APPENDIX. 365 
It is useless to contrast the trifling result produced by the missionaries in Cali- 
fornia after a century's labors, with that of the missionaries in the Sandwich 
Islands, after but twenty-five years. Yet we cannot help noticing that, while in 
the Islands there are seventeen thousand persons in the church, and eighteen 
thousand in the schools, the total number of reclaimed Indians in California is not 
more than eighteen thousand six hundred and eighty-three, and those, even, are 
generally unable to read ; — without books, bibles, or paper, and altogether inca- 
pable of self-government. The ministers of both creeds have, doubtless, been 
zealous in spirit, but certainly with very unequal success. 
You may now very reasonably ask me, (after having perused all these details,) 
of what interest are they, either to yourself or our country] and why I should direct 
your attention to a portion of the territory of a neighboring power with which we 
are at peace, and likely to remain so 1 
I trust sincerely that these pacific relations may long continue. It is the inte- 
rest of both Powers that they should do so, and especially that of Mexico. An 
ardent friendship between us, founded on mutual faith and similar republican insti- 
tutions, cannot fail to affect the destinies of this Continent ; and I trust you wiU 
not imagine, therefore, that I am pointing out the treasures of the Californias for 
the purpose of alluring people to the enterprise of another Texas. But the 
condition of Mexico is extremely unsettled. It is impossible to declare or imagine 
what will be the ultimate issue of the continual revolutions, that have torn the 
vitals of that beautiful country for twenty years. She may consolidate her prov- 
inces, she may adopt a Federal Government, or she may dismember her Empire, 
each State setting up a separate and independent rule for herself ; but, in any event, 
it is proper that we should not so cautiously watch her, as watch Great Britain in re- 
gard to her. Mexico partakes in the Spanish pride of territorial dominion and reten- 
tion of her soil ; but she is in extreme difficulties. She owes (we have seen,) a 
debt of ^60,000,000 to England ; and to the United States a debt of more than 
$2,000,000. Her maritime revenues are m^ortgaged for an internal debt of $18,- 
550,000 ; and, in all, she owes nearly eighty-five millions, England being always 
the largest creditor, to the extent, perhaps, of three-fourths of the whole. 
How is she to pay England ? To liquidate a portion of the debt and interest due 
the United States, (of little more than $200,000,) she was obliged to resort to a 
forced loan from her citizens, as you have recently observed. Suppose that a dis- 
memberment takes place, or, that England, after accumulating her claims and 
WTath, until she thinks the amount and energy sufficient for all exigencies, sud- 
denly orders her Minister in Mexico to demand payment or his passports — what 
must inevitably be the result ? I will tell you in the language of Forbes, in order 
to show that this is no vain imagination of the moment excited in an American 
fancy. The value of California is known and appreciated in England. 
" California," says our author, at page 146,* " is quite a distinct country 
from Mexico, and has nothing in common with it, except that the present inhabit- 
ants are of the same family ; it is therefore to be apprehended, that on any cause 
of quai-rel between the two countries, it will be apt to separate itself from the 
parent State." 
This shows you the possibility of a disunion, without any very violent effort or 
loss on either side ; but, at page 152, he boldly broaches the idea of cancelling the 
English debt, by a transfer of California to her creditors. " This," says he, 
" would be a wise measure on the part of Mexico, if the Government could be 
* Fotbes's California, London, 1839. Mr. Forbes is, or was, until recently, British Consul in one of the porU 
on the West Coast of Mexico. 
