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Show 296 PERSONAL ADVENTURES any, names of artists favourably known in Europe or the United States. The risk of so long a voyage appeared so great, that few persons in the receipt of a decent income could be prevailed upon to run it. During my residence in San Francisco, General Smith, in coming up the coast to supersede Colonel lVIason as Governor of California, issued a proclamation, to the effect that no foreigners would be allowed to work in the mines. This, however, had but little effect; and hundreds flocked daily into San FranciRco from Chili, Peru, and the Sandwich Islands. The influx of stranO'ers created 0 great discontent, both in the "diggins" and the larger towns, as the enormous increase of the population interfered everywhere with the interests of the A1nericans. On the North and South American Forks, the Oregon men, and some of the Yankees, who had arrived by 'vater, came to the detern1ination to drive them from that rnine. A meeting was held at Sutter's lVIill, to decide upon the most sum· mary m.eans to be adopted for the accom· IN CALIFORNIA. 297 plishment of their object. The strongest arguments were used on the occasion in favour of their immediate expulsion ; the Chilians, Sonoreans, Peruvians, and Mexicans, being more particularly designated as having no right to work in the mines. Some of the pArsons present at the meeting objected to this rneasure being carried out; amongst whom, I believe, were several traders. This is not surprising, however; the latter regarding it as a matter of indifference whether they dealt with Yankees or Californians, provided they could , sell their goods. The meeting resolved to give all the above denominations of foreigners warning to leave, in the course of the day ; and, in case they failed to do so, to drive them away by force of arms. The intimation was given, and these unfortunate persons immediately took their departure. Some of the miners, however, not satisfied with this wholesale proscription, endeavoured to drive away the Europeans also. There were, in a retired part of these " diggins'' at the time, four Frenchmen; three of whom, apprehen-o 5 |