Beschreibung:

CALIFORNIA]. Coleccion de los principales trabajos en que se ha ocupado la junta nombrada para meditar y proponer al Supremo Gobierno los medios mas necesarios para promover el progreso de la cultura y civilizacion de los territorios de la Alta de la Baja Califomia . [Mexico City: Mariano Arevalo], 1827.
CALIFORNIA]. Coleccion de los principales trabajos en que se ha ocupado la junta nombrada para meditar y proponer al Supremo Gobierno los medios mas necesarios para promover el progreso de la cultura y civilizacion de los territorios de la Alta de la Baja Califomia . [Mexico City: Mariano Arevalo], 1827. 8 pamphlets bound in one, as issued. 8 o (197 x 144 mm). Four folding tables. (Some pale marginal staining at beginning.) Contemporary plain wrappers (some pale staining). ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS IN CALIFORNIA HISTORY: the result of the two-year study by the official "Committee for the Development of the Californias." FIRST EDITION, scarce complete with eight parts. "Covers the ambitious grand strategy of the Junta de Fomento de Californias looking to California colonization and the establishing at Monterey of a commercial capital to dominate the whole Pacific trade" (Howes). The growing Anglo-Saxon population on the Columbia River prompted Mexico to form this Junta. The pamphlets comprise: 1) Replies to specific questions as to the extent of the Russian and Anglo-American activity and Mexico's own establishment there. 2) A plan for the administration of the California missions. 3) A plan for opening California to foreigners to encourage colonization there, including a diagram for surveying grants of land. This was the basis for the California land-grant laws that remained in effect until the end of Mexican power in California. 4) A similar plan for subsidized colonization by Mexican nationals. 5) A proposed general system of laws for the better government of California. 6) A plan for the province's rapid mercantile development. 7) a proposed project for establishing direct trade between Monterey and the Pacific, as well as with the United States and British trade in those regions. 8) Proposed articles for a private "Compania Asiatico-Mexicana" to implement the above. Though not made directly into law, the Junta's plans served as a primary document from which the laws of California were drawn. Bancroft, California III:3-6, 21-23; Barrett 1355; Cowan I, pp 124-136; Howes C-45 ("d" and not mentioning the eighth pamphlet); Libros Californianos p.20; Streeter sale IV:2462.