ests and foothills in quest of slumbering resources.
The Sierra could not have long retained her secret. ^°
The discovery by Marshall was the first that can
be called a California gold discovery, aside from the
petty placers found in the southern part of the state.
It is not impossible that white men may have seen
gold in the Sierra foothills before him. This region
had been traversed by trappers, by emigrants, and
even by men of science; but if they saw gold, either
they did not know it or they did not reveal it. No
sooner was the discovery announced than others
claimed to have been previously cognizant of the fact;
but such statements are not admissible. Most of
them are evident fabrications; as for the rest, not one
has been proved. They were made in the first in-
stance, as a rule, to deprive Marshall of the fame of
his discovery, and they failed.
^ConsDicuous among those not before mentioned are the opinions general of Arthur l>obba, Samuel Heame, Jonathan Carver, Duflot de Mofras, CataU, Pickett, Bidwell, Larkin, Bandini, Osio; the statements of Antonio de Alcedo, Alvarado, Vallejo, Jedediah Smith, Blake, Hastings, and others. Herewith I give a list of authorities on the subject. 0)iio, HiMoria de California^ MS., 606; Col, Depi. St Pap,, viii. 6, 16, etc.; Larkin's Off. Cor., MS., i. 96; Ban- diiii^ nisi. C\il,, MS., 17-18; BidweWs Col. ISU-S, MS., 214; Vall^o, Doc, MS., i. 140-1; Dfp, Bee, MS., ix. 136; Vallejo, Notas nistdricas, MS.. 35; Cly man* a Diary, MS.; Dams' Glimpses, MS., 149-50; SanDieyo, Arch, Index, MS., 92; CasUinares, CoL Doc, Col,, MS., 23; Alvarado, HiH. CaL, MS., i. 77, and iv. 161; Galindo, Apuntes, MS., 68-9; JSuller'a Pera. Ohs„ MS., 171 ; JIatVs Sonora, MS., 252; Castroville Argus, Sept. 7, 1872; Bobimton's Life in Col,, 190; Browne's Min, Bes., 13-16; Monterey Herald, Oct. 15, 1875; Bry att*:s Cat,, 451; M4z., Mem, Bel., 1835, no. 6; Mo/ras, Or. et CaL, I 137; S. F. Aha Vol., Mar. 28, 1857, and Jan. 28 and May 18, 1878; S, F. Herald, Juue 1, 1855; Hesperian Mag., vii. 560; Drake's Voy.; Sheltwke's Voy,; Dobhs* Hudson's Bay; Hardy's Travels in Mex,, 331-2; Dunbar's Boniance of the Age, 93-4; Hughes' CaX., 119; Mendocino Democrat, Feb. 1, 1872; Lake Co^tntyBee, Mar. 18, 1873; Venegas, Hist, Ccd., i. 177-8; Antioch Ledger, Feb. 3, 1872; HiUelTs Mining, 10-11; Bvffnm's Six Months, 45-6; Widkcr's Nar.^ II; Merced Argvs, Sept. 2, 1874; Croni»e's Nat. Wealth, 109; Hanes' Col, Mining CaL, I I; 8. F. BuUetin, July 12 and Oct. 1, 1860, Aug. 14, 1865; TuthUVs HisL Col., 231 ; Cray's Hist, Or., 364; Dana's Two Years, 324; Bed Bluff lnd.,Z9iVk, 17, 1866; Hutchings' Mag., v. 352; Hunt's Mer. Mng., xxiv. 768, xxxL 385-6, xxxiv. 631-2; Cat. Chronicle, Jan. 28, 1856; Dwinelle, Ad., 1866, 28; Beese Biv, Beveille, Aug. 10, 1865, and Jan. 29, 1872; Carson's State Beg., Jan. 27, 1^2; Elko Independent, Jan. 15, 1870; <S^oc Union, Juno 7^ 1861; Scala, Nouv, An, des Voy., clxiv. 388-90; Quarterly Bev., no. 87, 1850, 416; Oomez, Lo queSabe, MS., 228-9; Hughes' California, 1 19; Carson's Bee, 58-9; Boberts' Bec„ MS., 10; Valle, Doc., MS., 57; Dppt. St Pap., MS., xiL •3-5; Betpttna, Doc,, MS., 4-5; Los AngtUs, Arch,, MS., v. 331.
