The Sun.
London, England, 1849-09-11 00:00:00

. SEPTEMBER 11, 1849.
9. r iT t,
LONDON, TUESDAY a ~tn
..2441 at 4
N°. 17,773 d

TL A S ASSURANCE COMPANY,
92, CHEAPSIDE, LONDON.

Established 1 SOS.
DIRECTORS.
JOHN OLIVER HANSOM, Esq., Chairman
WILLIAM GEORGE PRESCOTT, Esq., Deputy-Chairman.
Sir William Baynes, Bart. Moses Mocatta, Esq.
Arthur Edward Campbell, Esq. James William Ogle, Esq.
Thomas Chanman, Esq , F.R.S. Emanuel Pacifico, M.D.
Donald Maclean, Esq. Joseph Pulley, Esq.
Samuel Eustacc Magan, Esq.
AUDITORS—Francis Bligh Hookey, Esq., and Arthur Augustus
Rase!), Esq.
A.CTUART—CharIes Ansell, Esq., F.R.S.
Sommon—Thomas Browning, Esq.
Scavrroa—Thomas Hopper, Esq.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.

IZETURNS.—PoIicies for 300/. and upwards which may have been
n force for one year prior to the date to which the Account is
made up, will be periodically entitled to participate in the return of
Surplus Premium.

Distillerie Sagar Houses ; and Mercantile Property, in the Docks;
in Private or Public Warehouses; also Shipping in Harbour; assured
for the Year, or for any shorter period on advantageous terms.
Farming Stock is now exempt from Duty, and may be assured
without the average clause.

On Assurances ibr Seven Years by one payment, a deduction of
one-seventh part of the Premium and Duty will be made.
RENEWALS.—PoIicies due on Midsummer-day should be renewed
within fifteen days thereafter.

Persons assured fer the whole term of Life for 1001. and upwards,
in Great Britain or Ireland respectively, will he entitled at the end
of every fifth year (instead of every seventh year as heretofore) to
participate in the Surplus Premiums, either by Addition to their Po-
licks, or an equivalent Reduction will be made in the future pay-
ments of Premium, at the option of the Assured.

Policies may also be effected for the whole term of Life by a limited
number of yearly payments.
ASSURANCES for SHORT PERIODS may now be effected in this
Office at considerably reduced rates of Premium.
The NEXT VALUATION will be made at Christmas, 1849, and
Policies effected before that date will participate in proportion to the
time they may then have been in force.
The Company's Rates and Proposals may be had at the Office in
London, or of any of the Agents in the Country, who are authorised
to report on the appearance of Lives proposed for Assurance.
HENRY DESBOROUGIi, Secretary.
92, Cheapskle, June, 1849.

THE LONDON INDISPUTABLE LIFE
POLICY COMPANY
INCORPORATED BY ACT OF PARLIAMENT.
No. 31, LOMBARD-S TREET, LONDON.
TRUSTEES.
J. Campbell Renton, Esq., M.P. I Richard Spooner, Esq., M.P.
Richard 2ialins, Esq., Q.C. I James Fuller Madox, Esq.
William Wilberforce, Esq.
DIRECTOR!.
Robert Henry Forman, Esq.
John Hamilton, Esq.
James Fuller Madox, Esq.
John Matthews, Esq.
Charles 0. Parnell, Esq.
AUDITORS.

William Adams, Esq.
John Atkins, Esq,
Henry Augustus Bevan, Esq.
John Thompson Bramwell, Esq.
John Dangerileld, Esq.

George Cumming, Esq.
James Turner, Esq.

Samuel Field, Esq.
William Ghrimes Kell, Esq.
MEDICAL ADVISER.
Benjamin Phillips, Esq., F.R.S.
RANKERS.
Messrs. Spooner, Attwood, and CO.
SECRETARY.
David Alison, Esq.
SOLICITORS.
Messrs. Atkinson and Andrew.
MANAGER.
Alexander llobertson, Esq.
The POLICIES are INDEFEASIBLE and INDISPUTABLE,
she Company being prohibited, by the 84th clause of their Deed of
Constitution, which is duly registered in terms of the Act, from die -
puting a Policy upon any ground whatever.
The Rates of Premium are calculated upon Carlisle mortality, and
are as low as a due regard to complete security will justify.
HALF PRE NIIITM SYSTEM. —By this plan only one-half of the
premiums, with interest of the retained halves, is required to be p aid
for the first five years—the retained halves, being payable at the
convenience of the assured. or allowed to continue, to form
a deduction from the claim on the Policy ; and as the As-
surance may be relinquished at any time without payment
of the retained premiums, this scheme enabler.; a party to
assure for the first five years at little more than half the usual rate,
and to discontinue a Policy at about one-half the usual sacrifice.
WHOLE WORLD POLICIES are granted, whereby the security
of a creditor, holder of a Policy, continues unimpaired, although the
assured life should go beyond the prescribed limits.
Sums are assured payable to the parties themselves on attaining a
specified age, or at their death, whichever shall first occur.
PARTNER 4IIIP POLICIES are granted, whereby ajoint assurance
effected by partners, at the charge of the firm, secures the capital in-
vested. Oa the death of either, the survivor is benefited by retain-
ing the whole capital, and the representatives of the deceased obtain
their share without having to wait until it can be recovered from
outstanding debts.
There is no extra charge for residence beyond 35 degrees of the
equator.
No Admission or Entrance Fees are required, nor is any charge
made for the Policy beyond the amount of the Stamp.
Claims are payable within three months after proof of the death of
the assured life.
The usual Commission allowed to Solicitors, and also to pero mi.
approved by the Board, who extend the business of Life Assurances in
connexion with this Company.

ISLAY TON:FINEaHLIFEered.ASSOCIATION.
Capital, 600,000/., in 12,000 Shares, at 50/. each.
DIRECTORS.
JAG Bain, Esq., of Morriston, Glasgow.
Archibald Murdoch Burrell, Esq., banker, Provost of Port Glasgow
Alxander Campbell, Esq., of Bedlay
Robert C. Cumming, Esq., of Barremman, Dumbartonshire
Henry Dunlop, Esq., of Craigton, Glasgow
Archibald Falconer, Esq., of Glen Park, Port Glasgow
James Hay, Esq., merchant. Leith, Director of the Royal Bank of
Scotland
Arehibald stoma, Esq., accountant, Edinburgh, ditto
Eagle Henderson, Esq., Director of the National Bank oh Scotland
William Imrie, Esq., Dean of Guild, Perth
John Burn Murdock, Esq., of Gartencaber, Edinburgh
David Murray, Esq., Provost of Paisley.
BANKERS.
The Royal Bank of Scotland and its Branches ; Messrs. Coutts and
Co., London.
SOLICITORS.
Messrs. Turner and Wallace, 37, Virginia-street, Glasgow ;
Messrs. Geodwin, Partridge, Williams, an I Edwards, Walbroo%
House, London.
MANAGING DlRECTOR—Arthibald. Murdoch Burrell, Esq.
SECRETARY—James Murdoch, Esq.
The barony and estate of Islay, comprising the island of Islay
and small adjacent islands is in the same latitude as Edinburgh and
Glasgow, and is one of the richest and most productive properties in
the west of Scotland. It contains about 140,000 acres. of which
34,000 are arable, the rest being luxuriant pasture.
Tho present rental of this magnificent property amounts at present
to 20,000/4 but a Government grant of 30,000/. is now being ex-
pended in drainage and Improvements. The rents are periodically
and legitimately increased as the leases fall in, a-14 it is evident that
such a property must, under improved agriculture, afford a much
larger return. Ihe purchase, it is expected, will be effected for
about 500,000/., aid it is proposed to raise a capital for this purpose,
and contingent expenses, of 600,000/., in 12,000 51/. shares, each
shareholder to nominate a life, ant the whole body of nominees to
be insured out of the rental, so as to secure the repayment of his
subscription to every shareholder whose nominee lapses. The
remainder of the accumulated rental is to be divided every ten years
amongst the surviving shareholders, the last survivor to inherit the
estate. On the basis of 12,000 p.dicies, iu respect of the 12,000
nominees, it is further contemplated to ingraft the general businsss
se' a lite assurance company, so as to secure an annual dividend of
profits.
Thus it will be seen that every person taking a share in the Ton-
tine, will, under any circumstances, receive back the amount of his
investment out of the assurance fund, and will also, by way of in-
terest on his shares, receive an annual dividend out of the profits of
the general life assurance department (and the basis and guarant :e
indicated cannot fail to make this branch most extensive and :itera-
tive) ; he will, moreover, participate, every ten years h's nominee
survives, in the accumulated and constantly improving rental ; and,
in the ev nt of his nominee being the. last survivor, will become
the abso'nte owner, in fee simple, of the entire estate. It is also
to be observed that, as the nominees diminish in number, the
marketable value of the shares will year after year be greatly en-
hanced.
The principles of the proposed Tontine have been maturely con-
sidered by F. G. I'. Neison, Esq , the eminent actuary of the Me-
dical and Invalid Assurance Company, and recelvsd his entire ap-
probation.
The esti to is to be vested in three trustees, resident in Scotland.
The affairs of the Society shall be conducted lay a board of seven
directors in Scotland, commneicating with a board of correspondence
in London. Two general meetings shall be herd in Scotland in the
months of June and December.
The preliminary deposit to be ss. per share (being the maximum
allowed under the Registration Act), and a call of 11. per share shall
be made on csmplete registration. The remainder to be called up
by such instalments as may be found necessary to inset the payment
of the purchase money.
Applications for shares to be made to the following brokers &c , of
whom prospectuses and forms of application for shares may he
had: —Messrs. John Robertson and Co., 47, Georee-street, Edin-
burgh ; William Bell, Esq., 2, North-street, David-street, E.lin-
burgh : Messrs. Buchanan Aitkin and Co., 41, St. Vincent-place,
Glasgow ; J. C. Foulds, Esq., Canada-court, Queen-street, Glasgow ;
William Gordon, Esq., Aberdeen ; James Thomas, Esq., writer,
Perth; A. Abercrombie, Esq., Paisley; Messrs. Joseph King and
Sons, Liverpool ; L. L. Lamming, Esq , Manchester ; Messrs. Flint
and 'Foetal, Hull ; Messrs. Beardshaw and Co., Leeds ; W. B.
Greenfield, Esq , 38, Throgmorton-street, London ; of Archibald
Murdoch Burrell, Esq., Royal Bank, Port Glasgow; and William
Bridges, Esq., at the temporary offices of the Association, 38, Throg-
morton-street, London.

TH ROYAL POLYTECHNIC
INSTITUTION, REGENT-STREET.
. First Series of Dissolving Views, Illustrating Rome, with a De-
scription embracing the most interesting points connected with the
subject, daily, at Half-past Four, and every Evening at a Quarter to
Ten o'clock.—Lectures on Chemistry, by Mr. J. M. Ashley, daily,
at Half-past Three, and every Evening, at Nine o'clock.—Lectures,
with Experiments, by Dr. Bachhoffn4r on the Hydro-Electric Ma-
chine, daily, at Tao o'clock.—The Chromatrope.—Exhibition of the
Oxy-hydrogen Microscope.—Diver and Diving-bell.
Open daily from Eleven to Five; and in the Evenings (except
Saturday) from Seven till llaif-past Ten.
Admission, is —Schools, Half-price.—The New Catalogue, le.

THE GOLD WASHINGS OF CALI

FORNIA.

SAN FRANCISCO, UPPER. CALIFORNIA, JULY 2
S 3 much has of late been written about California
that I do not think it necessary to trouble you with
more than a few remarks upon San Francisco, its
commercial capital. This town, which, until the dis•
covery of the " gold diggings," consisted of a few huts
and of one good house (a post of the Hudson Bay
Company) is situated on a slope of a range of low,
bleak, sandy hills on Yerba Buena Bay, one of the
numerous bays coanprebended in what is generally
known abroad as the "Bay of San Francisco," and
which is one of the most magnificent sheets of inland
water in the world. " San Francisco Bay," as the
name is generally applied, is a misnomer. The waters
known by that name form an inland sea of many
miles in extent, Tan i-locked, the entrance being nar-
row, of less than two miles in width, and compre-
hending the Bays of San Pablo, Sancelito, San Pedro,
Sinsun, &c., besides a great many creeks. The sea is
studded with ie'ands ; that called Angel Island,
standing opposite to San Francisco, is a bold triangular
mountain, skirted round its base with Wood, and sup-
porting herds of wild cattle of a very handsome
breed, and chiefly of a white colour. Most of the
other islands are barren. The scenery of the
coast is throughout picturesque, and in many parts
grand, but it wants colouring ; the absence of green
for the greater portion of the year imparting to the
entire range a character of sameness that tires the
eye. San Francisco is increasing rapidly by means of
emigration from all parts of Europe and,the Americas,
as well as from China, and all the islands in the Pa-
cific. The buildings are almost all wooden, and are
run up with amazing quickness. The population is
of so shifting a character that it is impossible to com-
pute it. There are constant arrivals from abroad,
and constant departures for the interior to the gold
regions. During the last two months the number of
houses has been doubled.
It is difficult to give a correct report upon trade.
The supply is abundant, but the demand is varied and
uncertain. The trade of this place does not increase
in proportion to the increase of emigration, because a
great many of the emigrants bring goods for sale and
provisions for their own use, besides houses to live in.
The trade of the place is much overdone, and there is
a glut of many goods in the market, the fleet of mer-
chantmen now in the harbour having brought varied
and large cargoes from all parts, so that a vast amount
of money will be lost by shippers generally.
I had wished to have appended to this letter a
general price current, but from the fact that no
general or uniform system of mercantile business
has yet taken root, a general price current could nut
be relied upon. Almost every one here is more or
less of a merchant just at present. The town is
studded with stalls, tents, " ehankies," and tables,
where all the heterogeneous articles of human con-
sumption are vended wholesale and retail at every
variety of price. The tendency of prices is down •
ward decidedly, and great caution is necessary in
speculating to this market. Goads sent here from
the old established marts of the South Pacific have
for some time back left a loss, and are now selling
at lower rates than they would command in Chili and
Peru. The consequence is that several invoices
lately arrived from Chia are about to be returned, as
not being worth paying duties and charges on in the
present depressed state of the market.
Then, again, it is difficult to make up an assort-
ment for this market in its present state. Not only
is the population varied, changeable, and uncertain,
but it is to be remembered that it is not the ordinary
and natural exigencies of a community that are to
be provided for. What must be provided for, in a
great measure, are the desires, whims, tastes, and
caprices of men hitherto unused to wealth, suddenly
enriched by gold digging, cars ied away by sudden
impulses into a vortex of extravagance and all sorts
of wild indulgences; reckless in their expenditure,
and indulging in luxuries that they formerly knew
only by name. Hence the great de:nand for cham-
pagne and liquors of the first class, and of preserved
meats and fruits, and other delicacies, which has all
along existed, and which still continues, although the
increased supply has lowered the price. For general
information I quote the prices which I know to have
been obtained for some articles within the last few
days, at wholesale and duty paid :
"Lember—American pine, 375 dolls. per 1,000 feet;
Swedish pine, 250 dolls. to 275 dolls. ; Chilian lumber
(Aieree boards, &c.) assorted, 300 dolls. per 1,000 feet.
" Flour, per sack of two quintals (200 lbs. Spanish),
9 dolls.; abundant, but demand improving. Lumber
sold a month ago as high as 400 dolls, per 1,000 feet;
and flour, three months ago, sold as high us 18 dolls, per
quintal.
" Potatoes, the produce of California, 12 dolls. per
quintal (of 100 lbs.); scarce and in demand.
".Hams, 36c. per lb.; mess beef, 1 doll. 50c. per barrel;
abundant, no demand.
" Pres?rved Meats-16 dolls. to 20 dolls, per dozen.
"Sardines-22 dolls, per dozen in half-boxes.
"Green Peas (preserved)-14 dolls. per doz3n.
" Cheese (Dutch)-35c. per lb.
"French prunes, 5 dolls. 50c. per jar of 111 b.
" French brandy (in case), 16 dolls. per dozen. Eng-
lish brandy preferred, but none in cases in the market.
Martell's (English) brandy in cask, 6 dolls. per gallon,
but difficult of sale, as are 011:guars in wood, bottles
being of more convenient carriage to the mines.
" Champagne, 15 doll?. 4c. to 25 dolls. and 30 dolls.
per dozen, ace rding to quality.
"Port—No demand.
"Sherry-1 doll. 37e. to 1 doll. 750.; moderate demand.
" Madeira-2 dolls. per gallon; little demand.
"Madeira in Botths-3 dolls. 50c. to 4 dolls. 75c. per
dozen.

" Rum (New England)-550. to 75c. per gallon, ac-
cording to quality.
" Wlihkey (Monongahalia)-1 doll. 50c. to 1 doll. 750.
"Gin (Dutch)— In cases, 6 dolls. per d(
" Ale —Bass's, 7 dolls. 50c. per dozen. Soma of
this ale, brought here Lady from China, fetched this
quotation.

" Glasgow Ale—Tennant's and Baird's, 7 dolls. per
dozen."

All classes of " dry goods" and ready-made clothes
are so abundant as to sell only at and under cost
prices. Prints realize only Manchester prices in

many cases.

All goods for the interior are purchased in San
Francisco, 'and selected to meet the demand in the
Placers or "gold diggias," and the interior market is
rather fluctuating from the wandering habits of the
"diggers," and from its being dependent upon their
" luck" being good or bad.
The American tariff of 184 d is in force, and foreign
vessels pay tonnage dues at the rate of one doll, per
register ton.

All foreign vessels under the burden of 70 tons are
permitted to engage in the coasting trade, and to run
on the rivers which lead to the gold regions. Foreign
vessels can procure a licence from the Custom-house
to enter any of the rivers, but they are not allowed
to return to San Francisco.

In California there is de facto, no Government and
no administration of justice. Those establishments
are in a novel if not in an unprecedented state.
General Riley is Governor of California, and resides
at Monterey, the nominal seat of Government. Com-
miylore Jones is Commander-in - Chief of the naval
forces, and has his flag hoisted onboard the Warren
frigate, at present in San Francisco harbour.; and
General Smith is Commander-in-Chief of the land
forces in California and Oregon, and has his head-
quarters in San Francisco. This array of authority
looks well on paper, but from tne desertion of soldiers
and sailors (particularly the former), the arm of
military power is almost powerless. The military
are posted in different parts of the countrp_a few at
the Presidio of San Francisco, about three miles and
a half from this, situated near the entrance to the
harbour from the ocean. A small party of men is at
Venicia, and several small parties are posted at diffe-
rent parts of the Sacramento river, the great highway
to the gold region. All the soldiers are allowed in-
cbalgences to preserve their fidelity. Those at the
Presidio are permitted to come into San Francisco to ,
work at all manner of jobs on their own account,
by turns, on leave of absence. They are also
allowed the use of the Government cars and wag-
gons, which they let out on job; while the men
in the interior are allowed furloughs to go to the
paceros, to try their hands at "iigging,.
by turns,
the produce of their labours forming a common fund.
In the absence of legislative measures by the
American Congress for the government of California,
the Administration of the country is attempted to be
carried on by a mixed, and necessarily confused, sys-
tem of Spanish law, grafted on American institutions,
which is found impossible to amalgamate and im-
practicable to work. The only semblance of a court
of justice which exists in Francisco is that vested in
the office of akalde. TF:e functions and attri-
butes of this magistrate, if fully carried out according
to Spanish (Mexican) law, are incompatible with
American notions of civil and criminal jurisprudence
—inconsistent with free institutions, and totally

repugnant to the feelings and sentiments of American
citizens. Hence a good deal of bitterness of feeling
has been engendered, and a conflict has arisen between
the alcalde (an American) and many of his fellow.
citizens.
This state of things led to callous but characteristic
proceedings. I will give a short summary of them.
Some months back a public election took place here
by universal suffrage in the widest sense of the term
(for votes w :re admitted without regard to qualifica-
tion by citizenship) for the ostensible object of
supplying the district with a Government. Out of
the members so elected has sprung a body styling
itself " The Legislative Asseasbly of the district of
San Francisco." This Assembly completed its
arrangements by appointing a staff of salaried officers,
such as a" Speaker," " Clerk," " Sheriffs," &e. One
ofits earliest acts was to abolish the office of alcalde
on a charge of malfeasance, preferred or alleged
against the officer filling the office. It then called
upon this officer to deliver up the archives of his
office. The alcalde resisted, and applied to General
Riley, the Governor. The General remitted the case
to a committee of' a few of the citizens to investigate
the charges. This committee, instead of following
the General's instructions, recommended the abolition
of the office. The General, not considering himself
justified in according his concurrence with the
recommendation of the committee, on the ground
that the country must remain under Mexican law
until Congress abolishes it, and substitutes another
constitution, the matter dropped fur a time. By and
bye the Assembly renews its demand on the alcalde,
which he for some time evaded compliance with.
At length the Assembly brought the affair to
an issue by sending its sheriff, with a posse, who took
possession of the records vi et armis. The alcalde
showed fight on the occasion by presenting a loaded
pistol, which, as he told me, he always kept at hand,
"as an auxiliary in the dispensing of justice" from the
judgment-seat, and threatening to fire at any one who
touched his "papers." The sheriff had anticipated
him. He presented a six-barrelled revolver at the
bead of the magistrate, when the latter, as he expressed
himself the next day, " seeing his chance of the first
shot to be lost, gave up further resistance." The
sheriff and his satellites possessed themselves of what
books and papers they thought might be the records
of the office, and carried them away to the " Hall of
the Assembly," where they remain locked up and in-
accessible to the public. The dethroned alcalde pre-
ferred a second complaint in person to the Governor at
Monterey, whereupon a proclamation was issued re-
pudiating the conduct of the " Assembly, on the
ground that its members had "usurped powers which
are vested only in the Congress of the United States."
This proclamation and a counter address from the As-
setnbly you will see in the Alta Californiet of the 14th
of June, which I forward by this mail. The alcalde
has, after a short interregnum, resumed his functions.
He has opened a new set of records for land title •
deeds, and for other judicial and notorial proceedings
passed in his office. He expected to have had his re-
cords restored during General Riley's stay here for a
few days last week ; but he told me two days ago
that, on the General's return to the seat of Govern-
ment, the Assembly had become "refractory" and de-
clined to part with them.
The proceedings of the Assembly are naturally the
subject of a good deal of comment. Some persons
remade that its functions, or rather its self assumed
functions, are monstrous. They are certainly ano-
malous, to say the least. Some of their edicts are of
an imperial charater—such as we see issue from a
supreme legislature in the old countries of Europe,
while-others of their " acts " are of a municipal cha-
racter. They passed a " revenue law," untle•r the
date of the 24th of May last, whereby they impose
duties as follow :—Upon auction sales, a duty of I?Li
per cent. upon the amount of sales : upon all mer-
chants, traders, and tavernkeepers, 200 dolls. a year,
payable quarterly in advance; upon hawkers and
pedlars, 600 dolls. a year, payable monthly in ad-
vance ; upon billiard-table keepers, ten-pin alley
keepers, and other gambling house keepers, 180 dolls.
a year, payable monthly in advance. The merchants
and others above designated were very hostile to this
measure; but what with bullying some and cajoling
others, " smartness " enough has been displayed- to
collect a very respectable " contribution" out of the
inhabitants, which goes to pay the necessary expenses
of the Assembly in devoting themselves to the interests
of " the people." It is likely that the reign of this
august body, however pleasant it may be, will soon
be at an end.

In the absence of a constitutional and universally
acknowledged and respected Government, of an
effective military force, of legally appointed tribunals
of justice, of municipal authorities, of a militia, and
of a police, it would be naturally supposed that this
country was in a state of anarchy, confusion, and
disorder, if not of riot, rapine, and bloodshed. This
is far from being the case, however extraordinary the
assertion may appear. Merchandize of all sorts, fur-
niture and liquors, are exposed in the streets, on the
beach, in open yards—in short, all over the town,
owing to the want of warehouse room for storage, and
remain (except in very few and solitary instances)
untouched by the hands of the robber and the thief.
There are few crimes or misdemeanours of a public
character committed, and until lately the general re-
marks in San Francisco were—" How very quiet the
place is." " Walk were you will of a dark night, and
alone into the most lonely spots, and you are un-
molested." " Hew peaceable the people." And
" What security is felt with such unprecedented op-
po:tunities for the commission of all sorts of out-

rages." The Americans unriddle the enigma by the
fact that the American people are well accustomed to
self-government—" they govern themselves, and never
see at home any display of authority over them."
The only exception to the above general character
of good order which is worth citing, i= that of the
conduct of about 50 young men, moot of them 4i3-
banded volunteers, the scum of the cities of North
America, and who are known by the generic term of
" Rowdies," and by the more peculiar cognomen of
"Hounds," which they delight in, who, infesting the
taverns and gambling houses all day, where they are
generally drunk or muddled, get up " spreei" at
night, by passing practical jokes upon the inhabitants
which are in most instances ill-natured and brutal.
The value of real property has risen beyond com-
putation in San Francisco, and rents have kept pace
with the advance of real estate as a natural conse-
quence. A lot of land which was offered a year ago
to a friend of mine for 1,000 dolls , and which he re-
fund as being overvalued, sold in three lots within
the last four months for 28,745 dulls. cash. Instances
such as this are common.

A house built this year, which cost about 40,030
dolls., was let a few days ago to a tenant for one year
at the rent of 40,000 dulls. ; thu3 returning the capital
inveted in one year ; besides that the owners have oc-
cupied the house for some monthsback themselv.i. A
year ago the house in which I am now writing was let
for and after the rate of 50 dol!s, per annum ; it is now

rente.l at 1,800 dolls., and will fetch very soon a good
sum over and above the present rent. The value of

houses may be judged from the enormous price of
lumber which I have quoted in the first part of this
letter.

Labour is very high. A common porter gets 7
dolls a day wages; a labourer, 5 dolls.; a carpenter
or other workman (+radesman), 8 dolls.; a journey-
man, 12 dolls., and if a competent hand to superintend
a job, as high as 16 dolls. a day ; a cook or steward
gets 150 dolls. a month ; sai!ors. 6 dolls. a day for
jobbing; about the harbour, and 150 dolls. a month
regular pay fora voyage.

Trovis'iOns, ahno,.i ail of which consumed in the
place are of foreign growth (except beef and a little
mut!on) are high in proportion.
Butter, 2 dolls. per lb. ; milk is 50c. a quart, and
scarce ; eggs are very scarce, and worth at a cafe 3

reals eacli(ls. 2d. sterling). All the vegetables used
are preserved, except a few potatoes, which come
from Bodega and Ross on the coast. Agricultural

operations are almost entirely suspended from the la-
bcurers having engaged in gold digging.
Towns are springing up all over the country, as
will be seen by the advertisements in the newspapers

which I send by this mail.
There are now in the bay 103 sail of merchantmen,
of which 39 are American, 22 Chilian, 9 British, 7
Danish, 6 French, 4 llawailan, 4 Otahitian (Protec-
torate flag), 3 Mexican, 3 Peruvian, 2 Ilamburgh,
1 Spanish, 1 Bremen, 1 Ecuador, and 1 Portuguese,
besides a fleet of small craft engaged in the navigation
of the rivers San Joaquin and Sacramento and the
inland waters of the bay.
Her Britannic Majesty's ship Inconstant, Captain
Sheppard, returned to this part on the 14th of June,

. .
from. a month's cruise to Vancouver's Island. Sao

brought but little news from that distant quarter.
Coal was being worked on Vancouver's Island to
supply the American steamers plying between this
place and Panama. The Oregon people had suffered
molestation from the hostile Indians, which led to a
recent encounter, in which several of the latter fell.
The Inconstant did not enter the Columbia River.
While she was lying at Whalers' Barbour, an an-
chorage situated on the opposite side of this bay,
about seven miles west by north of San Francisco, at
which vessels usually take in water, she lost one man
by desertion. The day previous to her making the
bay one of her man died from sickness. On the ves-
sel's anchoring, a Lieutenant's party was sent on
shore to bury the body in a promontory close 1).7 the.

anchorage, and while all were intent listening to
the burial service one of the men slipped away from
behind a bush, where he was allowed to go for the
purpose of cutting a couple of twigs to mark the
boundaries of the grave. One of the midshipmen
gave chase, but the sailor outran him, and he was
seen no more. On the vessel's return the other day,
the men were sent on shore to water the ship, but
none attempted to escape. When on duty, in con-
veying the officer to San Francisco some ten days
ago to receive specie, the boat was guarded by two
officers well armed. Immediately on landing the
purser the boat shoved off, and lay some dis-
tance from the shore. By means of these precau-
tions no more men were lost a great novelty, as
all vessels lose their men by desertion in this port.
The Inconstant took in 130,000 dolls. in gold dust,
and sailed direct for Valparaiso on the 24th of last
month.
Several merchant vessels have lately left the port,
and there is now no difficulty in procuring sailors at
150 dolls. a month.
Gold dust, which is at present rather scarce, fetches
15 dulls. 50c. per ounce troy, and is taken at 16 dolls,
per ounce in payment for goods. News from the
" gold diggins" encourage the hope that, during the
present and next month an abundant harvest will be
reaped, as the rivers are now getting low, which will
enable the " diggers" to pursue their labours on the
" ban," always the most profitable " locations."
With regard to the gold region, which is now ex-
citing an interest all over the world, I cannot give a
better account than can be gathered from the following
extract, with which a friend has favoured me from his
journal, kept during his journey into and his residence
in the interior. This gentleman is a scientific and
practical miner, at present engaged with a party of
14 men on the Juba River, and his information may
be relied on :
" Settling from San Francisco, you cross the bay of
the same name to the leeward of Angel Island, enter the
Bsy of San Pablo, and proceed up the Straits of Carquen
to the new town of Benecia, where you enter the Bay of
Susan (which I think is Freshwater Bay' of B:echy),
about twenty-fire miles north-west cf San Francisco.
After passing the Bay of Susun (into which the Sacra-
mento empties itself) the river runs in a northerly three-
tion for about fifteen miles through a low marshy
country. At this point the river forma two branches—
one the main branch running a little to the eastward;
and another called the Sleugh, or Sluice. This latter is
generally the one taken by boats, as it cuts cif about
eighteen miles of a bend which the main river forms,
the country between the branch and the main stream
forming an island of considerable extent, thickly wooded
and full of lakes and swamps formed by the over-
flowing of the river. The banks, upon entering the
Slough, become bold and woody on both sides, the
principal timber being white oak of an inferior kind, the
sycamore, and a kind of bastard beech. The gramens
which I noticed upon this river are the wild tare, the
lichen, and various species of trefoil. The earth is of a
sandy alluvial character, with a sub, strata of black clayey
mud. The banks of the river abound in deer and elk,
hares and rabbits. Of the feline tribe I have noticed only
one, killed by one of nay men, of the small panther spe-
cies. Grizzly bears, of a large size, are numerous. The
ornithology of this part of the country is very poor and
of very little variety, with the exception of the aquatic
birds. Ducks, geese, the cormorant, and the stork are
very numerous. The land birds noticed by me were the
raven, the common crow, the jar falcon, and the white
hawk, besides a species of mocking bird with a Mao
plumage. I have also noticed one species of humming
bird of the dwarf kind, with very beautiful red and grey n
plumage. Rattlesnakes abound on the banks of the riser,
although they are said not to be so venomous here as in
the warmer regions. There are also several species of
red and black streaked snakes, but they are perfecly
harmless. The water abounds with salmon and trout of
an excellent quality.
" After passing the Sleugh, the river (Sacramento)
makes a bold sweep almost due north, its width being
about a quadra and a half (about 120 yards) Fellow-
ing this direction, you reach.a place called the Russian
Embareadera, where the Russians formerly had an
establishment for trading with the Indians. The fea-
tures of the banks of the river continue the same, with
a flat fertile country in the back ground, covered with
flowers of every description, and amongst the numerous
bulbous plants I noticed some of the lily species, very
large and beautiful. These • plains unbounded ou each
side of the river by a range of mountains at a distance
'orabout 26 or 30 miles, those on the west side being
low and apparently .wooded. Those on the eastern side
consist of two distinct ridges, one apparently of secon-
ded, formation, from which the auriferous rivers de-
scend; and beyond this the Grand Snowy Ridge, or
Cordillera of the Sierra Nevada, which as yet has been
but little explored.
" On the eighth day after leaving San Francisco we
arrived at the new town called the Disembarcadera,
situated near the junction of the Rio de los Americanos
(American River) with the Sacramento. The banks
here continue to maintain tbo same features as already
described. At this point, leaving the larger vessel (a
launch or barge), I proceeded up the river in a whale
boat, to a distance of about 55 miles, where the river is
joined by another of its tributaries, called Feather River.
This river, which runs in a direction nearly due east,
from the mountains to the Sacramento, is a broad, deep,
rapid stream, its banks rather bolder than those of the
other river, but presenting the same geological and bo-
tanical features; and it is singular to remark that none
of those rivers, in their coarse towards the ocean, roll
auy stones, and I believe but little gravel, along
with them. No stones are to be found on the banks,
the only thing approaching to them being tosc3,'
a petrifaction of sand. The only shells found on
the banks are a few bivalvula, or fresh water
mussel. Proceeding up Feather River to a distance
of about 50 miles, you como to the junction of the
Yuba (or ' Juba'), the banks of which are covered with
wild grapes. At this point I left the boats on account
of the rapidity of the current, finding it too laborious to
pull against the stream. I crossed a valley on horse-
back for about 15 miles, the whole of which is a magni-
ficent country, fertile in the extreme, covered with
clumps of wood which reminded me of a park in Erg-
land; the weather, although only the end of April, un-
commonly hot, the thermometer standing at 90 degrees
in the shadt, at raid• day; but the evenings and mornings
remarkably cool and pleasant. After passing the plain
I began to ascend the Alpine region. Here the face of
nature changed suddenly, the vegetation being confined
principally to the pine and dwarf beech, and a small
shrub of the myrtle species, being a hard iron-wood with
which the Indians point their arrows. The ground hero
is of a red manly clay, and contains geld even to the
summit of the hills, which are interspersed with
large crags and rocks. The river to which you de-
scend to get into what is called the placers,' or geld
washings, is a rapid dangerous mountain torrent,
running between bold banks of crags and rocks, from the
sand accumulated amongst which the gold is washed out.
As yet mining has been done in a very imperfect manner,
by the adventurers who first flocked to these regions,
and who, finding gold so abundant on the surface, gave
themselves little trouble, and slid not care to penetreee into
the bowels of the earth. The gold runs in a regular strata,
formed, in my opinion, by the alluvial deposit fr,m the
neighbouring hills, during a lapse of ages, and, as a na-
tural consequence, arising from the gravity of the metal,
the sub-strata is infinitely richer than that upon the
surface. I am at pr. sent (June, 1549) workieg at a
place on the Juba where the geld hes already been
taken from the surac e and I find, that the deeper I dig
the richer the earth is. As a proof that this geld is all
alluvial (or broui,bt down by the river), it is found in
greater quantities at a bend where the river forms a bar.
I 'Lave also observed that where the hills on the sides of the
river are bold and precipitate, the auriferous deposit is
generally greater than where they run in a gentle slope.
As yet I have seen no veins of gold in these mountains,
but a specimen of gold imbedded in a matrix of white
quartz was shown to me, said !o have been brought
from the Snowy Riage It was exceediegly rich, the
greatest part of the stone (ore) being pure gold, and
weighing about 41b. Troy.
‘• That the beds of these rivers contain incredible
riches I have little doubt, because, after the freshets 'De-
cision:l by the melting of the snow are reduced, and a
part of the course of the strerai is left dry, the earth
dug cut is much richer than that found up the banks;
which is easily accounted for, as the principal bed of the
river receives the auriferous deposit from all the hills
which it passes from its source, whereas the higher
banks can only be enriched by the gold washed down
from the nearest mountains.

" Although there has been much exaggeration in the
statements with regard to the gold in California which I
had seen previous to my arrival in this country, never-
theless its riches appear almost incredible, and I
whichel.
know persons to have washed out in a very short
under
I will confine myself to the fact which
my own personal observation, thatam
round wooden bowl,
atihwith a common
washing-pan, which is merelyt
containing about the fourth
,par oaf a bushel of earth, in
obtains from one to two
six or seven hours' labouo'lc,
this the men
ounces of gold—of puraootttallly
dt(o)oin;ga.nd
Let me remark
under :sly direction arc
has never been got out of the
that this is a sum which
of Chili or Peru, by a regular routine of
gold washings
labour, at their highest pitch of fertility since the Con-
quest."
Here my friend's journal goes into business parti-
culars and calculations, which I omit. His remarks
on the Indians are interesting, and I will, therefore,
give them :
" The Indians (I believe some writers have called
them 'root diggers ') in the district where I am at pre-
sent working are a quiet, peaceable, and timorous race,
and appear to me to be about the rudest and most uncul-
tivated of all human beings. Their colour is a dark
copper, they are small of stature, the formation of the
head and features evidencing them to be of Asiatic
origin. They generally go armed with bows and arrowe,
but, have a great dread of a white man and firearms.
They go perfectly naked, except the women, who wear
a very primitive covering, much like that of our first
mother, and vedch is merely a small bunch of rashes
secured round the middle by a thong of the same frail
material. They are very ill-featured (both sexes),