and House of Representatives. The governor is appointed by the president of the United States for the term of four years; the legislative assembly is elected by the people. Every white male inhabitant 21 years of age, and a citizen of the United States, is a qualified elector.

This territory was separated from Oregon in 1853, and constituted a distinct territory.

CALIFORNIA.

CALIFORNIA has recently become one of the United States. A part of the country was discovered as early as 1542, by a Spaniard named Cobrillo; and its northern section was visited for the first time by foreigners in 1578, when Sir Francis Drake, then at the head of an expedition from England, gave to this region the name of New Albion. The Spaniards planted colonies upon its sea coast in 1768, from which period, until 1836, the territory was a province of Mexico. In the latter year a revolution occurred. The people, after having frequently compelled the Mexican governors and other officials to abandon their posts, declared themselves independent, and undertook to organize new political institutions. Several weak and ineffectual attempts to regain absolute control were made from time to time by the Mexicans, until the year 1846. In July of that year the port of Monterey, a central point on the Pacific coast of the state, was seized, in the name of the United States, by a naval force under Commodore Sloat, who at once unfurled the American flag, and established a provisional government. At that epoch, the administration of the affairs of the territory was in the hands of a civil governor and a military commandant, both natives of California, but holding commissions from the President of Mexico. In 1848 the discovery of a

gold "placer" at Columa, (Sutter's Mills,) and the ascertained reality of its extraordinary richness, followed immediately by further and equally surprising developments, startled the whole civilized world, and a tide of immigration began to flow in from every quarter, with a rapidity and volume unparalleled in the history of nations. The population forthwith attained the required number for the formation of a distinct state. The inhabitants prepared and submitted to Congress the draught of a constitution; and in September, 1850, California was admitted into full membership as one of the United States.

BOUNDARIES AND EXTENT.

By the constitution, adopted by the people in November, 1849, and by the act of Congress consequent thereon, the limits of California are established as follows: Commencing at latitude 42° north, and longitude 120° west; thence running south on said line of longitude till it intersects the 39th degree of north latitude; thence in a direct course south-easterly to the River Colorado; thence down the channel of said river to the boundary between Mexico and the United States; thence along said boundary to the Pacific Ocean, and into the same three English miles; thence north-westerly, in the direction of the Pacific coast, to the original parallel of 42°; and, finally, along this line to the point of beginning. It lies between 320 and 42° north latitude; and its extremes of longitude, owing to its angular position,

embrace an extent of about 100,-its eastern point being at 114° 30′, and the western at 124° 30′, although the average distance of the eastern boundary from the sea coast, and, consequently, the average breadth of the state, is but 212 miles. Its length from north to south is 764 miles; estimated area, 188,500 square miles. It is bounded north by the territory of Oregon, east by that of Utah, south by Lower California, and west by the Pacific Ocean.

RIVERS.

The waters of California partake of those varied peculiarities which mark its terrene surface and its atmospheric properties. The sea and its numerous contiguous bays and estuaries, the inland lakes, the rivers and their countless tributaries, are all subjects of speculative interest. They yield abundantly almost every description of fish found in like latitudes, besides many kinds which are either unknown or not common in other regions. Some of the rivers are navigable many miles from their mouths; others flow over precipices and ledges, constituting falls or rapids, which the industry of man may hereafter convert into valuable mill sites. The sea shores are prolific in marine plants, which, at some future day, will doubtless be applied to useful purposes. Immense quantities of kelp are thrown up by the waves an article that now forms the most available material for the manufacture of iodine, and is also excellent as a compost for arid soils, like those