The Express.
London, England, 1849-01-10 00:00:00

• our.

THE MEP:

EVul itaeketaa_aal Irish Wort ihakiaseesses, the refusal of which
. . Teta' aam ••••• ofYill d on • PAammi se muals unmerited shffering.
~.--e5,11.411,1 • tiologi=afaillinn I The Paw% pdodelly iastromental in Mr.
--*1 e. the same thas, thi utter of the IMMO; !Qin, sad bra imeticipedion in whose offence
litre industry that existed in the country. The teen- he was tried, was one JostrOaFtrrana, a soi•disant
tistentalists had, however, still power esough to ex' fatiteti surgeon, who resided at CamberwelL This
trod the original and insalkisst poor-law to one en- flircun occupied his leisure time, and added
out-doorralieL AndeventhessonemiatsvoteAt, to his wealth, which was considerable, by
"the . ; . thatlt Weald bring the Irish lar;lotaa to tracing oat the entitled to unclaimed Bauk
their mess and eraertlosa Bat what w'!:ri old imam- of England stack and dividends; obtaining for them
bream and fresh deists, hlaarrad. during the year the property to which they were entitled, and pocket-
of amine, the landlord had rei spring left. His re- lug a handsome donor for the orrice he had ren-
smear, physical sad moral, were exhausted. The dewed. Whether Arms= entered on this pursuit,
absurdity of district delimitation,
the
with the ender the influence of dishonest motives, does not
terrible demands upon him, drove the Irish landlord appear ; bat, eventually, he made it a practice, when
to have the feelings of the Happen., and to coin- he could not discover the right heirs to such property,
bine with the pauper against the law. It was and though:. the ground was clear, to substitute false
hoped that he might be forced to sell, but a ones, ir Unit the principal part of the proceeds,
rebellion, however abortive, does not fill a market and remuneraung the instruments of his frauds with
with whilst the legislature, in its attempt the remainder. In the legal proceedings necessary in'
to hats the isle of inoumbered estates, paned so such asses be employed, among other firms, that of
puny and incomplete a measure, that it might as Messrs. BARBRR and BIRCHASI, who came in process
well have left the goestion untouched. of time to be his ordioary solicitors. In his dealings
A new session of parliament is now about to with them, and other solicitors whom he employed,
open. It is admitted that the discord of Irish }lmam who appears to have been a man of much
pauperism and landlordism must be one of ability, took cam to give all his proceedings In appear-
the first subjects inquired into. And the advo- once of perfect legality, if not of a certain disinterest-
eaters of the different parties are already ha- eduesa. The caution, which for selfish motives, and
tangoing and enforcing their peculiar ideas. The with a view to ascertaining where he might safely
economists put forth long essays, deprecating out- get up a case of fraudulent heirship, required to
door relief, and attributing to it the broken back of be exercised in the search for the owners of unclaimed
the Irish poor-law, which, they say, would have been dividends, naturally slimmed to his solicitors the sp-
an excellent law if kept to its original dimensions. pearance of a solicitude to obtain the greatest cer-
The sentimentalists ask with reason to what use or tainty as to the right heirs, before he interfered for
end could serve the Irish poor-law, limited the purpose of forwarding their claims.
to the mere filling of the workhouses. Its In how many cases of this description FLETCHER
would have been limited to the school
scope
the infirmary. The ultra tor) journals plead for succeeded in imposing on the solicitors whom he em-
ployed, as well as on the proctors at Doctors'-oom-
the destitute Irish landlord, whilst the ultras of the mons, and on the officials of the Bank, will never be
contrary creed would let loose upon him all the yin- kuown. Bat he appears to have carried on the prac-
dictivenese of the rate collector. On this subject, tice successfully for some fifteer years, and probably
however, opinions are verging to the common conclu• the greater part, if not the whole of his wealth, was
don that landlords in the west have been ',harshly derived from this source, for the profits of a single
treated, landlords in the east too leniently, and a fraud were often very large, amounting to thousands
national rate in aid to help those districts where a of pounds. At length, however, he was caught.
maximum rate shall have been ranched, seems almost He brought e • orward a Mrs. SANDERS, an old
imperative. accomplice of his, as EMMA SLACK, the next heir to
Bat how is this rate in aid to be distributed ? Shall one ANNE SLACK, of Smith-street, Chelsea, who had
it be in the shape of mere out-door relief, leaving the died too,sessed of 3,5001. Three per Cent. Console, on
landlords in full possession of their wastes deriving which the dividends had been accumulating for ten
pride and poverty, but; no profit from them ?—whilst years. A genuine certificate of a supposititious de Mb,
the sale of estates in a region devoted to a maximum and a forged will were produced. FLETCHER intro-
poceseate is, of course, a chin,era. Here, however, duced Mrs. SANDERS to BARBER lIS Min EMMA
the great political doctors who prescribe for Ire- a:
LaLACK, and BARBER relying on FLETCHER'S Tepees-a-
land immovably stick. They will not hear tations, accompanied the lady to Doctors'-commons,
of waste land reclamation, and they turn where she proved the will ; and afterwards aided in
as rick es the political economists at any the necessary proceedings to obtain, and was present
scheme of productive labour. They scent the at, the payment of the money by the Bank. When
proposition of Mr. MILL, and will not listen to Mr. the fraud was discovered, all these circumstances, and
PouLerr Sonora, whose brain is as fertile in plans, especially his attending in FLETCHER'S place at Dac-
es his zeal is indefatigable in propounding and in tors-commons, were considered as implying, on
pushing them. The Times plays with the subject. It BARBER'S part, a guilty knowledge of the transaction.
abases the Celtic peasant, yet sacrifices the landlord. BARBER and FLETCHER, with Mrs. SANDERS and her
It preaches the doctrines of political economy one husband, were tried together for conspiracy to
time, the suggestion. of sentiment another. Now it forge and utter the will in question, and
has gr, at faith in emigration, and anon bath but all found guilty. BARBER'S being tried together
small hope in it. with FLETCHER and Mrs. SANDERS prevented
For our part, we have little faith in emigration as a the examination of the only witnesses from whose
remedy for the pauperism of millions. And the Poor- admission his innocence could be proved. The magis-
law, however Tequilas and admirable for every-day trate before whom he was brought had refused, in a
functions in a SAMS cr not deeply-diseased system, is very hard and arbitrary way, to accept any bail for
incapable of grappling with the universal ruin and his appearance. His defence was imperfectly con-
destitution of the west of Ireland. There are masses ducted, owing principally to the want of funds,
of people, and there is the land which could be made which, if admitted to bail, he could have procured.
to feed them, which is United to no account, and
The various
which would grow produce to feed the m. gave rise to a host of rumours and misrepresentations,
The pauper landlord stands between them and the which 12
by .ARDERN MISS was immensely prejudiced,
mil, nay, sends them off to pauperise other both in the eyes of the public generally and still more
districts which cannot support them ;and the poor in those of the Bank directors and their solicitor, who
law acts as incentive to this. We should say, lookel upon him as an old confederate and hardened
keep the peasantry of the west in the west,
accomplice of FLETCHER'S, and proceeded against him
give them the soil to dig and to sow, we care in cense quence with an animosity, still Reciter than
not how, provided it be a kind of tenure or property,
that which they manifested towards FLETCHER him-
which begets security and prudence. It is
alleged this is impossible with the Celt. But it has self. This severity appears to have been per-
never been tried, and the result has been to make the sisted in the more on account of BARBER'Srefusal, when first arrested, to dieclose
Celt as he is, the Celt of Saxon imagination, FLETCHER'S name and connexion with the transom-
by depriving him of every sentiment and every aim tion, on the ground that it would be a violation of the
of existence, save those of the savage, being daily and confidence reposed in him by a client, whose integrity
immediate sustenance. In the wealthy and cultivated he had as yet no sufficient grounds for distrusting.
ports of Ireland apply the remedies of wealth, and Had BARBER, indeed, waived this punctilio, and at
give the rich the alternative of either employing the once given up FLETCHER as his employer, the probi-
population in industry, or feeding them in idleness— bility is that he would either have escaped trial alto
give the population the alternative as in England of gether or, at all events, he would have got out on bail,
work and sufficiency, or idleness and want. But and hid an opportunity of properly preparing his de-
in the west, where there is no wealth, none able to fence. The trial, as reported, and with the prima
feel and to save themselves from the dilemma facie
evidence
againstßAßßEß, W..iCh, toa certain
—where there is nothing but the soil, distribute extent, warranted the judge and jury in the course
the soil, re-colonise, re-attach the outcast to they took, will be found in the London morning
it ; and be not alarmed by the cry, flat
papers of the 17th to the 20. h April, 1844.
capital is needed and not forthcoming. A poor
Immense efforts were made by BARBER and his
man's arm is capital, if he have the strong interest
friends te procure a reinvestigation of his case both
and security to wield and activate it, which the
FLETCHER and SANDERS both made dec
by of
the
squatter must have. The political economists assert
before and after his departure from England.
declarations
that they have tried every scheme of productive la-
r
hour, and in vain. No doubt, since they have always BARBER'S innocence, which were corroborated
icts,
omitted that one little ingredient which alone renders
statements of other conv
labour in rude and remote districts productive, a conversation endeavoured to e who had in private
licit from FLETCHER an
sense of property or of a man's labouring for himself. acknowledgment of the truth. But all these testi-
conies attributed co between te par-
Nor Ii this mere theory ; we have seen the principle
ties," and were
to FLETCHER'Sto wish to llusion
screen his supposed
at work in the mountains of the west of Ireland.
We have seen Lord BANTRT'S tenantry as poor RS e
ha
old accomplice from the consed quences of the nefarious
tra tions in which h him s ved him.
ever Celt was, driving the ploughshare and the spade,
This suspicion continued to act against BARBER
each year higher and higher up the mountain, en-
during the voyage, and on his arrival at hie place of
croachiog on the heather, and studding the barren
hill with productive crops. The capital expended in destination. And no outward enmity between
FLETCHER and BARBER could satisfy those who war-
the operation consisted of leases with no rents at first,
prejudiced against the latter that the whole disagree-
and to th.s should now be added a wholesome mis-
trust of the potato. But as long as the political went was not gots against him it up for show. W
i What
impossible to tea); at private influences
economists insist on rendering the Celt nomad, they were employea
condemn not only him but the soil, to remain Celtic, but neither the declarations of his fellow-prisoners, nor
at least according to the Saxon acceptation of that the striking facts which transpired after his couvie-
injurious term. tion, could procare either a reconsideration of his
case, or even a trifling mitigation of the severities of
his sentence.
Whatever influence was exerted had directly the
contrary effect. BARBER came to Norfclk Island a
marked man, and during the greater part of his stay
there was subjected to the most cruel treatment, of
which the pamphlet which he has just publisted con-
tains a harrowing detail. The poignancy of his sufa
ferings was aggravated by his beholding other per-
sons of his previous station in society, and amongst
them FLETCHER himself, treated with a mildness and
consideration which formed the gres'est possible con-
trast with the galling indignities, unwarranted either
by his offence or by any misconduct since he had been
a convict, of which he was selected as the object.
His sufferings in this condition ex iced the compas-
sion, as hie conduct and demeanour had previously won
the respect and esteem, of the chaplains and some of
the superintendents at Norfolk Island. But their
efforts to ameliorate his condition were for a
long time unsuccessful. Even the request of
one of the chaplains to have him for a ser-
vant was refused ; and these and the other officials
who showed him any favour were made to feel that
they had committed an imprudence. BARBER was a
marked man--palpably in load odour with some one
or other at head-quarters—and it was a crime even in
the ministers of religion to show any sympathy with
his sufferings. Though the establishment under
which this occurred has been broken up, we think
these circumstances demand inquiry from parliament.
The facilities for practising this sort of oppression are
so great, that when a case like this does come to
light, it ought not to be passed over without in-
vestigation.
The gentlemen who had inquired into BARBER'S
case, and who had formed a conviction of his inno-
cence, as strong as their compassion for his suffer-
ings, did not relax their efforts on their removal from
Norfolk Island. One of them especially, the Rev.
Mr. NAYLOR, made unheard-of efforts to bring
his case before the home government. And
we may mention, as a specimen of the in-
fluence that was exerted against BARBER, that a
lever of Mr. NAYLOR'S on the subject, which he ad-
dressed to Sir ROBERT PEEL, was suppressed by the
colonial government, and found in the office of the
Comptroller-General of Convicts, nineteen months
after its date. Other letters of Mr. NAYLOR were
transmitted, not to the persons to whom they were
addressed, but to BARBER'S prosecutors. It being re-
ported among the convicts that BARBER was prepar-
ing another statement of his case, the few remaining
papers he had were seiz ,d, and he was debarred all
use of writing materials. It was only when toe Rev.
Mr. NAYLOR, baffled in every other way, sent Mrs.
NAYLOR, his own wife, to England with BARBER'S
papers, that a hearing was got for him, the result of
which was—first, a conditional pardon (dated the
12th of November 1846), on condition of hie riot re-
turning to the United Kingdom; and, subsequently,
after BARBER'S arrival in Paris, where he could
with ease communicate with his friends, and
point cut the mode of completing the proofs'

Most of our readers, we dare say, have some recol-
lection of the trial of Mr. WILLIAM HENRY BARBER,
a solicitor of some standing and considerable practice,
who was, in the spring of 1844, convicted of forgery
and sentenced to transportation for life. Mr. BARBER'S
' private and professional character had been previously
altogether unimpeached, and from the first there were
very strong doubts whether he could have been guilty
of the crime for which he suffered, the grounds for
which opinion have been at different times, and
in a variety of shins, brought before the public.
The recent return of Mr. BARBER to this country,
after receiving a full pardon from the crown, is likely
to call renewed attention to all the circumstances of
this very remarkable case. Mr. BARBER naturally
feels that, though the government have, after a most un-
warrantable delay, thought proper to acknowledge
his innocence, yet that the unfavourable impressions
which many of his countrymen conceived of bim at
the time of his trial continue unabated, and that he
has still to solicit that reversal of his condemnation
at the tribunal of public opinion which the govern-
ment, after a most searching inquiry, found it im-
possible to refuse. There is no conceivable position
in which a man more requires the aid and counte-
nance of his fellow-men than in an attempt of this
description.
It is true, indeed, that two of the worst abuses of
the system, under which imperfections, as well as its
mal-administration, Mr. BARBER suffered, have since
been partially removed. A court of appeal in criminal
cases has been established ; and the worst atroci•ies
of Norfolk Island have been abolished. But the im-
portanoe of Mr. BARBER'S case does not depend on its
being an unusually striking illustration of the imper-
fections of our criminal code. It is one which has a
very extensive bearing on the relations that exist be-
tween solicitors and their clients, particularly as re-
gards the maintaining inviolate by the former the
confidence reposed in them by the latter. The profes-
sion are not likely, for their own sake, to let an inquiry
drop, in which their own interests are so widely in-
volved. There is no man among them, let him be
ever so scrupulous and suspicious, who is not liable to
the misfortune of having for his clients persons
so-
eretly engaged in nefarious transactions, but whose
true character is indiscernible beneath the mask of
respectability and often of actual wealth, which they
assume. The number of such individuals, prowling
about and preying on society, and yet maintaining an
unblemished character before the world, is greater
perhaps than society in general has any suspicion of.
Solicitors of the highest respectability are sometimes
purposely sought out by clients of this clam, with
'the view of placing above suspicion the transactions
in which the latter propose to employ them. It
may be that of the risks thus ran the law can take
no cognisance. It may be that the protection of sli•
ciety requires that solicitors so employed should
always be liable to be tried for conspiracy in conjunc-
tion with their dishonest clients. If so, it is only the
more necemary to mecum to them ail those opportnni-

of his innocence, a free pardon, dated 3rd
Nov., 1848. Mr. BARBER'S innocence of the crime
for which he was convicted is now acknowledged by
the government. But who shall restore him to the
position he enjoyed before that sentence, or compen-
este him for the unmerited sufferings—and the penal
honors of Norfolk Island, even when nuggravated by
official malignity, exceed all description—which he
his sines endured ?
We have now recapitulated as minutely as our
space would permit us the facts of this very extraor-
dinary case. Bat we have necessarily, and with great
regret, emitted the chain of testimonies which go to
substantiate Mr. BARBER'S innocence, and which pro-
duced a long-delayed and reluctant admission thereof
from the Home-office itself. This surely is a
cue—or let us rather say a type of a
whole class of cases—which demands a searching in-
quiry from parliament, as well as a careful investiga-
tion by the profession to which Mr. BARBER belongs,
of the liabilities to which the present imperfection
either of the law or of its aiministration, exposes
them. One of the main objections to the punishment
of death, viz. the impossibility of its revisal, would
apply equally to transportation and imprisonment, if
officials were at liberty, as they found themselves at
Hobart Town and Norfolk Island, to suppress at
their own arbitrament-the appeals of persons unjustly
convicted, and thus nip in the bud all their
chances of obtaining redress. Bat for the
noble and most du►nterested conduct of
the Rev. Mr. NAYLOR, there is no reason
to suppose that Mr. BARBER would not be at this
moment still undergoing his punishment; if the per-
secution to which he was subjected had not. indeed,
by this time, brought him to his grave. The magni-
tude of the sacrifice Mr. NATLOR made shows the
despair he was in of otherwise obtaining the redress
of an injustice, the sight of which weighed upon his
conscience, almost as if he had been the cause of it.
Really it is time that this matter should be looked to.
So long as each doings are permitted as those to
which we have adverted, it is not her Majesty or the
government, but the girders and overseers of our con-
vict establishments, that virtually exercise the prero-
gative of mercy.

all men are M the eager pursuit of wealth. tie au
conjecture the extent of these outrages, for living witanam
ere not at hand, and " dead men tell no t .lee." Tbe stn.
and firm hand of government must be promp.ly exiatiettli
save the country from the most revolting acts of violence,
Without immediate measures on the pelt of the
government to preserve persons and property, thus
too much reason to believe that the whole country
will sink into anarchy and the wont possible cat.
fusion. _

We think it only dae to Mr. BARBER, as well as to
his unwearied advocate, the Rev. Mr. NAYLOR, to
quote the certificate in which, on leaving Norfolk
Island, that gentleman expressed We conviction of
Mr. BARBER'S innocence. It sums up, in a few ex-
pressive sentences, the result of a variety of circum-
stances in the latter's favour, which we have not space
to present to our readers ; and it is corroborated by a
number of similar documents, some of them proceed-
ing from distinguished persons of the legal professions
in New South Wales and at Madras, at both which
places Mr. BARBER was received in a way which ex-
pressed, in the heartiest manner, the general convic-
tion of his innocence :

CBUTIPICATII Or THE Rev. T. B NAYLOR —N triolk
Island, Sept. 3,1845.—1 n leaving the island of wni.sh I have
now been for some years the chaplain, I owe to public
justice the duty of recording my full conviction of the perfect
innocence of William Henry Barber, now suff-rinT on it as
a prieoner under a sentence of transportation. I have, with
unceasing in t, followed up a series of inquiries into cir-
cumstances ecnnected with his case inaccessible to the court
by which he was tried, and many of which have sub-
sequently occurred. In addition, I have heard the reluctant
acknowledgments of Fletcher, the guilty originator of the
frauds, establishing, beyond the possibility of doubt, the
innocence of Barb. r. My efforts shall continue for his ex-
trication. I deeply lament his truly wretched condition here,
and would gladly have seen it ameliorated. I have never
known a prisoner of the crown who has been auljected to
greater wretcludnessi I rejoice to be able to add, I have
never seen au instance of more dignified suffering, acttom•
panied by invarinb4 conekent conduct. It will afford me
real plea.ura to continue his acquaintance under happier cir-
cumstances.—(Signed) T. BEAOLY NATLOB.

UNITED STATES.

The WasAington Globe has also a letter from tlm
writer of the foregoing communication, Mr. trs
but of twenty days' later date, from wtlch we ;Zis
the following extracts :
Something should be done here at once for the establish.
ment of pesos and good order in the country. All jaw, botik
civil and military, Is at an end. Among the mines, and ja,
deed most parte of the country out of the village., nu mu,
lily but that of the strongest exists ; and outrages of tae
most disgraceful nature are constantly occurring, and
the
offenders go unpunished. There are now about twenty-dog
vessels in this port, and I believe there is not one of them
that has a crew to go to sea. Frequently the sailors arm
themselves, take the shies' boats, and leave in the mat open
manner, defying both their officers and the civil ma.idegio.
These things are oisgrageful to the country and the gin
and while vowels have to pay. port coarges, duties. &c., thek
owners ought to be protecteThe tariff law of 1846 is now M
force in California. We have not had an American mansof•
war in this port for more than a year, and all the naval remoras
of the United States on this coast are concentrated ar
Monterey which is not a barbou, but an open roslatead,
and which bas not one-tenth of the business on its water
which is done in this bay. For months past there has sal.
dom been more than one merchant veseel at a time, and fro-
quently none at all, and still that is the general place of
resort on the coast for men-of-war. At this time, arch is the
state of affairs here, that at least one armed tress 1 ought to
be constantly in port. In a few months the line of mesa
mail steamers will be in operation from Panama to Oregon,
and this port is to be a depot for coal, and course a
stopping point in passing, both war. The stoma: of the
line of steamers on this coast is likely to be an Ullth %%akin
of very great difficulty, and at this time such is in impart.
ante with reference to both Oregon and California, that its
failure might be look, d upon a. a natioual calamity. Still,sa,
less some kind of protection is extended to the shipping of mil
part, it is not at all improbable that it may fail for want of
the necessary labourers se soon as the boats teach this
harbour. Indeed, it is altogether probable, unless somas
compe.ent authority is found hero at tho time to preserve
order, that the crew will quit in s body as soon as the that
vessel arrives. Every p issible as4stance should be eat ndad
to ensure the ste,:cass of this company. and every reasonable
latitude should be granted in the execution of their con-
tract. It is now uncertain if the steamers can enter Colum-
bia river at all times in the winter ; and they may end it
necessary to run up to Puget's Sound. This would be a
small inconvenience in comparison to the loss of one of these
vessels upon the very dangerous bar at them uth of the
Columbia—an event not at all improbable, if Volt rotes the
river in the winter. livery kind of labour is rot at cionnom
rates of compensation. Common clerks and salesmen at the
stores about town, often receive as high as 2,500 dollars
and their board. The clerk now in my nffice is a young
boy, who, until a few weeks since, was private of veins-
teem and I am now paying Dim 1,600 dollars per annum.
This will not appear high when I tell you that I have just
seen upon his table a wash bill, made out and p dd. at the
rate of 8 dole, per akin, and the. almost everything else is
at correepoading prise. Unless something is done, lam
unable to see how it is possible for officers, living upon the
salaries granted by law to military men, to support them-
selves' in this country. For some time last Rummer (Angst
and July) the officers at Monterey were entire') without sees
' vants, and the Governor (Colonel Mason) actually took his
turn is cooking for his mess. Unless some pros pt actin('
taken to pay both officer' and men serving in this country Ia
proportion to the un .voidable expenses to be inc_rred, ths
former will rt sign, and the latter will desert, and it will be
impossible to maintain a military force in California. it can-
not be expected that officers will devote their serv.ei a to the
government at a rate of compensation which will not en*
them to employ a servant, to say nothing of living in such a
manner as may bitcome their station ; and it is utterly is.
possible to do it in California upon the salaries allowed
by law.
The following is the letter of our own correspondent:
NEW YORK, Dec. 26,
The Christmas of this year has been a remarkably unplea-
sant one. A dense log huvg over tee city, and it was scarcely
possible to see across the street; collisions of carriages seemed
unavoidable, and tt e foot passengers unconsciously jostled
each other. It was a common remark that one might sup-
pose himself in London. A 1 business is, as usual at this
season, at a stand.

CALIFORNIA.

The W ashington Union comes to us with an
elaborate and interesting communication, dated
Quartermaster's Office, San Francisco, Sept. 18, from
J. S. Folsom, Esq., which throws some new light
upon the extraordinary doings in and about the gold
region there. We have previously published advices
from San Francisco and Monterey as late as the 11th
October, but there is much contained in Mr. Folsom's
despatch which we have not yet seen. Mr. Folsom be-
gins with a concise narrative of events which first led to
the discovery of the mines, and then goes on to de-
scribe the general hegira which followed. San Fran-
cisco, which, we are told, up to that time had been ,
one of the busiest towns on the whole Pacific coast, is
now nearly deserted, though there were signs of a
re-action beginning to appear. Thus:
Sickness had broken out among the miners, and many
' have returned prostrated with fevers, while others have come
to avoid being so. There is now a large number of
labourers here, but many of them refute to work on any
terms, while those who tabour do so at exorbitant prices.
The ordinary compensation for white labourers is fr
dole to 10 dela. per day. lam now paying these prices for
men I am forced to employ for repairing the government
lighter, and for discharging the ship Huntress, now in this'
port. At the same time everything is high in proportion.
Butter sells by the barrel at 1 dol. per lb., and hams a, the
same price ; flour is 25 dolt. p.x barrel, and pilot bread, 40 c.
per lb. For the last three pair of boots I have had, I base
paid respectively 18 dole., 14 dols., and 12 dole. per pair.
Other things are at corresponding prices in this place, but at
the mines everything is muck higher. Flour and pork vary
in the mines from 10 dole. to 200 dole. per barrel. Common
shoes, worth in Boston about 75 cents. per pair, sell at 8 dole.
or even 12 dole, per pair. There is a kind of recklessnesa
about these, prices which would be sought after in vain in
any otter part of the world.
The climate of California, about the gold regions,
Mr. Folsom says, is insufferably warm in the summer.
When he was there in the beginning of July,
everything was literally parched up, after a drought
which had then continued for near three motths, and
which had five months more to run to the rainy
season.

As no one has yet found the gold in its native matrix, a
question often suggests itself as to its origin. I believe the
coarse gold is found near the spots where it originally lay in
its native bed, and that much of the fine gold has been swept
down from the mountains by torrents of water. Almost all
the rocks in Upper California are imperfectly organised,
I being soft and friable, and incapable of resisting the action of
the weather. In the process of time the mountains have
gradually crumbled away into fine dust, aid the gold ban
been liberated. The coarse gold, from its massiveness and
great specific gravity, was not removed from the mountain
' sides, whereas the fine gold was swept off to the plains below.
The gold region, the writer firmly believes, extends
' throughout a territory of more than 600 miles
in extent, and probably into Oregon. Here are
some o'her statements calculated rather to stimulate
than to allay the excitement, in this meridian :
On the most southerly tributary of the American Fork,
sixteen mile, from the main stream, I saw where Messrs.
Neilly and Crowly got, with six men in six days, ten and a
half pounds of gold, avoirdupois weight. In the bottom of
a dry ravine of the same stream, Messrs. Daly and M'Cooms
removed, with a party of Indians and white men, 17,000 dol
in two der, and within 200 yards of the main stream. From
another dry ravine, within a few rods of the lest mentioned,
it is said that 30,000 dot. were collected in three days. Mr. C.
S. Lyman, a clergyman, unaccustomed to labour, informs me
that he got 60 dol. for about five hours' work each day. M.
V&C•i, a New Mexican, who resides about thirty miles from
Sutter's told me he, with four other men, got seventeen
pounds of gold, avoirdupois weight, in seven days. I saw
the gold. Major Cooper, late of hlisssuri, with two men and
one boy, got 1,000 dole. in two Oasts. Mr. Sinclair had been
engaged in digging gold about five weeks, with a party of
ledians, numoering about forty, sometimes more and some-
times less. He gave his Indians meat, sugar, coffee, flour,
and rice, and they ate three times a day. They were mostly
will Indians, and worked altogether with pans. In five
weeks, after ;eying all his Indians and the current expenses
of the party, he had 17.000 dole, er upwards of ninety pounds,
troy weight, of gold dust. The gold was shown. Mr. Nor-
ris, and one companion took from a dry ravine, not far from
thee* already mentioned, 3,000 doh. in two days, and the
dirt was packed on horses more than 200 yards to the water.
Mr. Aaron Angland got from his own labour, in 20 consecu-
tive days after his arrival at the mines, 2,200 dole. But I
might go on stating facts like these until I should tire vur
patience It is impossible to foretell what will be the ulti.
mate result of this sudden development of wealth. It is
sufficiently obvious, however, that the country will be pre•
I maturely filled by a restless, excitable, adventurous and
reckless population, and that extended agricultural or me-
chanical improvements are at en end for some years to come.
Gambling and all sorts of thoughtless profusion begin to
prevail. The present excitement will attract vast numbers
of the idle, rcious, and dissolute. Refugees from justice
from the United States, as well as other countries, will flock
to Calitornia among the better disposed population, and will
find shelter among the almost inaccessible featnesses of the
mountaiies, where such mines of wealth are now °pearl.
These regions are of vast extent, and are remote from the
regular settlements, and from the operation of the laws. In
the solitary recesses of the Sierra Nevada are little clusters
of men, with nothieg but the trees for their covering,
and no protection but their ewa vigilance and
strength. Many of these people are known to purees
very large amounts of gold (sometimes as much as twenty
thousand dollars) wrapped in their blankets, where there is
no eye to see and no agent to pursue the guilty. Is it
strange, when the temptation is so great, that the robber and
assassin ebould be abroad among the mountains? Many
robberies and some mureltrs are known already to have oc-
curred ; but little attention is excited by these events, where

From Washington we have some interesting news. A
movement has been made in Congress to prevent the traffic
in slaves in the district of Columbia. The defeat of Geo.
Cass han given courage to the free 'oilers, and, having found
out that public opinion is rather strong on the abstract ques-
tion, they are beginning to attack the outworks of the south.
It is b lieved that the proposition will pass, inasmuch as is
the original code of laws which was prepared for the govern-
ment of the district the time prohibition was contained, al-
though it was never adopted. Two effects have already
taken place in consequence of this—a movement to retrocede
the district, or rather that part of it which the general go-
vernment does not want, to the state of Maryland. This
has been made in both how* of congren. The other is a
meeting in Cauca& of the southern members to deliberate ea
this new danger to the slaveholding netts, which took
place a few evenings since at Washington. Mr. Calhoun, as
mull, took the lead, and proposed violent measures of some
kind or other, but he met with but a meagre support. Man
of those present objected naulutely to his Oen, advocated
union before all ode r prieciplee, and declared their tuned-
lingness to act with rashness. The meeting adjourned to
I meet again.
Meantime, the whole difficulty will vanish with the mea-
-1 non of it—the position of the new territories. It. is now
settled bey.nd a doubt that the people of New Mexico sad
California will not permit slavery to exist there. Lieutenan
Emory, an accomplished officer of the topographical corps of
engineers, who en with General Kearney clueing the whole
of his successful march through that region, says, labour is
already so cheap there, that that of slaves cannot possibly
compete with it. In the next place, no slave holder could
possibly keep his eleven there a single day. 'they mold
certainly leave him, and never could be reclaimed. Let oar
European philanthropists rekice if they like over the feet
that there will be no slavery in California or New Mexico.
I have omitted to mention to you an anomalous c mdtuoa
of the present legislation of Ohio. The ger ate of that state
recently elected has been duly organised ; the Assembly has
not been. It appears that the whip would have it majority
in the House as well as in the Senate it the memten elect
from Hamilton county could take their seats. The demo-
crats contend that their election was Hiegel, and in order to
secure their own ascendancy in this blench of the govern.
ment, took posseesion of the Representative Climber before
the hour fur its annual ireembling, were sworn in, and pro-
ceeded to maintain it. The whip, at the regular hour, also
walked in, were sworn In, and have kept up the show of
meeting and adjourning from day to day.
The democrats have deemed it expedient to retain their
seats day and night. Their meals are brought in to them, and
they sleep on benches and mattresses, and upon the floor.
As may be supposed, they are well nigh worn out, while the
whip are in good condition, and grow stronger and firmer,
as the others grow weaker. At first, party excitement ran
high, but it is wearing off, and it is expected th it by some
compromise the house will be organised. This spectacle is
considered here a disgraceful one. The initiative was take,
by the democrats. Public justice will speedily overtake the
offending party, be it whom it may.
The excitement with repel to California continues ea.
abated. Every day we hear further accouots of the produc-
tiveness of the gold region. Indeed, the first clan of diggers
is beginning to talk of returning home te enjoy their for-
tunes. Letters are constantly published from individuals
oonnected with the army, and well known here, which state
that they have money enough, and they are about to return.
One person talks of thousand. of pounds of gold being stored
1 up by himself and his associates. Others speak of the
mountain ores as being still richer then the river tends.
It is needless for me to enter into details which you will find
in the newspapers accompanying this letter. I refer you in
particular to the official report of .Capt. Folsom, which has
been published by the authorities at Washington. Therms
ter emigration is no longer confined to the lower classes, bat
has reached the intelligent and most respectable. Immense
quantities of assorted goods are going out to San Francisco,
and American coins in large sums also, to be exchanged toe
gold at 7 or 8 dole. the ounce. This last operation is likely to
be the most easily and profitably performed.
One of the nine days wonders of the press is the Me 0(
Mrs. Butler. It is now asserted that Mr. Butler has with-
, drawn hie suit, has settled a proper income upon the lady,
and permits one of the children to reside with her. Thin
the storm which threatened to wreck her peace hes subsided,
and while she has enjoyed the hearty couimiseratioh of the
pubic, she has shown herself worthy of a better late.
The president has withdrawn the nomination of young
Mr. Cass, which was before the senate for c.ntiemation, as
minister to Rome. It was so unpalatable a dose that it would
not go down. General Caw his been mowed of unfair
pay to another gentleman in this matter, but the event will
best determine. If that gentleman receives the appeiutmen
then the selection of Mr. Case, jun., may have been a whim
of the president. If not, General Can will be wisp .cted of
duplicity.
Both the general and Mr. Clay are expected back in the
senate of the United States.
General Taylorte views with regard t t his cabinet are al/
unknown. No one knows anything about them. The
politicians have no " speculation in their eyes " to glare
withal at him. It is the first tent since the days of Wash-
ingto.t that we have had a president without a camera
(cabal). Tnerc can be no doubt whatever of his uptight ill•
tentions, nor of his sound discretion.
The attacks of the cholera have not continued in the city.
The number of cases at the Marine Hospital, co icateo
Island, has diminished daily, and the disease is evidently
lees virulent. No American hes yet been sick with R. We
have information from New Orleans of its arrival there vita
an emigrant ship. When we had the cholera before in this
city, the inhabitants used well water, end a very inferior
kind dawn from pits by a steam engine, and distributed
abort in wooden tubes. At this time we have toe utmost
profusion of delicious water, brought nearly fifty miles (rein
the Croton river in a ventilated culvert. Before at is dioui
bated in the eity, it is received in two grand reservers,
or nob:e masonry, where the sediment deposits itself, and
is exposed to the action of the air. This wetter is CO iveyed
in iron mains through every street, and from the meies by
branch pipes to every dwelling. In every house now
erected, large or small, whether it rents for 601. or 2001, the
last being a high rent, there is • hot and cold bath. In front
of each house in also a bydratr, which is opened by a key,
and the own, , by Man/ of a hose, is able to have the front

bh woe, the windows, the doorway, tit. Rugs in tenet,
sad the Area, timetiotaly washed aad demised every day.
geopn. Womb aloe; the streets are larger hydrous ;
'WI seek is the bead of water at the ressmiss, that WM./
say be seat throne leather pipes too 80 to 80 het
la Millet. Tee eonsegsaice is that ear lire-
gegkess am &big way te hese hefts. Taking all
lbw wogs bausesaswe believe there is me sky
is she
We se well with Taw se se obesely se ear
voile tbe eseditisa el your_
people of Latalsoll, here, aseardieg the Makes, rams,
the water is say DM ems&
We inagies thassesse, thee** dishes will set be is ge-
Wally hal wilt might be seder Miser einemellemess. Its
Mails PM be Mak end they heessimes eneegbd
t,
Wee musesess where Slit mei emaregmese prevail, anbat
will be wog do welshed senipmede wise erowd %spun r
the Weds. serer •m Realm. end is ether *see prembial
tar Omar &md of elsenliesee. Sense et egg pkgehiree
silt that the use kinds aimless bus sot yet append hire.
Oar popes emnesia a deesimmit tress ear general post,
saw &snow% hat Ile pen et the assistant, who not
keg siege visited Ragland, Mr. RObiw
It is a liberally-cos otieed paper, and it is written under a
soavie ion that our povtollica department is sot the beat is
the world. TD. excellent regulatioas of yours are sotio.d,
sad the writer evidently &wiles of squalling it is man y re-
spite. During the administration of Mr Polk, we base
born salortunate *sough to hays a pcatmastergaseral, I
whose osaceit i. only squalled by his obstinacy. His bead
has been botab•proa; his slits that of the rhutoomos; sad
his whole object Um been to make his department pay its
own expenses. He has searilsed everything to that. Now,
the bberallainded say that the general gores count is as
muck bound to support the post. Aloe derartaplit as it is the
navy or army, and that the public should have cheap postage,
even if the revenue from the postal scrtios should not meet

all the expenses.
I have before spoken of the condition of the epissopal
church of the diocese of New York. A few days nacre an
depot building was consecrated to divine worship in the
city of Troy, • large, prosperous, and wealthy place. the
possessors of the largest fortunes there are principally
enesoopaliate, and have breoute so of late years.
It is esteemed rather • mark of gentility among the
new-rick to attend
lithe e:
et the church. Of °ours*
each peno-ts may be exposed to run into extrocese At
Try, the new edifice was erected with due regard to the
prevailing taste. The altar is of stone • 11111SETOSill stalls for
the ciergj are provided, the lecke. end the pulpit are placed
la the ess-t appropriate place. For ought I know them may
be a rood loft and a piscine The Church was consecrated
by Bishop Whienghem, and be was waisted by a long
train e priests is surplices. The antiphonal chasms were
introduced, sad the public looked on with saumishon
Hinent,
add lathylathy with delight. It seemed as if the good old
was shoe to return, when the flocks wee once mom to
b come sheep, when beneft of clew woe to he a wholeness
sad necessary privilege, and biles would become useless,
user the earthier of the godly and infallible.
The event which I allude to is one which attested much
attention, sad is the prelude and shadow ci others still
greater in the church. lii the meantime the true protestant
teeling is roused among sensible people. Toe most eminent
ei.iiiths rend public MU 1.1 this city are getting ready to
withstand the se ienovailese, which though, perhaps, elks
a themselves, are the emir to an ensmpt to pea the priest-
hood a power they never entered co assume before.
The catholic teeth beet is Fomenting 'seri posse.
The Bishop of New York, was mice • gardener, and in the
simplicity al his origin and the meannees Id his 'dungen,
eat claim affinity with the filltereoth of viable. Having
great natural ability be has risen to the head of this dio-
cese, and he rules :t with a not of iron. All the titles to the
property of the catholic churches en vetted in him and leis
ettecemors,and he has the mon completecontrol of their funds.
He urea the catholic cemetery in this why, and receives the
burial fess. He has an enormous incense, and hos no one se
ell him to account. Tea prelate lees attempted to advisee
the power of his chunk, by using his influence for polities'
It is well known that a farmer governor of New
Mir. Seward, was muck erected is his policy by
Bishop Jen, and is yet. Bat it is a very curious cecina-
stance, end one which virile, a *murk* maxim, which we
owe to Jefferson, " lime is sever dangerous, where TOIMIN
is left fees to combat it ;" that as soon I'26.yd:ow Seward
was suspected at this It eathoik bias be'wes deserted
his party, and hat been neglected ver since. He is now,
however, • eandi late fur the United States senate. It is ale:
• eireenetases equally singe .r that notwithstanding this
&Hese between the homateatholic clergy, sad the friends
of ez-Governor Seward, they have never been able to get the
Irish votes. No fear of the church could ever make the
Irish munbecracy tractable—. They. are dinentycrats ; that's
what they at'. and nothing ilea." It now remains to be
men whetter this priestly influence will help the ex-governor
Is his now effort He is • men ci line abilities, and quite
amiable es private life, but his ambition has .ed him into
questionable alliances.
The Irish Libation having ones burned itself out for want
el heel Inns abroad, e now recommencing on a new topic.
It is belay ithantieristic. The Irish are • jealous race, and
never use to each other. As far se it is female to under-
stand the difficulty, it is the. Mr. M'ollse• having established
• newspaper here called the NSIOO4, has excited the jealousy
of some other gestlenws PIN', who fled, not bled for their
country, who mores to make • living out of their notoriety,
and to become the leaden of the Irish here, in the mow
meaner in which Mr. M'Olise has proposed to himself. A
letter appe red is his paper, written by the Dublin corn-
spoodent, Is which Mr. Duffy was not particularly praised,
but it woo not Whitney svooched. For this act of
publication Mr. D-vin Reilly and a Mr. ill•Clerohan
have stt..eked Mr. MtOtte, and announce th. it determine
lion to publish • paper, assisted by • person, Mr. Robinson,
who ethos those bloody pommel • during the siltation
here, and which Appeared in the Tribune. The whole affair
is sumrstaely rieicuioue, but it will divide the patronage of
the Irish and set tram at loggerheads. It will soon be
lii*Oace and M'Clenihan clubs, and fights and bioody some.
During the late presidential election the Irish vote was not
of the meant iteportaseie, and was bet little thought of.
We have had sow.. shocking murder. is this city within a
few days past. One of the very latest is curious enough to
ho naked, sines it shows who are the lawless that disturb
our quiet, and what evils fall upon 'twiny here in threepence
of the immense emigration which the country is attracting.
Two Herniae recently came to this city to settle among as se
tailors They did n-t know each other when they arrived.
One of them brought w.th him a beautiful young woman,
who had lived ernls him ss his mitres. there, be maltreated
her ucenionally. and the:cons quence wakshe withdrew from
his protection, if it could be called such, went to live with
the other Berman, and actually 'mired him in his business.
The forme lever became suddenly alive to his line. and by
every method attempted to get bee his fugitive companion.
Failing in this, be went, at tom day, to the place where his
'6.11 heed, stabbed the woman till she tell lifeless before him,
and then, after killing his rival, killed Worse. The woman
was taken tithe hospital, when she is still alive. Such a
transetion as this never could have taken place between
Americana There is no ouch bloody purpose in their loves,
whatever there may b. in their hates. There is no doubt
that, with many excellent people among the emi-
grants, we have the very worst also. It was snot-
tamed, • kw years since, by an official inqui.y,
that large mime rs of murderers, thieves, and pickpockets,
had bees sent out from Oermany under the care of police
officers, who knocked off their chains only when they were
about to land in one of the southern slates.
As I conclude this letter I learn that the prediction eon-
tained in a preceding part of it, in relation to Ohio, is con-
firmed. The Reuse of Representatives has been organised
under • compromise. Toe atom in that quarter has
blown over.

COLONIAL.
BRITISH NORTH AMERICA.

CANADA.—The provincial parliament not having
met (it is summoned fur despatch of business an the 18th
(net) ; sad, the Oohing treason having closed, the Canadian
joisreak are barren of news. In the absence of better mat.
lee • keen controversy was bring waged on the appointment
to the vacant (Hue of reader-general. The Montreal
Osselte, of Dee. 20, mays: " The weather during the last
three days has been more like May than December. There
is no snow on the ground. The lefty steamers still ply. The
Vulcan came up peurday from Morel."
NOVA BCOTIA.—There bare been two elections
in this colony, One remelted in the return of a liberal, in
plain of the en solicitaegenerel, the other is the return of a
eneservative as memo? to a liberal. The balance of parties
in the House ot Assembly remains unaltered. The Morning
Chroniek replies to the carping, of the consereseives at the
liberal ministry, by the following lade:
Weir the accamin• of the liberals to power. the etyma. InMead of
inereasenit ban been nistertally reduced. Aartmlagell the COW &wow
cm the civil 11.4 to be the sante,the followinereavinobtawe beenaheeed :
—8• late changes In 'be secretary's oflice, lorbeding perks to We
Rupert and salary of present incumbent, about leit. per mar: by
the appointment of Mr. t`niacke in place of We. Alleles m At-
torney-General, 2501. per annum ; by the apeolatwese of a sew
badge under the reduced allowance. about 2001. pie ; bythe
amensitdation of the crown land Aloes, about 20*1. pier mem ; by
dears In the revenue determent*, upward' of 1,11,1./f r.
MIN ; IOW; 7,,M1. per seam. We nilgot go le sod deer to
dress wale by tie goesraminat. la settling other Inipseigee
arias the eivara% bat we do not wish to =ticket*. The Wiese will
be la mdse la •kw wedge. whets, or we are much aim's the
sdadaistratioa will tanda sorb osieloalve evidences of *dr earl and
activity promotion. true laterena ce the gewalry es will
Walt thein inesubled retheprmematives, sod gratify the p.e they
reset t
1 he same journal static :
Winter bee side apse se =muss The welsher fee some
neer finit, bee bees =Mud wets , bet embestibg led
Wee all of a midden esesme we nig 'Masi Wade& brilireereleatt
=g. Yesterday nimbi (Dee II) the tbsemenster wee Mr
-Vlow Tao at SW the leder. erso ea the
weeee en day. we lbe lbe slew odd weedier. His alas bet.
geodes sod healthy. Maim geset.oeste re sow dwitallsoat
sf doors. And good god Me enables. Let tare wile haw the ass
seise be
Ist tam ale give • bide to esselkeele the coadides of
lbws lobo Neast papaw dilher___.
NEW BRUNSWICIL—The electric telegraph line
matted., that of the trotted Suttee northward from the
*artier to Jute's. ere eampleted. Recreating the ersether
the New Erwesswieker if D's. Z 9 asp :
no weather this maim olierpos ardsed Amok lei teem
the WAN. ettoefee ismeretor• giewied wale the very Wart
of *We, than &lag as a waded fntretretfer ef " sitnase met-
log." Derr( the early suet et the week we had the seltasue et grim,
he es wiemo., the wing amid to dr sae* owl due thus old
beer her leR leis le foggy** villein lie donee-
wites. at e Vele* swats*. was ten thiPMB WOW sera
The laisvrbig article the Freda*** Rerlrdra_is
an
illustration of *e waatia =Waves Ism which W hitherto
tharacteriesd the 'overeaten of tble u of all British ehealsor
Led prod of the &untangles of the Womble se huger
to emery :
the view ViSLOSS between three sad four iholialwh
oa wimPloilowel twain toadied ending, while ameba, dhow.
wen its the whale sedgy of Ids dies with reuses *nog
. Than k atadasis to the sad at the chatrter. An we misti-
me expredw—all oar arnateareente an' mode without _the
dijbleet Waist teassosny. We pey heavy Incline tam% Wama nog