Letter from Adam Johnston to Luke Lea, 1851

              [Cover]

[California] Report I761

Adam Johnston,
Sub-agt

Valley of San Joaquin, Cal,
June 24/51

Transmits application, bond & license of Dent, Vantine & Co as traders with Indians on Reservation between the Tuolumne & Stanislaus rivers, remarking as to the good character of the applicants & that he has [illegible], [under?] the [illegible] on the reservation whereby, at the sum of 1000$ per anum, & hopes the necessity for it, will suffice an apology for doing so, before transmitting the paper as required.

Recd Augt 1851
Acknowledged Augt 18d 1851
Cir 
File C

[Letter P. 1]

Valley of San Joaquin
Mercede River, California
June 24, 1851.

Sir:

I have the honor to transmit, herewith, the application, bond, and license of Dent, Vantine & Co., as traders to the Indians located on the reservation between the Stanislaus and Tuolumne rivers. The application was made on the 29th day of May, A. D. 1851, by John C. Dent, James Vantine, and Lewis Dent, for license to trade on said reservation under the name and style of Dent, Vantine & Co., proposing to furnish a capitol of $10,000, and desiring to employ Henry Colter as clerk. The persons named in the application are so well known to me personally, and to the people of this community, that I did not deem it necessary to add testimonials beyond my own. The firm have for some time been engaged in business upon the Stanislaus river. One of its members has resided in California since 1847; was a member ofhe convention that formed the State constitution, and has lived much of his time among the Indians now with him. Their bond, in the penal sum of $5,000, is regu1arly filed, with John W. Newberry and W. c. Harrington as sureties. I have approved it, and am satisfied of its entire sufficiency. There was no other formal application for the position; but if there had been, I am sure no better persons could have been selected. I have already placed them upon the reservation, under the license dated June 9, A. D. 1851, at the sum of $1,000 per annum. 

In my absence, they attend to the business of the reservation with the same care that I could 

[P. 2]

were I pesent in person.

I hope the necessity of so immediately placing authorized persons as traders upon the reservation may be readily perceived, and be sufficient apology for my hurried and irregular proceedings in not transmitting the papers directly to the Commissioner of lndian Affairs, as required by the second section of the act of June 24, A. D. 1834.

I am, sir, 
your obedient servant,
Adam Johnston
Indian Sub-agent
Valley of the San Joaquin.

Hon. Luke Lea
Commissioner of Indian Affairs
Washington City, D. C.