Segregating California
Party Southern 1843gain loss 1842 gain loss 425.4.1 31.18.0
The clouds of war had gathered over California. Rae backed the wrong people at least so it appeared to him. He lent arms and ammunition to Alvarado.[1] In 1843, Micheltorena called upon Sutter, as a naturalized citizen, to come to his aid against the native Californians and with the armed force which Sutter maintained at his fort.[2] In Sutter's own list of the men in his company January 1, 1845, we find La Framboise.[3] His presence there is unexplained. Rae espoused the cause against Micheltorena.[4] J. A. Forbes, hearing of Sutter's intention to aid Micheltorena, met the party east of San Jose, and in vain tried to dissuade Sutter from his undertaking. The conference was held about January 12th. On the 19th, Rae committed suicide.[5]
Rumors of domestic infelicity, financial losses, and alcoholic excesses appear in reminiscences of the times. To these must be added political and business pressures, in the light of revelations subsequent to the tragedy, as contributory causes of Rae's act.
Forbes hastened to Yerba Buena from Monterey, and La Framboise is said to have journeyed from French Camp to aid the widow and to assist in handling the business of the company.[6] Forbes did nothing, says Bancroft, which has left any particular trace in the archives. In addition to his consular activities, he assumed the management of the Hudson's Bay Company post after Rae's death.
Larkin, in his letter to Buchanan and to eastern newspapers, chose to represent that the maintenance of an English and a French consulate in California, where neither nation had any interests to protect nor the slightest apparent need of consular service, costing a salary of $4,000 to Gasquet and $1,000 to Forbes, was a very suspicious circumstance. Indeed, Forbes was
permitted to attend to his own private business, and rarely
