The Express.
London, England, 1849-11-02 00:00:00

A JOURNEY TO CALIFORNIA.

(Pram the Cork EXlmmitser.)
UN FRANCISCO, JULY 19, 1849.—Y0u will stare
a little when I inform you that Silveri& end year humble
servant only arrived at this modern " Ophir" some seven
days sines, aad we lock on it as the greatest of modern mi.
redo that we strived. at all. I shell not attempt to give
r danger
of our sufferinp, our trials, and our
, bat that content myself, and perhaps not displease
yes, by
-giving a short summary of oar voyage. We four,
comprising the New York Company, took passage in a
small brigantiee, the Felix, meet untrue and Infelicitous no-
menclature, being about 70 tone authea, aad.with the under-
standing that she was to earry 60 passengers. After being
detained in Panama for seven weeks, daring which time,
only our money had been paid, we could have got our
passagein one of three vessels which sailed from this port,
we at length proceeded on board on the morning of the 16th
March, when a pleasing sight and most unexpected reception
awaited us. There were not less than 83 passengers on
board, and an incalculable meant of baggage' piled some
tan feet above the deck. Bat the fier stroke is to
some. The gentlemen on board sunbeams 60, whose tickets
had been numbered, formed themselves into an arbitrary
court ; and having decided that they were the only lawful
passengers4ordered the Dames, including the New York
Company, to leave the ship, ea pain of terrible expulsion.
A terrible seem of seediesien arose, arguing, cursing, and
damning each other, sal high above the horrid din could be
beard tie Mimi of oar la, Silveri% and of F. M., who
had the saws Mahn el kvlag paid their passage-money
isms Ave weeks pals= Is any one of the 60 regulators.
Re had a trailer shaft as board fee three days. Finally
a 15... peasoupes either were returned their stoney or were
„ sawed a prep ha a larger vessel, whim she arrived ; eases'
time were Armada and his Gamma " Peon " Branner
the femme would not venture his eldnalisibe in such a craft,
and the Maw was only meow •mg kola fever. Some two
tea elitopos were also put ea beafrd another vessel, and
after ahatigltig our captain, we sailed on the 19th of March,
with 73 einls.
Oar milletussi soon commenced, as we were out only
some Sew days she, ear water tanks sprung a leak, causing
Nadal Mena amongst the paseengeas ; we were then be-
calmed for four days, with a basis; sun, and after had
to comma with head wiads. At leas, after narrowly
escaping a watery grave, as the little weal was thrown on her
beam-ends in a squall, she being not half ballasted, and over-
masted, we arrived at Balkh* three dap subsequently, with
one bona of water for the 73 men. We were detained
here two weeks, refitting, watering, and provisioning, and
were going to take the town, as our captain was imprisoned
for striking the skalds, a shoemaker. However, after being
under arms all night, our skipper was restored to us, and we
ones mere launched our intim cm the blue ocean. Head
winds again, thunder, lightning, rain, storm, day after day,
and night atter night : during all this pleasant weather and
the voyage, I, with 25 others, had to sleep on deck, on the
companion—sometimes drenched to the akin, and, as we
went 'teeth, *early frozen to death. Put in to Mexico with
half a barrel of water ; pet in again at St. Joie with about a
similar quantity of this predate fluid. After procuring
a supply of provisions, consisting of Indian corn, coffee,
and wipe sweet potatoes and water, we set sail algal. We
bid up to this time either coasted or not lost sight of land
des more than two or three deys; but we now went out to
ass MY 700 miles, as the headwinds continued, according to
to raise of those navigating the Pacific ; when out three
we were pot on ' , alloweacse," two meals a day, eon-
shaky of a little " mush" at sight in the morass, and some
rise and molasses at four in the afternoon ' • the water wee
soon reduced from half a gallon to one pint in the 24 hews,
to answer for coffee tea, and drinking purposes. After suf-
fering more than I can describe, both physically and men-
tally, we saw lend on the 4th July, and at noon on that
memorable day the blood that almost was stagnating in our
veins was sent throbbing through our hearts on hearing
the wend of cannon booming from the guns at Monterey
across the waters of the Pacific, heralding in the anni-
versary of the independence and the recent conquest
of the American arms. The next day we put in
fa a few hours at Santa Cruz, and got some be:f and
water ; but, although the wind was fair for our final
destination when we started from hence, in the night
it blew a stress north-wester, which, continuing for
the next day, with every probability of lasting for weeks,
about twenty of the passengers proceeded on shore and
started on foot for San Francisco, some 70 miles. On the
next day, as the provisions remaining were scanty in the ex-
treme, the captain called on all who could walk to leave the
ship, or by God he would desert her. So some twenty-five
of us departed en our journey, rejoicing at being safe on
land, in our new-born liberty ; but alas, some of us suffered
severely, being much weakened by the low scale and low
quality of food ; indeed the journs y would have taxed the
strength of the best-fed man in New York, as it was all
mountain travel; it took us five days to accomplish, having
let the bridle path, for there is no road, and we had to sleep
on the mountain aide. We saw, but I cannot conscientiously
say, we enjoyed, the wildest, grandest, and most picturesque
scenery in the world. On the fifth morning, as we
dragged our slow length along, se we mounted an Outman
sand hillock, the town of San Frenetic° met our astonished
gaze; it looked most pietureeque, with its dwelling-
lionise and public buildings dotting the sides of
the hills on which the town stands, the noble bay
stretching as far as the eye could see; and on its bright
placid waters lay some 300 call of every kind and
almost of every notion; the streets were thronged by
hundreds of busy bustling miners and merchants, &c., the
ear being almost stunned by the naming din of a hurri-
cane of hammers. On the whole it seemed to me to be one
of the moot bustling, bus and enterprising places of its
size I ever saw. I fear I have ere this tired you, although
I endeavour to condense the doleful tale an much as possible.
Now to your purpose. Although I was aware ere I riceived
your sots of the remuneration given here to clerks, I made
fresh inquiry this aftcrnon, which I will state. Book-
keepers get from 200 to 260 doh. a month—clerks from
150 to 200 doh., with and without board—mechanics from
10 to 12 doh., and labourers 7to 8 dole. a day. At the pre-
sent time there is a glut of all kinds of merchandise, which
is sold, owing to the exorbitant price of storage (from le to
23 dols per month per barrel), sad the price of labour at a
tremendous sacri6ce •' in fact you can buy clothing, &c.,
much (beeper here thee in the states; the only 'sticks
which bring • fair price are boots and half-boets, the former
at from 3 dole. to 5 clots. per pair, and the latter from 2 doh.
to 3 dols per pair.
From all I could learn, I think there could not be any di&
tufty in your getting • situatlonof some 3,000 dole. per ear;
but, even ifyou did not, money is to be made here faster
than in any other plane in the world, by trading and specu-
lation, of which there are many opportunities day by day,
nay hour after hour. I Dave been told of several who have
nude by trading 2,000 dots. and 3,000 doh. in so many
months. One great difficulty to be overcome is to get a plass
to rent. Some stores pay from 2,010 doleto 3,000 dole. •
month. The last, though not least, are the mines. I have
seen dozens of rough shaggy fellows come down from the
mines daily with large quantities of the precious ore—they
say they can average one ounce a day. I have not said ems
word of what this place is likely to become. We start for
the "Sacramento" this afternoon. Armeids and Brunner
arrived before us, although they were in Panama* days
after we left them. Expecting either to hear or see you ere
a couple of months, I close this lengthy epistle, which I hope
will interest you so for as to labia you to palish your way
it. F. Id.

ANDREW BUCHANAN, Esq., Secretary to her Ma-
jesty. Legation at Bt. PeMeshaqh, is shortly expected to
arrive in this °pantry cm loam of Oamos from his lost.
AI.LLORD MIIRDIR IT Timm, Umoreurre.—An in-
quiet was held by adjournment en Wednesda lest at Sly*,
on the body of George Bunter. The de was a pitman
at Cowpen Colliery, where he had been employed for some
time. M. John Lynch, surgeon, stated that an Saturday,
the 23rd ult., be had been called in to attend the deceased,
and found several teamed wounds re his head, but did not
at the time consider him in great danger. The deceased was
then esasible, and said he bad been ill-used by two men,
whom he did not know, end would not wish to know. Wit-
ness dreamed the wounds, and called upon the deceased next
morning, when he found him speechless and insensible, end
he died shortly afterwards. Witness had made a post
ecortem examination, end (read the skull of the dema•cd
extensively fractured, and a clot of blood, weighing
four maces, pressing heavily en the brain. Jane Lam
bert, the wife et Matthew Lambert, said she had
maim to go to the door of her cottage on that evening,
and heard • voice shout " Oh dear !" but thougt it only a
" lark," and paid no attention to the circumstance. Thomas
Turnbull, a pitman, who lives about 200 yards from Mrs.
Lambert, had his intention called to the shoats, which ware
first heard by his wife, and oa hastening to the spot whence
they proceeded, he found the deceased on his knees end
kends. The deceased asked for assistance, oaliageome one bed
" smashed his head all to pisees." Witness assisted deceased
home. Wm. Bunter, the brother of the deceased, said that
be and his brother went to a paths-house at Cowpeo village,
about 7 o'clock on the Saturday evening, and remained there
till 12 mimeos to 10, when Sag left ; and on going down
Cowpen-lane they were peeled by two young men who had
beta to the pabUeltouse with them. Witness then bid his
brother " Good night," end told him to follow the young
men down, Both tdMees and his brother were apprehensive
of danger, from their having left " the mice," and having
heard of threats made isce them and ethers who had
done so. babas Sails allemiell the desasesd, and spoke
of statements being mob Maw to theca deyeeed to by Mr.
Lynch. The two yews sea Mr had penal the deceased
and his brother Is Oewyesims wire aot esestael base
the seesaw, but MI is uriariella that no Selphilla /OW en
*oh as they were see Omsk mi. besides. owe se for in
advisee of eli• dimwit et the cloy he wee attained that
they did sot hear his au& =he Wen Wig the imolred
is peat &eat sad asieeleint Abeam*? directed thsjsry
to reties ea eyes /erne% bring the milistrates to take op
the sea The boy wisesinek Mast a millet et .1 WO-
tal midst whist ems pees sr prism unknown."
Three mesa (two ethos hoe hens, of the name er Cli)
Welkallinksederl ea melds; bat there baneas evidence
' le ollftlasee thorn, they were erased to ba 6~4 by
' as laquiriss are still being lasi toed with a
WOW at lenedeit the madam to Juana