mules; but Young had lost confidence in his men, and thought he would be fortunate to get safely home with his company by the aid of the Americans. He intended, however, to come back the following year.[1] There are several men named as being in California from New Mexico this year, some of whom may have belonged to this party; but Young and Higgins are the only ones known here later, unless Kit Carson may have made his first visit at this time.
Of the foreign residents who came to California before 1826, about fifty are mentioned in the records of 1826-30, a dozen or more having died or left the country. Some of the more prominent, like Hartnell, Spence, Cooper, and Gale, have been noticed in connection with commercial and maritime topics in the preceding chapter. All, including new-comers, were in this period as a class law-abiding citizens of considerable influence in their new home. Many were baptized, married, and naturalized. Space does not permit the introduction of personal experiences and achievements here, but the reader is referred to the biographic sketches presented elsewhere in this work.[2]
In respect of general policy toward foreigners,[3] there was little or no tendency in California to exclusiveness or oppression in 1826, as has been seen from the commercial record, and especially from the privileges allowed to Captain Beechey, in contrast with the treatment of Vancouver at an earlier date and under another régime. Yet the Mexican laws were strict in requiring foreigners to show passports, and submit to surveillance; hence the precautions taken in the case of Jedediah Smith and his company; hence certain orders for the arrest of deserting sailors.
- ↑ Young to Cooper. Vallejo, Doc., MS., xxx. 135.
- ↑ See alphabetical register of pioneers at end of vol. ii.-v. Also a list of pioneers who came before 1830, at the end of vol. ii. of this work.
- ↑ Aug., Dec. 1826, orders of sup. govt against admission of foreigners without passports circulated by gov. and comandantes. S. José, Arch., MS., vi. 25; Dept. Rec., MS., iv. 25.
