subject of astonishment to foreigners traveling in this country.

The residence of Mrs. Frémont in California was at Monterey. Gold was not yet abundant, and the fullest tide of emigration had not set in. Provisions were usually obtained from the Sandwich Islands. Her only assistant in domestic labors was an English woman who had emigrated from Sidney. The liberal hospitality exercised in her house with such limited help excited the wonder of the residents. The convention for making a constitution for the State of California sat at Monterey, and many interests favored the introduction of slavery. No servants could be had where labor was so highly paid in other branches. The mines could not be worked at the tremendous price and uncertainty of labor; and to the owners it was the difference between vast fortunes and slow and precarious returns for certain and great expenditures. There was hesitation in the decision of the convention. Mrs. Frémont had the pleasure of being assured that the practical evidence of her example convinced many that home comfort and a liberal and cheer ful hospitality were possible without servants. Her experience was within the sight and knowledge of those voting on the question, and largely aided in the decision for freedom in California.

Mrs. Frémont had her full share in the adventure of Western life. At one time, for six weeks she was not once in a house-sleeping in a traveling carriage, and moving about during the day. When lumps of gold and