every controversy between the Mexican authorities and American squatters and adventurers.
A few days after this report. Commodore Jones, also a Virginian, was dispatched with a squadron to the Pacific. He was specially instructed to keep one or more vessels occasionally or constantly cruising upon the coast, and within the Gulf of California, and the officers were " to pay particular attention to the examination of the bays and harbors they may vdsit, and to lay down their positions correctly." The subsequent conquest of Cahfornia bears testimony to the foresight of Messrs, Tyler and Upshur.
It is not to be supposed that Commodore Jones was per- mitted to depart without being acquainted with the wishes and hopes of his employers. He undoubtedly well under- REVIEW OF THE MEXICAN WAR. S3 stood, although not formally instructed, that he was to avail himself of any good opportunity of getting a foot- hold in California.
In May, 1842, the Mexican Secretary of State sent a circular to the diplomatic corps, declaring that the Mexi- can Government protested against the aid afforded to the Texans by citizens of the United States With the toleration of their own Government. At the same time the Secre- tary addressed a letter to Mr. Webster, American Secre tary of State, formally protesting against the allowancv. by the Federal Government of the violation, on the par.
of its citizens, of the obligations of neutrality in the opei aid afforded to the insurgents of Texas. These two let- ters were published in a Mexican journal, and fell into the hands of Commodore Jones at Callao, together with a Boston newspaper, giving from a New Orleans paper one of those common lies about English interference, which had for years been plentifully manufactured by the parti- sans of annexation.