Note: de Burton will refer to Californios as "natives" throughout the novel.

Californios are the Spanish-speaking descendants of Spanish colonists which arrived in the Americas in 1492. Specifically, they are those descendants that resided in what is now southern California in the years leading up to and the years following the Mexican-American War.

Californios are white. The modern use of the word "native," specifically the capitalized "Native" refers to indigenous peoples.

Referring to the advent of the telephone in the U.S. in 1876.

Allusion to the famous line from Shakespeare's, Hamlet. (Act III Scene I)

Noun. "A person made weak or disabled by illness or injury."

Lexico

Noun (1). Literary "A disease or ailment."

Lexico

Noun. "(in Spanish-speaking countries) a male servant or attendant."

Lexico

Noun. "A sheet in which a corpse is wrapped for burial; a shroud."

Lexico

Translation

Most likely "foreman" or "a person in charge of a group of workers"

Spanish Dictionary

Allusion to the multi-headed beast which Hercules fought in Roman/Greek Mythology.

Adj. "Aggressively greedy or grasping."

Lexico

Phrase: "A thing or person whose sudden but brief success is not repeated or repeatable."

Lexico

Document Archive

Full document on HathiTrust. All excerpt images below this are from this same source. More about the source can be found in the above link to the document archive specific to this site.

Document Archive

Document Archive

Adj. "Making or expressing a plea, especially to someone in power or authority."

Lexico

Referencing William Ellery Channing, who wrote many essays and among them was, "On the Life and Character of Napoleon Bonaparte," (1827-8).

Internet Archive

Document Archive

Quote can be found at the bottom of the second paragraph in the column on the right.

It is unclear as to which "suit" the author is referencing. It is possible that it was just the way in which the letters were made public.

The Huntington Letters, or the Colton Letters as they are called in reference to the letters Collis Potter Huntington addressed to David Douty Colton, were hard evidence of government corruption which first came to light at the end of the 19th century.

Check out "Scientific Corruption of Politics" and How Congressmen Are Bribed

Excerpts discussed in the final chapter, entitled "CONCLUSION - Out With the Invade."

Shylock

Proper Noun. "A Jewish moneylender in Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice, who lends money to Antonio but demands in return a pound of Antonio's own flesh should the debt not be repaid on time."

Lexico

Noun (1.1) "Social distinction or conspicuous success."

Lexico

Noun. "The concluding part of a speech, typically intended to inspire enthusiasm in the audience."

Lexico

Noun. "An accessory or other item associated with a particular activity or style of living."

Lexico

Noun (1.1) "A tedious moralizing lecture."

Lexico

Adj. "Of or concerning marriage."

Lexico

Verb. "(militate against) (of a fact or circumstance) be a powerful or conclusive factor in preventing."

Lexico

Noun. Historical "A telegraph message sent by cable."

Lexico

(also spelled cabbalistic) Adj. "Relating to or associated with mystical interpretation or esoteric doctrine."

Lexico

Translation

"sale"

Spanish Dictionary

Proper Noun. "An informal name for the Devil."

Lexico

Adj. "Persistent, especially to the point of annoyance."

Lexico

Noun. Law "A female executor of a will."

Lexico

Noun. "Insolent or impertinent behaviour."

Lexico

Verb (1.7). "North American with object Take summary possession of (a mining concession or other piece of land) after alleged abandonment or forfeiture by the former occupant."

Lexico

"genii" is plural for genie: "A spirit of Arabian folklore, as depicted traditionally imprisoned within a bottle or oil lamp, and capable of granting wishes when summoned."

Lexico

"the Slave of the Ring" is much like "the Slave of the Lamp," found in the Arabian Nights.

Oxford Reference: Aladdin

Adj. "Dark-complexioned."

Lexico

Noun. "A person who looks after a church and churchyard, typically acting as bell-ringer and gravedigger."

Lexico

Adj. "Stylish or superior."

Lexico

Noun

(1) "(also three-card monte) A game, traditionally associated with confidence tricksters, in which bets are made on which is the queen among three cards lying face downwards.

(2) A Spanish game of chance played with forty-five cards."

Lexico

Noun. "Exemption from punishment or freedom from the injurious consequences of an action."

Lexico

Noun (1.1). mass noun "The white fur of the stoat, used for trimming garments, especially the ceremonial robes of judges or peers."

Lexico

Noun (1) British Law "An accusation or charge."

Lexico

Adj. "Relating to fighting or war."

Lexico

Verb (1.1) "Make great demands on (someone's resources or abilities)"

Lexico

Note: the rest is verbatim from the same text as mentioned in the previous annotation, though with a few capitalization differences.

This is highly paraphrased/restructured from the original text. It is from Ralph Waldo Emerson's "VI. Napoleon; or, the Man of the World," a chapter from The Complete Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson first published in 1904 with notes and an introduction by Edward Waldo Emerson.

Bartleby Online Edition

Note: "'Assey de Bonaparte'" or "Assez de Bonaparte," means "Enough of him," him being Bonaparte.

Noun. "Strong disapproval, typically on moral grounds."

Lexico

Adverb. "Without charge; free."

Lexico

Noun (1.2) "A person or thing regarded as an infallible authority on something."

Lexico

ALSO

Can be read as an allusion the oracle as it is portrayed in, "In ancient Greece and Rome: the instrument, agency, or medium (usually a priest or a priestess) through which the gods were supposed to speak or prophesy; the mouthpiece of the gods. Also: the place at which such advice or prophecy was sought."

"oracle, n." OED Online, Oxford University Press, June 2020, www.oed.com/view/Entry/132135. Accessed 27 July 2020.

Verb. archaic "Express or feel disapproval of."

Lexico

Adj. "Deserving or causing public disgrace or shame."

Lexico

Noun (2.1) "Something regarded as enveloping a situation with an air of gloom or fear."

Lexico

Adj. "Not able to be refuted or disproved; indisputable."

Lexico

Proper noun. "An evil spirit to whom Faust, in the German legend, sold his soul."

Lexico

Adj. (1.1) "(of a person) old and having grey or white hair."

Lexico

Noun (1.1) "(in folklore) a Javanese tree alleged to poison its surroundings and said to be fatal to approach."

Lexico

Noun (3). "A sudden loud noise of or like an explosion or gunfire."

Lexico

Noun. "A bulbous narrow-necked bottle holding from 3 to 10 gallons of liquid, typically enclosed in a wicker cover."

Lexico

Verb (1). "Separate grain from (corn or other crops), typically with a flail or by the"

Lexico

Noun (1). "A bout of excessive indulgence in sex, alcohol, or drugs."

Lexico

Adj. "Tending to talk a great deal; talkative."

Lexico

Adj. (1) "Slow to act."

Lexico

Adj. (1) "Not physically or mentally strong, especially through age or illness."

Lexico

Noun (1). "The inescapable agent of someone's or something's downfall."

ALSO

Greek Mythology "A goddess usually portrayed as the agent of divine punishment for wrongdoing or presumption (hubris)."

Lexico

Noun. "An employee who does all kinds of work."

Lexico

Noun (worthies). humorous "A person notable or important in a particular sphere."

Lexico

Adj. "Giving a false or misleading impression."

Lexico

Noun (1). "The use of clever but false arguments, especially with the intention of deceiving."

Lexico

Adj. (1) "Subject to chance."

Lexico

Adj. "Of a boastful nature."

Lexico

Noun (5). historical "A stagecoach."

Lexico

Phrase (1.1) : "Come to be regarded with less respect; lose status."

Lexico

In this context, it is seemingly meant sarcastically.

Noun. "A violent person, especially one involved in crime."

Lexico

Noun (1). "A plant of the borage family, cultivated for its fragrant purple or blue flowers which are used in perfume."

Lexico

In reference to, or having similar meaning to "greaser."

Verb (2). "Flinch or grow pale from shock, fear, or a similar emotion."

Lexico

Noun (1.1). "An epithet used as a term of abuse."

Lexico

Adj. (2) " Not restored to a good spiritual or moral state, or reformed from a life of vice or undesirable behaviour; (also in weaker, more general use) not changed or reformed. Now somewhat archaic."

"unreclaimed, adj." OED Online, Oxford University Press, June 2020, www.oed.com/view/Entry/216896. Accessed 27 July 2020.

Noun. "A witty remark."

Lexico

Noun (2). "The legal process of transferring property from one owner to another."

Lexico

Noun (1). "A sudden attack or outburst of a particular emotion or activity."

Lexico

Maybe a mistype. Could be "hermanita," which is Spanish for little sister.

Noun. rare "A handkerchief."

Lexico

Noun. "The quality or condition of being obstinate; stubbornness."

Lexico

Noun (1.1). "A soft woollen or wool-and-cotton material resembling cashmere, originally of merino wool."

Lexico

Verb. "Reprimand (someone)"

Lexico

Allusion to Lord Banquo's specter from Shakespeare's play Macbeth.

Noun (1). "A gesture of respect or polite recognition, especially one made to or by a person when arriving or departing."

Lexico

Adj. from "risible": "Provoking laughter through being ludicrous."

Lexico

Noun (1). "A horse race run on a racecourse having ditches and hedges as jumps."

Lexico

Noun. "A meteorite made of stone."

Lexico

Verb (1). "Persuade (someone) to do something by means of deception or flattery."

Lexico

Verb. "Win or regain the favour of (a god, spirit, or person) by doing something that pleases them."

Lexico

Noun. "A person authorized to perform certain legal formalities, especially to draw up or certify contracts, deeds, and other documents for use in other jurisdictions."

Lexico

Noun (1.1) [usually with negative] "The smallest amount of money."

Lexico

Adj. (1.1) "(of conversation or speech) going from one subject to another in a half-hearted way."

Lexico

Noun. "A steep-sided gully formed by the action of fast-flowing water in an arid or semi-arid region, found chiefly in the south-western US."

Lexico

Adj. 1.1 "Commonplace; unromantic."

Lexico

Noun (2). figurative "A place or state of supreme bliss. Now chiefly in "in seventh heaven": ecstatically happy."

Lexico

Verb. rare "(of a cat) miaow."

Lexico

Adj. (2) "(chiefly of emotions) complete and unreserved."

Lexico

Noun. "A feeling of offence or deep resentment."

Lexico

Noun (1). "A fortress, typically one on high ground above a city."

Lexico

Noun. "An action such as a prolonged speech that obstructs progress in a legislative assembly while not technically contravening the required procedures."

Lexico

[archaic] British English, Noun. "a place to retreat to, alone, when ill-humoured"

Collins Dictionary

From "cussed," an adjective meaning, "Awkward; annoying."

Lexico

Noun (1) "A situation which creates a sudden increase in wealth, good fortune, or profits."

Lexico

Adj. "Of various kinds; several."

Lexico

Adj. (1) "(of an action) seeming sensible and judicious in the circumstances."

Lexico

Adj. (1) "(of a man) showing excessive concern about his clothes or appearance."

Lexico

phrase meaning, "Very fast."

could also be just "the deuce," in which case it means, "Used as a euphemism for ‘devil’ in expressions of annoyance, impatience, surprise, etc." (Noun)

Lexico

Adj. (1) "Strange; odd."

Lexico

Noun. "A fact, argument, or event that settles a matter conclusively."

Lexico

Adj. (1) "Lasting or existing for a long or apparently infinite time; enduring or continually recurring."

Lexico

Verbe (1.3) " Consider (something) repeatedly and from different angles."

Lexico

Verb (2) "Discuss or examine (an opinion, issue, or complaint) in public."

Lexico

Noun. "A group of models or motionless figures representing a scene from a story or from history; a tableau vivant."

Origin "Late 17th century (in the sense ‘picture’, figuratively ‘picturesque description’): from French, literally ‘picture’, diminutive of table (see table)."

Lexico

rodeo: N., (2) "A round-up of cattle on a ranch for branding, counting, etc."

Lexico

"triste" can mean "sad, melancholy, and/or gloomy."

Verb. "Be responsible for the management or arrangement of (an activity or organization); oversee."

Lexico

Noun (2) "Bitter hostility; rancour."

Lexico

Verb. "Send or direct along a specified course."

Lexico

Noun. "An act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers, especially by a character in a play."

Lexico

Adj. "Giving or conveying a warning or reprimand."

Lexico

Adj. "Having or showing a tendency to be easily angered."

Lexico

Noun (2) "A marked accent, especially Irish or Scottish, when speaking English."

Lexico

Noun (1) "An antechamber, hall, or lobby next to the outer door of a building."

Lexico

Noun (2) "historical A loose cloak, worn with a mask for the upper part of the face at masquerades."

Lexico

Adverb of the adjective "pecuniary" meaning: "Relating to or consisting of money."

Lexico

Noun (1) "A statement or proposition which is regarded as being established, accepted, or self-evidently true."

Lexico

This quotation could be paraphrasing Herbert Spencer. When searched the main or only results are different formats and sources of The Squatter and the Don. The same goes for other quotes attributed to Spencer in this section.

Verb. archaic "Become dejected and lose confidence."

Lexico

"Knave," Noun. [archaic] "A dishonest or unscrupulous man."

Lexico

Noun. "The exclusive possession or control of the supply of or trade in a commodity or service."

Lexico

Noun (1) "A forcefully reproachful protest."

Lexico

Noun (1.1) "The official residence of a diplomatic minister."

Lexico

Verb "Provide money to pay (a cost or expense)"

Lexico

Noun (1) Law "The action or an act of sending the transcript of a case back from an appellate to a trial court for record or further work; a formal notice of this."

Lexico

Noun. "The quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency."

Lexico

Adj. "Reluctant; unwilling."

Also: Loath

Lexico

Adverb. "Proportionally."

Lexico

Not included in the original text of the quoted document. De Burton is using these like ellipses, indicating that she has shortened the text to emphasize those parts she wishes to be at the forefront of readers' minds.

Document archive

Adj. "Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way."

Lexico

Lexico

Large rivers in Europe.

Click here for Thomas Carlyle's biography

This quote is from Thomas Carlyle's essay, "Voltaire." It is a part of a larger volume of essays called, Critical and Miscellaneous Essays.

Google Books

PDF page 151, book page 142

Joseph Addison biography written by Donald F. Bond: Emeritus Professor of English, University of Chicago, 1952–67 and editor of The Spectator.

(Pictured: Joseph Addison)

Note: The quote de Burton attributes to Addison is actually shown to be Richard Steele's writing in both publications referenced in the previous annotation.

This quote is pulled from The Spectator, a daily publication of essays written by Joseph Addison and colleague Richard Steele. Specifically, it is from "No. 6 Wednesday March 11, 1711."

Which can be read here and here, keeping in mind that different publication dates and editors mean there will be variations in titles but not the principal content.

"The poem Ben Bolt was written by Thomas Dunn English in 1842. It was set to music by Nelson Kneass (1823-1868 or 1869), a composer from Philadelphia. Ben Bolt was first sung in Pittsburgh in 1848. It achieved great popularity, and many parodies were written."

source

Image Source

Archive

YouTube

[historical] "A light, open four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage."

Lexico

Document archive

Adj. (2) "Existing from birth."

Lexico

Likely in reference to Tiffany & Co., sterling silver jewelers, which was established in New York in 1837.

Tiffany & Co. Timeline

Image via Tiffany & Co.

Noun. offensive "A North American Indian woman or wife."

Usage "Until relatively recently, the word squaw was used neutrally in anthropological and other contexts to mean a North American Indian woman or wife. With changes in the political climate in the second half of the 20th century, however, the derogatory attitudes of the past toward American Indian women mean that the word cannot now be used in any sense without being regarded as offensive"

Origin "Mid 17th century from Narragansett squaws ‘woman’, with related forms in many Algonquian dialects."

Lexico Entry

Adj. "Given to moralizing in a pompous or affected manner."

Lexico

At the time, there was a company called Arnold Constable & Co that handled fine linen and silk in New York that would have made (or at least made the fabric for) the garments which Mrs. Mechlin speaks of.

New York Times Article

Noun (2) "Dress fabric of loosely woven silk or silk and wool."

Lexico

Noun. "A fine, light linen or cotton fabric resembling cambric."

Lexico

Verb. literary "Be a sign of."

Lexico

Verb. formal [no object, with adverbial of place] "Stay somewhere temporarily."

Lexico

Noun. "Brisk and cheerful readiness."

Lexico

Coastal city in New Jersey just south of New York.

Noun. derogatory (the canaille) "The common people; the masses."

Definition via Lexico

Roman goddess of love and marriage.

Biography and Philosophy Encyclopedia entry on Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Master," said with an accent. In the next paragraph it's more apparent when she puts the honorific "Massa" before Victoriano's nickname, Tano.

Verb. "Find fault with (someone); scold."

Lexico

Noun (1) "An area of land, typically a large one."

Lexico

Adj. "Not corrected or compensated for."

Lexico

Noun. "An act of attacking or plundering."

Lexico

Adj. (1) "Happening as a result of an external factor or chance rather than design or inherent nature."

Lexico

Adj. (1) "(of an action) convenient and practical although possibly improper or immoral."

Lexico

Click here for his biography

Click here for his Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry

Grant still under revision by the commission created by the California Land Act of 1851.

Noun (1) "A wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to the plough or cart that they are to pull."

(1.1) "Used to refer to something regarded as oppressive or restrictive."

Lexico

French Wine and Champagne.

In San Francisco, there is not a place called "California House," this may just be a part of the novel. However, there is a restaurant called Cliff House which was established in 1863 and still exists in the same location today.

More Information

Noun "A person who buys and sells goods or assets for others."

Definition via Lexico

Gold was discovered in California in 1848.

"Panning," on the Molekumne, illustration from Harper's New Monthly Magazine, 1860.

View the full document in the archive

Library of Congress PDF

The California Land Act of 1851 created a three-person land commission meant to review and determine the validity of Mexican land grants after the enactment of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

Via the Library of Congress

Click here to view full document

Click here to view the full document.

Adj. (1) "Having or showing a cunning and deceitful nature."

Lexico

Noun. "A feeling of irritation or resentment resulting from a slight, especially to one's pride."

Lexico

Noun. "A member of a Muslim (specifically Sufi) religious order who has taken vows of poverty and austerity. Dervishes first appeared in the 12th century; they were noted for their wild or ecstatic rituals and were known as dancing, whirling, or howling dervishes according to the practice of their order."

Lexico

Noun. (1) "Lush green vegetation."

(1.1) "The fresh green colour of lush vegetation."

Lexico

"Used as a title to refer formally to more than one man simultaneously, or in names of companies."

Origin French, abbreviation of Monsieur (my lord)

Lexico

"(in Spanish America and the western US) a small Indian settlement."

Origin Spanish, from rancho

Lexico

noun (2) "A thing deposited or pledged as a guarantee of the fulfilment of an undertaking or the repayment of a loan, to be forfeited in case of default."

noun (3) "(often securities) A certificate attesting credit, the ownership of stocks or bonds, or the right to ownership connected with tradable derivatives."

Lexico

Government Securities

(1.1) "A service of evening prayer..."

Lexico

Noun "Good-humoured teasing."

Lexico

muscadin

[archaic, historical]

"Especially in Paris in the 18th and 19th centuries: a dandy, a fop. Hence depreciatively: a member of a Moderate party (composed chiefly of young men of the upper middle class) in the early years of the French Revolution (1794–6)."

Lexico

Dandy:

Adj. (1) "North American informal Excellent."

Lexico

Note: can also mean conceited, and have negative connotations. But, within this context, leans more toward "excellent."

(1.1) "A dashing and attentive man, especially one acting as a lady's escort."

Lexico

"A box situated close to the stage.

Origin Early 19th century; earliest use found in The Times."

Lexico

Referring to those characters as being from San Diego.

"A French comic opera, with dialogue in recitative and characters drawn from everyday life."

Origin French, from Italian (see opera buffa).

Lexico

"Having a distinguished manner or appearance.

Origin French, ‘distinguished’, from the verb distinguer."

Lexico

Noun (1) "The testing of a metal or ore to determine its ingredients and quality."

Lexico

A reference to Prohibition, a period of 10+ years in the early 1900s when the creation, transportation, and sale of alcohol was made illegal by the 18th Amendment in the United States. It was heavily supported by those who also advocated for women's suffrage, which was accomplished in the same year with the 19th Amendment in 1920. Prohibition, however, only lasted until 1933.

Quick Facts: Prohibition