. 



overthrow of the Spanish authority in that country, its ports became 

 the resort of foreigners, especially of the whalers and traders of 

 the United States, who offered coarse manufactured articles and 

 groceries in exchange for provisions, and for the hides and tallow 

 of the wild cattle abounding in the country. This trade was at 

 first carried on in the same irregular manner as the fur trade with 

 the Indians on the coasts farther north ; as it increased, however, 

 it became more systematized, and mercantile houses were estab- 

 lished in the principal ports. The majority of the merchants were 

 foreigners, English, French, or Americans : in their train came shop 

 and tavern-keepers, and artisans, from various countries ; and to 

 these were added deserting seamen and stragglers from the Missouri 

 and the Columbia. 



This state of things was by no means satisfactory to the Mexican 

 government ; and orders were given to the commandant-general of 

 Upper California to enforce the laws prohibiting foreigners from 

 entering or residing in the Mexican territories without special per- 

 mission from the authorities. Agreeably to these orders, a number 

 of American citizens were, in 1828, seized at San Diego, and kept 

 in confinement until 1830, when an insurrection broke out, headed 

 by a General Solis, which they were instrumental in subduing; and, 

 in consideration of their services, they were allowed to quit the 

 country. The trading expeditions of Ashley and Smith, of which 

 accounts have been already presented, at the same time gave great 

 uneasiness to the Mexican government, and were made the subjects 

 of formal complaints to that of the United States. 



These circumstances, with others of the same nature then occur- 

 ring in Texas, served to delay the conclusion of treaties of limits, 

 and of amity, commerce, and navigation, between the United States 

 and Mexico ; which were, however, at length signed and ratified, 

 so as to become effective in 1832. By the treaty of limits, the line 

 of boundary from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific, which was 

 settled between the United States and Spain in 1819, was adopted 

 as separating the territories of the United States on the north from 

 those of Mexico on the south ; and the latter power accordingly 

 claims as its own the whole territory west of the great dividing 

 chain of mountains, as far north as the 42d parallel of latitude. 



The Mexican government likewise endeavored to prevent the 

 evils anticipated from the presence of so many foreigners in Cali- 

 fornia, by founding new colonies of its own citizens in that country. 

 Criminals were to be transported thither ; but although many were 



