pose of inspecting the troops and looking into both the civil and military affairs in that quarter, and giving such orders and instructions as I might deem necessary, I have the honor to make the following report:

The battalion of Mormons, under Lieutenant Colonel Cooke, encamped near the Ciudad de los Angeles, as might be expected after their long and arduous march from Missouri, are in a miserable condition for the want of clothing; their arms and accoutrements are in good serviceable order; they are daily undergoing a course of instruction by Lieutenant Colonel Cooke, who exhibi's a praiseworthy zeal in his efforts to perfect them in a knowledge of the drill and camp duties.

I saw the battalion go through the manual and the firings, without cartridges, having on hand only thirty-one rounds. Company "C" first dragoons, stationed at the Angeles, is inefficient for the want of horse equipage; their saddles and bridles are entirely worn out, and no material can be obtained in the country to repair them; their carbines, many of them, are much damaged by rough service, and the company are in want of a speedy supply of percussion caps, carbine and pistol cartridges. The horses that they have received from the late California battalion will fill up the company in point of numbers, but they, as well as those heretofore on hand, are the California horses, which a few days' active service soon knock up. My letter to Captain Turner, acting assistant adjutant general, of the 10th instant, and its accompanying papers, will have informed you of my official acts at the Ciudad de los Angeles up to that date.

I failed to obtain from Lieutenant Colonel Fremont any record or papers of any description touching the civil affairs of the country during the time he claimed to be governor of California, and only received the papers, &c., mentioned in the accompanying list, marked A, purporting to be a few of the papers that he could then find of the California battalion of volunteers whilst under his command. The papers herewith, marked from 1 to 4, inclusive, is the correspondence between Lieutenant Colonel Fremont and myself on the subject of the records. Whilst at the Ciudad de los Angeles, I learned that the master or supercargo of certain vessels had been buying up the claims of individual members of the California battalion of volunteers on the United States government, as certified to by the staff officers of that corps, at a discount of about 30 per cent., for the purpose of paying custom-house dues at San Pedro. Upon making inquiry of Mr. Alexander, the custom-house officer at San Pedro, whom I fell in with at the Angeles, he informed me that he had been instructed by Colonel Fremont to receive such certificates, called "government payment," in payment of custom-house dues.

The paper marked B, is the original order to Mr. Alexander to receive the above-mentioned certificates. Mr. Alexander has, in accordance with said instructions, about seventeen hundred dollars of that kind of paper, in payment of duties at his port.

That it may more fully appear what is the character of the certificates given by the staff officers of the California battalion, so called-for the corps has refused to be mustered into service, and therefore have never been a corps lawfully in the pay of the United States-I have made a memorandum of some of the certificates in the hands of Mr. Alexander, which he has received in payment for duties, and some I copied in full. (See paper marked C.)

The Indians have been committing extensive depredations upon the persons and property of the citizens, both above and below the Ciudad

de los Angeles. The papers marked D, E, and F, will show the steps I deemed it proper to take while in the south, to check their invasion of the country. I herewith enclose the original order, marked G, from Lieutenant Colonel Fremont, of the 15th March, 1847, to Captain Richard Owens, of the California battalion of volunteers, directing him not to obey the order of any officer that did not emanate from him, Lieutenant Colonel Fremont, nor to turn over the public arms, &c, to any corps without his special order. I received from Lieutenant Colonel Fremont the lieutenant colonel's reply thereto, dated on the next day, which I also enclose, marked H and I.

From the papers purporting to be a portion of the records of the battalion of California volunteers, put into my hands by Lieutenant Colonel Fremont, through his adjutant, I made a copy of some of his orders, &c., which is enclosed herewith, marked K.

The list marked L will show the amount of property pertaining to the quartermaster's department, turned over by J. R. Snyder, quartermaster California battalion, to Lieutenant Davidson, 1st dragoons. There were other horses to be turned over, but which had not been delivered at the date of the said list.

I am, respectfully, your obedient servant,

Brig. Gen. S. W. KEARNY,

R. B. MASON,

Colonel 1st Dragoons.

U. S. Army, Com'g 10th Military Department,

Governor of California.

HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT,
Monterey, California, May 30,

1847.

SIR: I enclose herewith an extract of a letter to me from the Secretary of War, of January 11, 1847, in which you will find directions that our flag be hoisted in Lower California, and actual possession taken and continuously held of some place or places in it, and our civil jurisdiction there asserted and upheld.

I also enclose a copy of letters to Commodores Biddle and Shubrick, of April 27 and May 24, with other papers from Captain Montgomery, United States navy, who, in the months of March and April, took possession of San Lucas, San José, and La Paz, (being on the cape and eastern shore of the Gulf of California,) with the sailors under his command, in the ship Portsmouth.

In compliance with the instructions of January 11 from the Secretary of War, I have now to direct that you, with two companies of your regiment, now under your command, taking six months' provisions with them, embark on board the ship Lexington, Commander Bailey, who is directed by Commodore Biddle to carry you and your command to the Gulf of California, and to remain there with you. Upon your arrival in the gulf, you will, after having consulted freely with Commander Bailey, decide where to land your command, and establish yourself with it. I recommend that it should be at La Paz or San José, or at both places; but of this you will be better able to judge after your arrival there, and ascertaining the number of the inhabitants, &c., &c., of the country.

It is understood that the people of Lower California have not the power,

if they possessed the disposition, to resist your command; but you must. not on that account allow the discipline of your soldiers to relax, but hold them at all times ready to resist or make an attack. The best means of preserving peace is to be prepared for war.

I have most strongly to urge upon you the necessity of the utmost cordiality on the part of our land forces towards those of our navy, in the joint service on the coast of California. Reciprocity may be confidently expected; and, towards that end, frequent conferences between commanders of the two arms are recommended. Harmony in co-operation, and success cannot but follow. You will, as often as opportunities offer, report the state and condition of your command and of affairs in Lower California to Colonel Mason, 1st dragoons, who succeeds, on my departure from here, (to-morrow,) to the command of the tenth military department. I enclose a copy of instructions to the collectors of ports in California, dated March 29, from Commodore James Biddle, commanding the Pacific squadron, which you will see are enforced at the ports under your control. The collectors of the ports will be appointed by yourself, and the customs received will be subject to your orders.

The money should go towards paying the collectors moderate salaries— say about $600 or $700 per year-and for such other purposes as may be found necessary.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
S. W. KEARNY,
Brigadier General.

Lieut. Col. H. S. BURTON,

7th New York Volunteers, Santa Barbara.

True copy:

H. S. TURNER, Captain, &c., &

LA PAZ BAJA, CALIFORNIA,

September 27, 147.

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 3d instant, transmitting forms for the guidance of the collectors of customs in this peninsua, and a circular for the collectors and alcaldes.

I cannot send you accounts of the customs received in ths country during the second quarter of 1847, because none were received. From the time the people here capitulated with Captain Montgonery, of the United States ship Portsmouth, unil my arrival, little or nothing was done by the public authorities. The were afraid to do anything, because there was no American force presento sustain them.

The collector at this port, Don Anel Lebriga, and the collector at San José, Don Miguel Choza, each recei a salary of seven hundred dollars per year, provided that the revenues eceived will permit of the expendi

ture.

The former secretary of the govenor, Don Teofile Echevarria, still continues in my employment, with aalary of seven hundred dollars per year, under the same promise with e collectors. This man gives me great assistance.

1 am obliged to employ an interpter, who is paid fifty dollars per month.

By the many complaints that I have received respecting the alcaldes of the country, I was induced to create a juez de romera justancia, to act as a check upon them.

Surgeon Perry has been directed to perform the duty; and the effect, thus far, has been beneficial. Of course, he receives no salary from the civil government.

There is a large amount of tobacco and Mexican sealed paper in the custom-house at this place. Some time since, I directed the collector to sell the tobacco, and account for the sale in his account for the current quarter.

By the politeness of Fraz. Ramirez y Arollono, padre presidente in this peninsula, I have been able to form a tolerably accurate estimate of the amount of population in Lower California. I give it in the different jurisdictions:

C these, 200 are Indians, very much scattered, in the portion of the courry between an east and west line passing through San Ignacio and the fontier of Alta California. The amount of population is 2,000 Californias and 1,000 Indians.

The stance from La Paz to San Antonio

....

18 leagues.

to La Salvada

La Salada is situated near the bay o Magdalena. This bay is described asbeing very beautiful, containing plenty of water for all kinds of vessels, and secure in all weather.

During the months of October, November, and December, it is much resorted to by whaling vessels for thepurpose of taking whales. The distance from La Pas to Loretto...

80 leagues.

The distances have been given tone by Don Francisco Palaous Neir, and a late governor of this country.

The proceeds of the pearl fisher are small at present, on account of the state of our relations with Mexò. This year they amount to about $4,000. In former years they wermuch greater, frequently $30,000 or $40,000 per year. The divers arendians from the Zopex tribe, in Sonora. The months for diving are .ne, July, August, and September.

In my next report I will endeavor to give you some information respecting the interior of this country and its resources. At present, I have none that is accurate.

The amount of exports from this country, in time of peace, is about $125,000 per year; this includes gold, silver, pearls, cheese, panocha, hides, and wine; and the amount of imports per year is nearly the same. This year the imports and exports will fall far short of this, as the Mexican ports are closed.

The country is very healthy; subject to none of the diseases of a tropical climate.

I am, sir, with much respect, your obedient servant,

H. S. BURTON,
Lieutenant Colonel New York Volunteers.

H. W. HALLECK, Esq.,
Lieutenant of Engineers and Secretary of Sta'e,

A true copy:

Monterey, Alta California.

W. T. SHERMAN,

First Lieutenant 3d Artillery, A. A. A. G.

Correspondence of Colonel Mason-California.

Colonel Mason to General Jones, with correspondence, June 18, 1847. Same to same, with correspondence, June 21, 1847.

July 21, 1847.
September 18, 1847.

Same to same,

Samne to same,

Same to same,

Same to same,

Same to same,

Correspondence of Colonel Mason from November 11, 1847, to January 27, 1848.

Colonel Mason to General Jones, with correspondence, April, 1848.

Colonel Mason to Secretary of War, with correspondence, April 15, 1848. Colonel Mason to General Jones, with correspondence, April 18, 1848. Same to same, with correspondence, August 16, 1848.

Same to same, August 17, 1848.

Same to same, with correspondence, August 18, 1848.

Correspondence of Colonel Mason from May 22 to August 29, 1848.
Colonel Mason to General Jones, August 19, 1848.

Correspondence of Colonel Mason from April 18 to August 18, 1848.
Colonel Mason to General Jones, with correspondence, August 23, 1848.
Same to same, with correspondence, August 25, 1848.

Same to same, November 24, 1848.

Same to same, December 27, 1848.

August 28, 1848.

Same to same, with correspondence, December 28, 1848.

Same to same, March 28, 1849.

Correspondence of Colonel Mason from August 7 to April 9, 1849.