Memoirs

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  Juan Bandini letter to Juan Bautista Alvarado

  Manuscripts

  In this letter, Bandini writes to Alvarado of the poor state of the land at San Juan Capistrano. In Spanish.

  mssHM 44935

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  Memoirs and reminiscences

  Manuscripts

  Crosby writes of events in his life, beginning with his birth in New York on July 18, 1818. After spending his early days on his parents' farm, he studied law and became an attorney in 1841. In 1843, he became "Attorney of the Supreme Court of the State of New York." In this capacity, Crosby began to become aware of the tension between California and Mexico, and upon learning of the opportunities for lawyers in California, he decided to relocate there in 1849. The discovery of gold in California urged his decision. He traveled by steamship, and writes of his journey, including a stop in Cuba. He landed in Panama and traveled up the Chagres River, then across to the Pacific Ocean, where he took another steamship to San Francisco, arriving in late February, 1849. Many of the passengers had traveled to search for gold; as Crosby writes, "There was a general disposition to get away from the city, to the gold mines." Crosby prospects himself at several locations. He describes the events leading up to the California constitutional convention in Monterey, as well as details of the convention itself. He describes the convention as "a very harmonious body and I think the members only had the interest of the people at heart." Crosby also relates his experiences as part of the "Land Commission," the function of which was "to Settle Private Land Claims in California," as well as his experiences serving as an ambassador to Guatemala. Crosby claims to have been given "secret instructions" by the President to see if Guatemala might be suitable for the relocation of the recently freed American slaves, but is skeptical that this plan would work. He describes the country and its inhabitants at length, for he feels "there is a great misapprehension among our people with regard to those tropical countries." Crosby relates of the social order of San Francisco, especially events connected to "a very noted cortezan" known as "the Countess." This manuscript appears to be a copy, for it is written in several different hands, and appears to be incomplete, as it ends abruptly.

  mssHM 284

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  Sueño sobre la expedición de Sonora

  Manuscripts

  This manuscript appears to be a poem about the Spanish expedition of Sonora. Unknown author. In Spanish.

  mssHM 4053

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  Juan Bautista Talamantes letter to Fernando de la Toba

  Manuscripts

  In this letter, Talamantes acknowledges that he has received news of the death of Governor Goycoechea, and that Jose Manuel Ruiz has been named his successor. In Spanish.

  mssHM 16593

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  Notes on the establishment of San Diego

  Manuscripts

  This manuscript, whose author is unknown, describes the Spanish expedition to San Diego in the late 18th century. It may be an excerpt from a larger work. In Spanish. Also contains scholar notes (in English) regarding potential authors and details about the expedition.

  mssHM 323

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  Dell'elettricitá

  Manuscripts

  The manuscript, written in Italian by an unknown author probably in the late 18th century appears to be text copied from another manuscript and is incomplete and unfinished. The manuscript deals with the topic of electricity.

  mssHM 75079