This decision was of the greatest importance both to the city and the occupants of land within its limits.  The Van Ness Ordinance had reserved from grant for the uses of the city all the lots which it then occupied or had set apart for public squares, streets, sites for school-houses, city hall and other buildings belonging to the corporation, and also such other lots as it might subsequently select for public purposes within certain designated limits.  All these were by the decision at once released from any possible claim by virtue of sales on executions.  All persons occupying lands not thus reserved were by the decision quieted in their possession, so far as any claim of the city or State could be urged against them.  Property to the value of many millions was thereby rescued from the spoiler and speculator, and secured to the city or settler.  Peace was given to thousands of homes.  Yet for this just and most beneficent judgment there went up from a multitude, who had become interested in the sales, a fierce howl of rage and hate.  Attacks full of venom were made upon Judge Baldwin and myself, who had agreed to the decision.  No epithets were too vile to be applied to us; no imputations were too gross to be cast at us.  The Press poured out curses upon our heads.  Anonymous circulars filled with falsehoods, which malignity alone could invent, were spread broadcast throughout the city, and letters threatening assassination in the streets or by-ways were sent to us through the mail.  The violence of the storm, however, was too great to last.  Gradually it subsided and reason began to assert its sway.  Other words than those of reproach were uttered; and it was not many months before the general sentiment of the people of the city was with the decision.  A year did not elapse before the great good it had conferred upon the city and settler was seen and appreciated.  Since then its doctrines have been repeatedly re-affirmed.  They have been approved by the Supreme Court of the United States; and now no one doubts their soundness.

After that decision there was still wanting for the complete settlement of titles in the city the confirmation by the tribunals of the United States of her claim to the lands.  The act of Congress of March 3d, 1851, creating the Board of Land Commissioners, provided that all claims to land in California, by virtue of any right or title derived from the Spanish or Mexican government, should be presented to the board for examination and adjudication.  Accordingly, the city of San Francisco, soon after the organization of the board, in 1852, presented her claim for four square leagues as successor of the pueblo, and asked for its confirmation.  In December, 1854, the board confirmed the claim for a portion of the four square leagues, but not for the whole; the portion confirmed being embraced within the charter limits of 1851.  The city was dissatisfied with this limitation, and appealed from the decision of the Commissioners to the District