attack short of that of a first-class iron-clad squadron. The chief American naval station on the Pacific side is several leagues north of San Francisco, where the Strait of Carquinez connects San Pablo Bay (a northerly extension of San Francisco Bay) and Suisun Bay, the embouchure of the great Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. Just off this important strait, on Mare Island, the Government has spent many millions of dollars in erecting dry docks, massive buildings, barracks, and other appurtenances of a first-class dock-yard. Between Fort Point and the city is the Presidio, formerly the site of the Spanish garrison, and now owned by the United States Government, which has occupied the domain with spacious barracks, officers' quarters, and a parade-ground large enough for brigade manœuvres. The general in command of the Department of the Pacific usually makes his head-quarters here, retaining about him a few companies of infantry, ready to be sent against the Indians of Oregon, or Arizona, or the Sierras. A part of the Spanish constructions of 1776, which consisted of a high adobe wall and several garrison buildings, still remains; and the officers' quarters, surrounded with flowers, and commanding exquisite sea-views, are the abode of the aristocratic and refined society of an important military post. The roses are surrounded by walls of rusty cannon-balls, and the ladies of the garrison are often entrenched in such cliques as are familiar in Chatham, and Gibraltar, and Simla; but the military band discourses sweet music every day, and the sea-winds blow through the straits with refreshing vigour. At one time this post was commanded by General Sherman, the hero of the world-renowned march to the sea; and its present chief is General McDowell, the head of the Federal army at the disastrous defeat of Bull Run. Among the first immigrants to California were thousands of wild adventurers, veterans of the Mexican war, semi-piratical fillibusters, convicts escaped from the British penal colonies in the South Seas, caucus politicians from New York, Southern desperadoes, and Northern bankrupts. But these grim Philistines were not the men who elevated an insignificant Spanish hamlet to metropolitan splendour and power-who established the longest railway and steamship lines in the Western world-who organised a State, vigorous and efficient in all its departments-who replaced the mud walls of Mission Dolores with the stately buildings and long-drawn streets of the capital of the Pacific coast. Thousands of the immigrants of the golden age were men of high culture and trained powers, the most adventurous and enterprising of the younger generations of America and England. They found a group of barren hills and a gloomy shore-but they remembered Venice, and built miles of streets and hundreds of houses over the waters of the bay; they remembered Rome, and cut down the ancient heights to make noble roads; they remembered Westphalia, and destroyed lawlessness by a tribunal more stern and powerful than the Vehmgericht. It is not many years since the myriads who poured into California in search of wealth ceased to regard it as a sojourning-place, and came to regard it as a home. The growth of local pride has been rapid and exuberant; and the Californian of to-day remembers his early home-the rocky hills of New England, the worn-out plains of Virginia, even the forests and farms and grey old towers of England-only with a kindly pity. The imperial State which lies between Mount Shasta and San Bernardino, between the Yo Semite and the blue and placid Pacific, is his home; and he loves the orchards of Santa Clara, the orange-groves of Los Angeles, the grain-lands of the Sacramento and San Joaquin, the vineyards of Sonoma, better than the elms of Massachusetts, the pines of the South, or the venerable oaks of Britain. The feeling of State pride, so lately born, has already become a distinguishing trait, and generates a firm belief that no other land is so fair, no other people so favoured, or has been since the world began. This beautiful and profound enthusiasm has already achieved mighty works, and will establish, in time, a new and peculiar people in the isolated paradise of the Pacific. As yet, however, California is but "mewing her mighty youth," and passing through a period of strange transitions. There are four elements of danger, which may retard her growth-the monopolist, the demagogue, the hoodlum, and the Chinaman; but these may be mitigated by the pressure of awakened public sentiment, or allowed to counteract each other, or be swept away by such a popular up-rising as San Francisco has already seen. In the meantime, as the Westminster Review has wisely remarked, after being the treasury, California has become the garden of the world. drich and Progress of the City-Cotton Industry-Situation-The Old Town-Modern Improvements-Introde THE HE high importance of Rouen as a centre of commerce and indust skill, its historical associations, and the splendour and beauty of i monuments, all join to give to the ancient capital of Normati foremost rank among the provincial cities of fair France; and, intimate onnected as it was for a time with our own country, it presents to Engist men many special features of interest. There are some who assert that a town occupied the present site of Rouen i before Lutetia-now Paris-rose upon her islands in the Seine. This may be true, but a y me it is certain that the Romans found Rothomagus on the spot where RoueL LO sans. It was then the capital of the Gallic tribe of the Veliocasses, and, as shown the Èsvvery in modern times of numerous architectural and other remains, was a tow anderie importance during the Roman occupation. Clovis and his Franks s upon the city in 523 A.D. Three centuries later pirate hordes were sweeping down up the northern provinces of France, and, in order to save the rest of his kingdom. ⠀ King of France ceded to the Normans, Rouen and all the province of Neustria săknown as Normandy, on eccdition that the chief, Rollo, should be baptised. many sieges and various vicissitudes Rouen has since experienced, we can merton I Some, however, will be particularised in connection with 22 'y the most prominent. historiesì monuments. Ver the emprest f England, in 1966, Normandy became an appanage of to Yagish Crown all Pull Augustus, in 1204, re-united it to France, after a severance munirei ars. The city of Rocen flourished and extended its emmere m maisa and Norman miers, and it was enlarged, improved, and embellished by P Lignsins Fanes L. and her French monarchs. In 1419, Henry V. Engiol Ney de ci ma ir six months a desperate resistance was maintained. SOK mastana u siltri. The 3.uennals were then about to fire the place, and fina slag her iws a tears pussible in a wirtie en mome, when the king bearing A heavy ransom was pail; Alan Fantast mer if the people in their gilant defence, was hanged, and fer erined iv de English frees. It was during this cupancy that th Dưng & 24 urning of Panne FA took place an event ) which we Test Dauis in spite of a brave defence by * the great T 3.? ▼ many a sight of horror when the 3.man Catholes ROUEN. Origin and Progress of the City-Cotton Industry-Situation-The Old Town-Modern Improvements-Introduction of Christianity-The Cathedral: its Historical and Legendary Associations-Among the Tombs-Church of St. OuenA Tragical Story-Other Churches of Rouen-The Palais de Justice-The Markets--A Dragon Story-The Place de la Pucelle, and Joan of Arc-The Cloche d'Argent-Fountains-Gates-Biographical Reminiscences-Bridges. THE ARMS OF THE high importance of Rouen as a centre of commerce and industrial skill, its historical associations, and the splendour and beauty of its monuments, all join to give to the ancient capital of Normandy a foremost rank among the provincial cities of fair France; and, intimately connected as it was for a time with our own country, it presents to Englishmen many special features of interest. There are some who assert that a town occupied the present site of Rouen long before Lutetia-now Paris-rose upon her islands in the Seine. This may be true, but at any rate it is certain that the Romans found Rothomagus on the spot where Rouen now stands. It was then the capital of the Gallic tribe of the Veliocasses, and, as shown by the discovery in modern times of numerous architectural and other remains, was a town of considerable importance during the Roman occupation. Clovis and his Franks seized upon the city in 529 A.D. Three centuries later pirate hordes were sweeping down upon the northern provinces of France, and, in order to save the rest of his kingdom, the King of France ceded to the Normans, Rouen and all the province of Neustria (since known as Normandy), on condition that the chief, Rollo, should be baptised. Of the many sieges and various vicissitudes Rouen has since experienced, we can mention here only the most prominent. Some, however, will be particularised in connection with the historical monuments. After the conquest of England, in 1066, Normandy became an appanage of the English Crown till Philip Augustus, in 1204, re-united it to France, after a severance of three hundred years. The city of Rouen flourished and extended its commerce under Frankish and Norman rulers, and it was enlarged, improved, and embellished by Philip Augustus, Francis I., and other French monarchs. In 1419, Henry V. of England besieged the city, and for six months a desperate resistance was maintained, till 30,000 of the inhabitants had perished. The Rouennais were then about to fire the place, and finish by selling their lives as dearly as possible in a sortie en masse, when the king, hearing of the project, offered terms to the besieged. A heavy ransom was paid; Alain Blanchard, the brave and popular leader of the people in their gallant defence, was hanged, and for thirty years Rouen was occupied by the English forces. It was during this occupancy that the cruel tragedy of the burning of Jeanne d'Arc took place- an event to which we shall have again to refer. In 1449, Dunois, in spite of a brave defence by "the great Talbot," recaptured the city. Rouen saw many a sight of horror when the Roman Catholics were |