Continuation of the proceedings of a board of inquiry. LA PAZ, LOWER CALIFORNIA, August 15, 1848. The board met pursuant to adjournment, and proceeded to examine49th. The claim of Francisco Hourcade, a resident of San Antonio, Lower California, and do award him the sum of ($37) thirty-seven dollars, for payment of property remaining in a house at La Paz, Lower California, which was destroyed November 18, 1847, by order of the officer commanding, while arranging his defence against the Mexican troops. 50th. The board examined the claim of Andreas Hypolita, a resident of Todos los Santos, Lower California, and do award him the sum of ($263) two hundred and sixty-three dollars, in payment for property destroyed by the Mexican troops during the war in Lower California. This individual has been a firm and active friend to the American authorities in the country. 51st. The board examined the claim of Antonio Estrado, a resident of Todos los Santos, Lower California, and do award him the sum of ($324 50) three hundred and twenty-four dollars and fifty cents, in payment for property destroyed by the Mexican troops during the late war in the country. This individual has been a firm and active friend to the American authorities in the country. 52d. The board examined the claim of Las Morales, a resident of Todos los Santos, Lower California, and do award him the sum of ($500) five hundred dollars, for property destoyed by the Mexican troops during the late war in the country. This individual was one of the earliest, warmest, and most active friends that the American authorities have had in the country. 53d. The board examined the claim of Juan de dios Talemantes, a resident of San Antonio, Lower California, and do award him the sum of ($81) eighty-one dollars, in payment for property destroyed by the Mexican troops during the late war in the country. This individual has been an active friend to the American authorities. The board adjourned, to meet August 16, 1848. LA PAZ, August 16, 1848. The board met pursuant to adjournment, and proceeded to examine54th. The claim of Don Antonio Ring, a resident of the jurisdiction of San José, Lower California, and do award him the sum of ($1,319) one thousand three hundred and nineteen dollars, in payment for property destroyed and injured during the late war in Lower California. This individual was one of the garrison of San José at the time it was last attacked by the Mexican forces, and has suffered his losses on account of his active friendship for the American authorities. 55th. The board examined the claim of Santiago Cheney, a resident of the town of San José, Lower California, and do award him the sum of (86) thirty six dollars, in payment for property destroyed by the Mexi can troops during the late war in Lower California. This man was friendly to the Anerican authorities. 56th. The board examined the claim of Carlos Duarte, a resident of the town of San José, "Lower California, and do award him the sum of ($72) seventy-two dollars, in payment for property destroyed during the late war in Lower California. This individual was friendly to the American authorities. 57th. The board examined the claim of Ramon Trasuna, a resident of the town of San José, Lower California, and do award him the sum of ($943) nine hundred and forty three dollars, in payment for property destroyed by the Mexican forces during the late war in Lower California, and for property that he is obliged to abandon, being compelled to leave the country on account of his active friendship for the American flag. 58th. The board examined the claim of José Maria Marguey, a resident of the jurisdiction of La Paz, Lower California, and do award to him the sum of ($20) twenty dollars, in payment for property destroyed by the Mexican forces during the late war in Lower California. This man was a very active friend to the American flag 59th. The board examined the claim of Bernardo Arze, a resident of the town of La Paz, Lower California, and do award to him the sum of ($620) six hundred and twenty dollars, for payment of property destroyed by the Mexican forces during the late war in Lower California, and for property that he is obliged to abandon, being compelled to leave the country on account of his true friendship and zealous services for the American authorities. This man is quite poor. 60th. The board examined the claim of Santiago Duarte, a resident of the town of San José, Lower California, and do award him the sum of ($128) one hundred and twenty-eight dollars, in payment for property de. stroyed by the Mexican forces during the late war in Lower California. This individual was friendly to the American authorities. 61st. The board examined the claim of Florencio Ojia, a resident of the town of Santiago, Lower California, and do award him the sum of ($100) one hundred dollars, in payment for property destroyed by the Mexican troops during the late war in Lower California. This man was friendly to the American authorities. 62d. The board examined the claim of Francisco Villegas, a resident of the town of La Paz, Lower California, and do award him the sum of ($1,054) one thousand and fifty-four dollars, in payment for property he is obliged to abandon, being compelled to leave the country on account of his compromise with the American authorities during the time the American flag was flying in Lower California. 63d. The board examined the claim of Manuel Castellano, a resident of the jurisdiction of San Antonio, Lower California, and do award to him the sum of ($150) one hundred and fifty dollars, for property taken by the Mexican troops, and by order of the commanding officer at La Paz, for the service of the United States, during the late war in Lower California. This individual was rather more friendly to the Americans than to the Mexicans. The board adjourned, to meet August 17, 1848. The board met pursuant to adjournment. La Paz, August 17, 1848. The board having concluded its examinations of the claims brought before it, submits its report to the commander in-chief of the United States naval forces in the Pacific ocean, and to the commanding officer of the 10th Military Department. In apportioning the awards, the board has been governed by the best evidence in its power respecting the property destroyed during the late war in the country, or abandoned, necessarily, by those who are forced to leave their country on account of their compromise with the American flag. The board adjourned sine die. Approved: HENRY S. BURTON, Lieut. Col. N. Y. Vols. C. K. STRIBLING, Commander U. S. N. THOS. AP C. JONES, Commander-in-chief of the Pacific Squadron. Omission.-64th. The board examined the claim of Presentacion Cota, a resident of Santiago, Lower California, and do award him the sum of ($52) fifty-two dollars. This individual was an active friend to the Uni ted States authorities during the late disturbances in Lower California. RECAPITULATION. 49. Franciso Hounade 50. Andreas Hypolito 51. Antonio Estrada 52. Lus Morales 53. Juan de dios Talamantes 54. Don Antonio Ring 55. Santiago Cheney 56 Carlos Duarte $37.00 263 00 324 50 500 00 81.00 1,319 00 36 00 72.00 SIR: Our long and anxious suspense, awaiting the issue of the ratification of the treaty of peace by Mexico, was broken on the morning of the 13th instant by the return of Lieutenant Wise from Queretaro, with a despatch from the United States commissioners, informing me of the official exchange of the treaty as ratified by the Senate of the United States; whereupon I forthwith adopted measures for the early evacuation of Mazatlan and its dependencies, as indicated by the enclosed copies, Nos. 1 and 2. Lieutenant Wise did not bring me anything from the Navy Department. Neither the letter which yours of the 11th of March informed me would be forwarded by our commissioners, nor some which Lieutenant Wise was informed by General Butler had been received at his headquarters, to my address, could be found while Mr. Wise was in Mexico; so that I am without anything from you later than the 15th of March, before acknowledged. The communication of the honorable commissioners, Messrs. Sevier and Clifford, received by Mr. Wise, is confined entirely to the subject of their special mission, viz: transmitting an official copy of the ratified treaty for my guidance. A strange state of things exists in this quarter of Mexico. With the exception of that mischievous priest; Gabriel Gonzales, held as a prisoner of war, taken in Lower California, and a hungry custom-house officer, who presented himself at the custom house several days before any authentic information of the ratification had reached Mazatlan, and demanded keys, money, books, &c., under the 3d article of the treaty, I have neither seen nor heard of any resident Mexican or foreigner who does not deplore the return of peace-which they say will be no peace; and, further, that the only real peace and perfect security they have ever enjoyed in person or property has been during the war, while under the American flag. Already have I been appealed to by foreign merchants for protection against threats made by the custom-house officer above alluded to, of intended disregard to the 19th article of the treaty just ratified. Of course, I can take no notice of any threats, nor do more at any time than report to the department overt acts of violated treaty stipulations. The accompanying paper, No. 3, presents a succinct account of the receipts and expenditures of duties, as military contributions collected at Mazatlan, while in our possession, from November the 11th, 1847, to the 17th of June, 1848, when the Mexican authorities were restored to full power over the town and port of Mazatlan. Had the war continued, I had laid my plans for opening to neutral trade all the ports on this side of Mexico, which Mexico had ever opened to foreign trade before her war with us; and to blockade and guard every other port of the coast so closely as to have rendered it too hazardous to attempt to smuggle; by which means all dutiable goods would have passed through our custom-houses; and, by fixing the export duty on the precious metals a little lower than the smuggled cost, our revenue from custom-houses on this side, in the next twelve months, would have fallen little, if any, short of two millions of dollars. The New York volunteers, stationed in Lower California, are very mutinous. Soon after my arrival here, I had to send the Cyane to San José, at the earnest request of Captain Nailor, to bring away some of the ringleaders in an outbreak; and on the 12th instant I was compelled to send Commodore Shubrick, in the Independence, to La Paz, to aid in suppressing a serious mutiny among the volunteers at that place; so you will perceive that it keeps one of our few ships pretty much occupied upon that very unpleasant service. This evening I sail hence, with the Congress frigate and the Lexing ton, store-ship, for Guaymas and La Paz; at the latter place I may be de tained with the squadron some weeks, in preparing the ships for different service, and in aiding to remove and transport the troops and military stores to Upper California. I shall give you further particulars before I leave this gulf. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Commander-in-chief U. S. Naval Forces, Pacific Ocean. The Hon. JOHN Y. MASON, Secretary of the Navy. P. S.-The ceremony of restoration went off well, without one incident worthy of note, except that there was not the slightest demonstration of joy manifested by any one, but perfect gloom and melancholy pervades the whole town. No. 1. T. AP C. J. FLAG-SHIP OHIO, Off Mazatlan, June 13, 1848. SIR: Lieutenant Wise having returned this morning from Queretaro with the treaty of peace, duly ratified and exchanged by our commis |