''Acapulco is a small Mexican town where we stop to
coal. Its harbor is perfectly land-locked, and looks as if
it had once been the crater of a volcano. The natives in
canoes come round the vessel to sell fruit — ^mangoes, pine-
apples, bananas — shells, etc. Here we learned of the
shooting of Maximilian. One of his officers who had
escaped and is now here, came on board.
" We celebrated the Fourth of July on board with ap-
propriate ceremonies. After refitting here, w& shall set sail
for Oregon on the 17th inst. I am to preach here to-
morrow and lecture on Tuesday. I will write again from
Oregon. I trust you will be good and happy in every
situation. Try to be useful in all circumstances."



248 LIFE OF BISHOP THOMSON.
The Galifornia Christian Advocate, of July 18th^
contains this notice : '' The bishop reported for duty
at once, and delivered a most impressive discourse on
Sabbath morning in the Powell Street Church. On
Tuesday evening he delivered a lecture in Howard
Street Church in aid of the funds of the university at
• Santa Clara. Though the notice was brief a good
audience was in attendance. The subject of the lecture,
^Constantinople/ was treated witlv rare intelligence,
taste, and skill. Its historical groupings, its apprecia-
tion of principles, and sketches of characters and
scenes, afforded a treat rarely offered to a San Francisco
audience. The bishop sailed for Portland yesterday."

From Portland he writes to his children :

"PoBTLAND, Obbqon, July 23, 1867.
