The Sun.
London, England, 1849-01-09 00:00:00

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GOLD DIGGINGS in CALIFIORNWY:-v-.
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VarxAnalso, Ocr. 30, 1848.—During 1110141 r '
most classes of English goods, particular si cottons,
have been in brisk demand at good prices. 'The im---------'
portations from Europe (which continue limitoda SAkaik;
during the month amount to 300,000 dollars, the
greater part of which sold within a few days after the
arrival of the goods. In produce for exportation
there is little or nothing doing at present.
The news lately received from California of the dis-
covery of an extensive gold-washing (of which you
will no doubt have heard in England) has produced a
great deal of speculation. Several cargoes have been
dispatched from this market, and others have been
prepared; while houses are being opened in California
in connexion with mercantile establishments here.
The chief ground of hope for the success of all
this speculation is the continuance of the gold-wash-
ing in its present fertility. Gold dust to the value of
100,000 dolls., has already arrived here within the last
few weeks from this gold-washing, and we have ad-
vices of as much more being on the way from the
port of San Francisco, in Upper California. The gold
sells here at 18 dollars an ounce. The washing is
situated on a tributary of the Sacramento River,
about 200 miles inland from San Francisco, and great
expectations are raised from its extraordinary fertility,
and from the ease with which the gold is procured. It
is found with little labour, near the surface of a valley
extending for many miles between the Sacramento
and the great chain of mountains known as the
" California Range."
The American Governor of California made a visit
to the washings lately, and he has reported to his
Government the value of the gold dust collected at
2,200,000 dollars a month by the present imperfect
mode of working. As yet the washing is free to
1 the exertions of all who may choose or risk to seek
their fortunes in this El Dorado. An eye-witness,
just returned from the scene, describes the bands of
reckless desperadoes there collected as something
horrible. They are more to be likened to bands of
pirates than to anything else. The masters of vessels
in the Bay of San Francisco find it impossible to
retain their sailors on board. They all run away to
the gold-washing, and the captain of a Chilian vessel
just arrived here from California was under the
necessity of paying labourers to unload and to load
his vessel one dollar per hour, with grog ad libitum.
All the other resources of the country are abandoned
for the gold-washing. Labour, provisions, and goods
fetch most extravagant prices, and immigration from
the United States across the Rocky Mountains con-
tinues in one unbroken stream of fortune-seekers.
RATES OF FREIGHT AT VALPARAISO.
From the abundance of shipping, and the dullness
of the export trade, freights are at present quite
nominal.

The last charter for nitrate to Liverpool was at al.
in full.

Light Freight to London or Liverpool may be
quoted at 41. in full.
In copper ores no charters have been made lately.
Freight to France, 120 f.; ditto to the United
States, 22 hard dollars; to Hamburgh, 4.8 and 5
per cent.
Exchange.—Bills on England, at 90 days' sight,
431 d.; English Nary Bills, at 3 days' sight, 43d.;
American Bills on New York, at 90 days' sight, 2s.
per cent. premium; bar silver, 10 dolls. Sic. per
mark ; hard dollars, 10i to 10i per cent. premium.
Exchange on Paris, 4f. 90c. for Treasury bills ; ditto,
on commercial bills, sf. Exchange on Hamburgh,
391 Banco.

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