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secretly engaged at the mission in refining gold and silver, because the father had many flasks of quicksil- ver, as well as instruments and materials for refining those metals.
Jedediah Smith is accredited with havino- found placer gold near Mono lake, on the way back from California, whither he had led a party from the Salt Lake country in 1825. Thomas Sprague, writing to Edmond Randolph, in 1860, states that he was well aware of the fact, and that the spot where the gold was found was on the route to Salt lake, and east by north from Mono lake. Quite a quantity of this gold, Smith brought back with him to the American Fur Company's encampment on Green river. His partners were so pleased with his success that they induced him to return to the gold field, in which attempt he lost his life. The defeat of the party by Indians dis- couraged the company, and they abandoned their search for gold. Mr Sprague's statement as to the route of Smith to and from California is only partially correct.
As further evidence that gold was believed to exist in California, may be mentioned certain laws and reg- ulations framed by the Mexican government. Refer- ring to the Vallejo Coleccion de Documentos, we find that on the 19th of July, 1828, President Guadalupe Vic- toria transmitted to the governor of California a decree of the Mexican congress equally applicable to all the Mexican states and territories. All previous decrees prohibiting the export of gold and silver bullion were revoked, and states were permitted to collect duties. Bars, quoits, and rails must be numbered and stamped with weight and fineness. Another decree, of the 13th of September, lays down the rules for the expor- tation of gold and silver bullion. Permits might be obtained by presenting petition and invoices at the custom-house. Then the formalities prescribed for the authorities of the custom-house are given at great length, besides a number of stipulations and
