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may rejoice that they were there, and people of other nationalities feel glad or sorry, according as their sympathies may direct them, but in the light of events as they occurred, who can say that the Alta Californians
did not play an important part in the history of North America? In justice, not anybody.” But neither thought nor care did these Alta Californians give to international jealousies or to national necessities. They only knew that they had found a land of sweet delights, where a maximum of pleasure attended a minimum of toil. The restrictions of government rested lightly on these happy people, and the offices of that day, except those of Governor and Alcalde, were more or less of an ornamental nature, carrying with them certain honors and precedence. There was much official ceremony, and courtly manners were
