former interest in learning and literature. Their chil dren, with but poor educational facilities and without the example, would have grown up with acquire ments inferior to those of their parents before emi grating. Reared in poor houses, without any of the elegancies of life, 36 and with but few of the ordinary conveniences, they would have missed the refining influences of healthy environment, and have fallen below the level of their time in regard to the higher enjoyments of living. The people being chiefly agri cultural and pastoral, from their isolation would have become fixed in their ideas and prejudices. As the means of living became plenty and little exertion was required, they would become attached to an easy, careless, unthinking mode of existence, with a ten dency even to resent innovations in their habits to which a higher degree of civilization might invite them. Such is the tendency of poverty and isolation, or of isolation and rude physical comforts, without some constant refining agency at hand.

One of the immediate effects of the mining exodus of 1848 was the suspension of the legislature. 37 On the day appointed by law for the assembling of the legislative body only nine members were present, representing four counties; and this notwithstanding the governor had issued proclamations to fill vacan cies occurring through the resignation of members- elect. 38 Even after the sergeant-at-arrns had com pelled the appearance of four members from Chain-

86 Strong s Hist. Or., MS., 21.

37 The members elect of the legislature were : from Clackamas, A. L. Love- joy, G. L. Curry, J. L. Snook; Tualatin, Samuel R. Thurston, P. H. Bur nett, Ralph Wilcox; Champoeg, Albert Gains, Robert Newell, W. J. Bailey, William Porter; Yamhill, A. J. Hembree, L. A. Rice, William Martin; Polk, Harrison Linville, J. W. Nesmith, 0. Russell; Linn, Henry J. Peter son, Anderson Cox; Lewis, Levi L. Smith; Clatsop, A. H. Thompson; Van couver, Adolphus L. Lewis. Graver s Or. Archives, 258.

38 The members elected to fill vacancies were Samuel Parker, in Cham poeg County; D. Hill, in Tualatin; A. F. Hedges and M. Crawford, iu Clack amas. Id., 260. Two other substitutes were elected Thomas J. Lovelady of Polk county, and A. M. Locke of Benton, neither of whom served.