a civil ad- ministration Such a Government should be established under your protection.'' Sloat had retired on account of ill health, and been succeeded by Commodore Stockton who, long before the receipt of "this despatch, issued a proclamation making " Known to all men," that the terri- tory known as Upper and Lower California, is a territory of the United States, under the name of the territory of California. ''I do, by these presents," continues the pro- clamation, " further order and decree, that the Government of the said temtory of California shall be, until altered by the proper authority of the United States, con- stituted in manner and form as follows ;" and then follows a form of Government consisting of a Governor, Secre- tary, Legislative Council, &c.
On the 17 th August, Commodore Shubrick was sent to relieve Sloat, from whom not a word had yet been received. He was ordered to take immediate possession of Upper California, especially of the three ports of San Francisco, Monterey, and San Diego, if not already cap- tured,—and also, " to take possession, by an inland expe- dition, of Pueblos de los Angelos." All four places were captured before a line was received from Washington, and Pueblos de los Angelos was taken by an inland expedition four days before the date