plained, and to settle all complaints on her part in the spirit of peace and of justice which has ever characterized our intercourse with foreign nations. That disposition still exists; and whenever the authorities of Mexico shall manifest a willingness to adjust unsettled points of controversy between the two republics, and to restore an honorable peace, they will be met in a corresponding spirit.

This consummation is not to be expected, nor is our national honor to be maintained, without a vigorous prosecution of the war on our part. Without being animated by any ambitious spirit of conquest, our naval and military forces must hold the ports and territory of the enemy of which possession has been obtained by their arms. You will, therefore, under no circumstances voluntarily lower the flag of the United States, or relinquish the actual possession of Upper California. Of other points of the Mexican territory which the forces under your command may occupy, you will maintain the possession, or withdraw, as in your judgment may be most advantageous in prosecution of the war.

In regard to your intercourse with the inhabitants of the country, your views are judicious, and you will conform to the instructions heretofore given. You will exercise the rights of a belligerent; and if you find that the liberal policy of our government, in purchasing and paying for required supplies, is misunderstood, and its exercise is injurious to the public interest, you are at liberty to take them from the enemy without compensation, or pay such prices as may be deemed just and reasonable. The best policy in this respect depends on a knowledge of circumstances in which you are placed, and is left to your discretion.

The Secretary of War has ordered Colonel R. B. Mason, first United States dragoons, to proceed to California, via Panama, who will command the troops and conduct the military operations in the Mexican territory bordering on the Pacific, in the absence of Brigadier General Kearny. The commander of the naval forces will consult and co-operate with him, in his command, to the same extent as if he held a higher rank in the army. In all questions of relative rank, he is to be regarded as having only the rank of colonel.

The President has deemed it best for the public interests to invest the military officer commanding with the direction of the operations on land, and with the administrative functions of government over the people and territory occupied by us. You will relinquish to Colonel Mason, or to General Kearny, if the latter shall arrive before you have done so, the entire control over these matters, and turn over to him all papers necessary to the performance of his duties. If officers of the navy are employed in the performance of civil or military duties, you will withdraw or continue them at your discretion, taking care to put them to their appropriate duty in the squadron if the army officer commanding does not wish their services on land.

The establishment of port regulations is a subject over which it is deemed by the President most appropriate that the naval commander shall exercise jurisdiction. You will establish these and com

municate them to the military commander, who will carry them into effect so far as his co-operation may be necessary, suggesting for your consideration modifications or alterations.

The regulation of the import trade is also confided to you. The conditions under which vessels of our own citizens and of neutrals may be admitted into ports of the enemy in your possession will be prescribed by you, subject to the instructions heretofore given. To aid you, copies of instructions to the collectors in the United States, from the Treasury Department, on the same subject, are enclosed. On cargoes of neutrals imported into such ports, you may impose moderate duties, not greater in amount than those collected in the ports of the United States. The collection of these duties will be made by civil officers, to be appointed, and subject to the same rules as other persons charged with civil duties in the country. These appointments will be made by the military officers, on consultation with you.

The President directs me to impress most earnestly on the naval officers, as it is impressed on those of the army, the importance of harmony in the performance of their delicate duties while co-operating. They are arms of one body, and will, I doubt not, vie with each other in showing which can render the most efficient aid to the other in the execution of common orders, and in sustaining the national honor, which is confided to both.

You will make your communications to the department as frequent as possible.

The great distance at which your command is placed, and the impossibility of maintaining a frequent or regular communication with you, necessarily induce the department to leave much of the details of your operations to your discretion. The confident belief is entertained, that, with the general outline given in the instructions, you will pursue a course which will make the enemy sensible of our power to inflict on them the evils of war, while it will secure to the United States, if a definitive treaty of peace shall give us California, a population impressed with our justice, grateful for our clemency, and prepared to love our institutions and to honor our flag.

On your being relieved in the command of the squadron, you wil! hand your instructions to the officer relieving you.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Commodore R. F. STOCKTON,

J. Y. MASON.

Commanding United States naval forces
on the west coast of Mexico.

[No. 1.]

NAVY DEPARTMENT, August 17, 1848.

COMMODORE: The United States being in a state of war by the action of Mexico, it is desired by the prosecution of hostilities to

hasten the return of peace, and to secure it on advantageous conditions. For this purpose orders have been given to the squadron in the Pacific to take and keep possession of Upper California, especially of the ports of San Francisco, of Monterey, and of San Diego; and also, if opportunity offer and the people favor, to take possession, by an inland expedition, of San Pueblo de los Angeles, near San Diego.

On reaching the Pacific, your first duty will be to ascertain if these orders have been carried into effect. If not you will take immediate possession of Upper California, especially of the three ports of San Francisco, Monterey, and San Diego, so that if the treaty of peace shall be made on the basis of the uti possidetis, it may leave California to the United States.

The relations to be maintained with the people of Upper California are to be as friendly as possible. The flag of the United States must be raised, but under it the people are to be allowed as much liberty of self-government as is consistent with the general occupation of the country by the United States. You, as commander-inchief of the squadron, may exercise the right to interdict the entrance of any vessel or articles that would be unfavorable to our success in the war into any of the enemy's ports which you may Occupy. With this exception, all United States vessels and merchandise must be allowed, by the local authorities of the ports of which you take possession, to come and go free of duty; but on foreign vessels and goods reasonable duties may be imposed, cellected, and disposed of by the local authorities, under your general superintendence.

A military force has been directed by the Secretary of War to proceed to the western coast of California for the purpose of co-operation with the navy, in taking possession of and holding the ports and positions which have been specified, and for otherwise operating against Mexico.

A detachment of these troops, consisting of a company of artillery, under command of Captain Tompkins, has sailed in the United States ship Lexington. A regiment of volunteers, under Colonel Stevenson, will soon sail from New York, and a body of troops under Brigadier General Kearny may reach the coast over Santa Fe. Copies of so much of the instructions to Captain Tompkins and General Kearny as relates to objects requiring co-operation are herewith enclosed.

By article six of the General Regulations for the Army, (edition of 1825,) which is held by the War Department to be still in force, and of which I enclose you a copy, your commission places you, in point of precedence, on occasions of ceremony or upon meetings for consultation, in the class of major general, but no officer of the army or navy, whatever may be his rank, can assume any direct command, independent of consent, over an officer of the other service, excepting only when land forces are especially embarked in vessels of war to do the duty of marines.

The President expects and requires, however, the most cordial and effectual co-operation between the officers of the two services, in taking possession of and holding the ports and positions of the

enemy, which are designated in the instructions to either or both. branches of the service, and will hold any commander of either branch to a strict responsibility for any failure to preserve harmony and secure the objects proposed.

The land forces which have been, or will be sent to the Pacific, may be dependent upon the vessels of your squadron for transportation from one point to another, and for shelter and protection in case of being compelled to abandon positions on the coast. It may be necessary also to furnish transportation for their supplies, or to furnish the supplies themselves, by the vessels under your direction.

In all such cases you will furnish all the assistance in your power which will not interfere with objects that, in your opinion, are of greater importance.

You will, taking care, however, to advise with any land officer of high rank (say of the rank of brigadier general) who may be at hand, make the necessary regulations for the ports that may be occupied.

Having provided for the full possession of Upper California, the next point of importance is the Gulf of California. From the best judgment I can form, you should take possession of the port of Guaymas. The progress of our arms will probably be such, that, in conjunction with the land forces, you will be able to hold possession of Guaymas, and so to reduce all the country north of it on the gulf.

As to the ports south of it, especially Mazatlan and Acapulco, it is not possible to give you special instructions. Generally, you will take possession of, or blockade, according to your best judgment, all Mexican ports, as far as your means allow; but south of Guaymas, if the provinces rise up against the central government, and manifest friendship towards the United States, you may, according to your discretion, enter into a temporary agreement of neutrality. But this must be done only on condition that our ships have free access to their ports, and equal commercial rights with those of other nations; that you are allowed to take in water and fuel; to purchase supplies; to go to and from shore without obstruction, as in time of peace; and that the provinces, which are thus neutral, shall absolutely abstain from, contributing towards the continuance of the war by the central government of Mexico against the United States.

Generally, you will exercise the rights of a belligerent, and bear in mind that the greater advantages you obtain, the more speedy and the more advantageous will be the peace.

Should Commodore Biddle be in the Pacific, off the shores of Mexico, at the time you arrive there, you will report yourself to him; and as long as he remains off the coast of Mexico, you will act under his direction in concert with him, communicating to him these instructions.

The Savannah, the Warren, and the Levant, ought soon to return. If you hear of peace between the United States and Mexico, you will at once send them home.

If war continues, yon will send them home singly, or in company, at the earliest day they can be spared. The Savannah will go to New York, and the Warren and Levant to Norfolk.

Very respectfully, yours,

Com. W. B. SHU BRICK,

GEORGE BANCROFT.

Appointed to command the United States naval forces
in the Pacific ocean.

1. Copy of a letter from Major General Scott to Colonel S. W. Kearny, United States army, dated May 31, 1846.

2. Copy of a letter from the Secretary of War to Colonel S. W. Kearny, dated June 3, 1846.

3. Copy of a letter from Major General Scott to Lieutenant C. D. Tompkins, dated June 20, 1846.

4. Copy of extract from article 6 of the General Regulations of the Army, edition of 1825.

No. 10.

NAVY DEPARTMENT, November 30, 1846.

COMMODORE: Your despatches, Nos. 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115, and letters from Commodore Perry of the 15th, 16th, and 21st November, have been received.

The information communicated has been very satisfactory, especially that contained in your No. 106, of the 7th October, 1846. The successful operations in the Tabasco river reflect great credit on the officers and men charged with its execution. In this bold incursion so far into the interior, the skill and courage displayed, the humane and generous course of conduct observed, and the sweeping capture or destruction of the enemy's shipping, have given the liveliest satisfaction to the President and to the depart

ment.

The success of your expedition against Tampico entitles you and those under your command to the thanks of the department.

Your course in sending Commodore Perry to New Orleans, and the measures taken by him and the officers of the army in co-operation with him, as detailed in his letters, are approved.

Your determination to hold possession of Tampico meets my earnest wishes. It is difficult to estimate the important consequences which will result, directly and indirectly, from its occupation in the prosecution of the war. The Secretary of war will immediately issue the necessary orders to furnish an adequate garrison and the arms to secure it.