6 HAKE’S GUIDE TO documents in the government offices in the city of Mexico. Frederic Hall, Esq., of San Jose, has col lected and woven these fragments into a connected narrative in his “ Histoky of San Jose and Suk- eodndings ”; a work which we recommend as of great value to those who desire a reliable, detailed history of the early settlement of this part of Califor nia, both by the Mexicans and Americans, or a more complete and extended statement of its resources, climate, etc., than we have room for here, and as es pecially valuable on account of the clear and concise statement of the Mexican laws which once governed the territory, and the laws regulating the founding of Pueblos. It is, in fact, the only printed work for sale containing these old laws, under which the titles to most of our real estate had their origin. To it we are indebted for the following brief summary and sev eral extracts elsewhere in this work : At the time our city was founded, California, in common with all Mexico, was a province of Spain. The first house was erected by Mexicans, subject to the Governor of California appointed by the Viceroy of Mexico, who himself was subject to Charles IV of Spain. At this time the Presidio at San Francisco had been established but about one year, and the Mission of Santa Clara only ten months. With the exception of these and a few stations of the same char acter further south, none but Indians dwelt in all Up per California. The site first selected for the town
