The Sun.
London, England, 1849-01-03 00:00:00

CALIFORNIA.

Wise people are fond of repeating, generally too
late for practical purpose, that "there is nothing new
under the sun." They do not, however, tell us the
converse of this proverb. There is no event, no
crisis, no prodigy, no discovery, which we may not
expect to see repeated, and possibly eclipsed, by
some new birth of time. Changes utterly incon-
ceivable by the rule of the present gene-
ration become possible on a more extended in-
duction. We will forbear to recall the numerous
examples spontaneously suggested by the memorable
year of which we have ..,aken leave, and go at once
to the last nine days' wonder—the fields of gold in
California. The supply of the precious metals in
the hands of the civilized world has always been
subject not only to fluctuations, but to extraordinary
accessions. The conquering empires of antiquity
accumulated gold and silver at their victorious
capitals, to an extent which produced many changes,
and not a few evils. Ransoms, tributes, bribes,
contributions, and plunder flowed in a golden
stream to the great cities of Asia and of Greece, and
lastly to Rome. The discovery of America, the sack
of its palaces, and the opening of its mines so aug-
mented the stock of precious metals in Spain and
Portugal, and through those nations in Europe at
large, that prices which had remained almost stationary
for ages advanced per saltum nearly to their pre-
sent average level. Since teat great era there has
been a continual current of the precious metals into
Europe. Their uses, however, have equally multi-
plied and increased. The demands of luxury and trade
have grown upon the supply. A metallic circulation
in the British Isles approaching to t 0,000,0001., and
another in France exceeding that sum in silver alone ;
circulations proportionally increased in all Europe;
besides a vast consumption in gilding and jewellery
absorb annual millions without much impression on
the value of the precious metals. The boasted relief
from the Oural mountains has hitherto proved but a
drop in the ocean. Hence for some time past gold
has been regarded as the type of unchangeable
value, and there has even been a show of popu-
lar clamour against the national Acts by which
the debts of the State have been represented in a
medium more likely to be enhanced than depre-
ciated. It was scarcely to be suspected that we
should once more witness the ships of Tarshisb, the
spoil of Corinth, the treasures of Arabia, the
chambers of Montezuma, or the hall of the Incas;
but—" there is nothing new under the sum," nor
yet anything old which shall not be again—the
plains of gold in California seem to beat them all.
Gold is a vulgar material, much decried by poets
and forbidden by philosophers ; but its history be-
longs to romance, and its vicissitudes are associated
with the fortunes of our race. Every now and then
an El Dorado has been announced in some remote
region, some new continent or world. At one time
the mines of Spain and the rivers of Portugal ; at
another time commerce with India; then Mexico
and Peru; then the deadly coast of tropical
Africa ; and, still more recently, the frozen
mountains and plains of Siberia—have suddenly
presented themselves to the aid of our bank-
rupt Exchequers ; creating the wildest desires, and
rendering some real assistance, but more generally
diffusing misery and ruin. The glittering commodity
has not been found amongst us ; we have not lighted
upon it in our subterranean wanderings ; no stratum
has been found " cropping out" on the hill side, no gold-
stone has caught the eye of the wandering miner; all
the rivers and mines once of fabulous splendour
have been utterly worked out; no sooner is the
spot fairly embraced within the pale of civilization
than gold seems to vanish like a legend of the past.
The rock no longer glitters, the sand is washed in
vain. But forthwith a cry reaches us from the ends of
the earth. Gold is found again. What region is so
inaccessible as the western coast of North America ?
It is " the far west" of the whole world, for after that
begins the east again. Though now included within
the territory of the United States, it cannot be reached
from New York within less than six months by
Cape Horn, or about three months by Chagres and
Panama, and about the same time overland by Sante
Fi. In that remote corner, the banished genie
reappears. If he seems to promise a greater
abundance, or a more constant supply than in
times past, he yet preserves his dignity, by inter-
posing twenty thousand miles of ocean between
himself and civilized man. The golden fleece of
Colchis and the golden apples of the Hesperides
were not more remote or more carefully guarded.
Speculation, of course, will be active, not merely as
to the actual profits of the working, but, what is
more important, its effect upon the commerce of
the world. Till the region has been more widely
surveyed, any estimate of the product must be pre-
mature. We only know that there have been many
such discoveries, if not on so large a scale, and that
they have all been speedily exhausted. The sands
of the Tagus and the Pactolus have long since been
sifted to the last flake of gold. The great mine §of
the New World are generally exhausted. What
chiefly leads one to sufpect that even the vast gold-
field of California may follow the fate of its predeces-
sors in the old world is, that the form in which the
mineral appears is the same as of yore ; virgin gold in
flakes, grains, and occasionally in larger pieces,
charily diffused over the soil, and brought to light in
ravines, gulleys, and watercourses. It looks the old
story all over again. This does not augur inexhaustible
abundance. Experience is equally against the pre-
sumption that California, be its treasures great or
small, will prove a real benefit to the United States.
The invariable fate of the finder of hidden treasure or
the pauper heir has often come to pass with nations.
Gold-hunting, whether pursued by the solitary Indian
or the great commercial company, is not one of
those branches of ordinary and legitimate trade which
train men to useful arts and steady habits, and so
draw down a blessing on society even when they
fail. It is mere gambling;—an unhealthy flush
of prosperity indisposing the population for regular
industry, and entailing a subsequent collapse of
national energy, and, to some extent, of the national
independence. Myriads, it is said, are now
hastening from the ports of the Union, having relin-
quished their trades and social positions. Merchants
and shipowners are preparing to supply the ad -
venturers. The enterprise promises to absorb a
vast amount of industry and wealth. Whether we
look to the prospects of the new colony assembled
in California, or the spirit diffused over the whole
Union, we see little to regret that the region is not
ours. The universal increase of population, commerce,
and wealth, requires a corresponding increase in the
precious metals, besides what is wanted to repair the
constant waste. Should California yield three or
four millions a year, which some will think an ex-
travagant estimate, it is questionable whether that
will d© more than meet the demand. Should it
affect the price of gold even in a small degree, it
would close many mines now worked at a mere
nominal profit. An annual supply of many tons
which some American journals anticipate, would, o
course, depreciate the metal; but, as that would pro-
bably cause its more general use both for ornament

and for coin, the depreciation would so far be checked
by the increased demand. It cannot, however, be
denied that there is now some likelihood that gold will
fall to a rather lower value as compared with silver and
all other articles. In these days an abundance
of gold in the United States will be immediately
communicated to other nations, and equalized over
the world. The result will show itself in that general
rise of prices which some ingenious philosophers
think so necessary an element of prosperity and
happiness. It will also depreciate all existing money
rents, dividends, and charges; enhancing in a corre-
sponding degree all other kinds of property. It will
thus avenge the old quarrel of the " inconvertible "
financiers, by reducing the public debt and all other
mortgages towards or to the war standard. We cannot
think, however, that any great change will be ex-
perienced for some years to come.— Times.

[AnvairrisemENT.j—John Kaye, Esq., of Dalton-
hall, near Huddersfield, does not rest the claim as to the
efficacy of the celebrated Kaye's Worsdell's Pills upon
mere theory, or speculative opinion, but upon facts sub-
stantiated by hundreds and thousands. There is scarcely
a town, village, or hamlet throughout the kingdom, in
which this medicine is not well known. Wives and
mothers, husbands and children, are constantly sending
in grateful testimonies, and declaring that no medicine
ever wrought such astonishing cures, or was so invalu-
able to a family, as this. The following is a specimen:
—Sir,—l have found the 'Vegetable Restorative Pills
a most valuable family medicine. Some time ago my
daughter was very much afflicted, and appeared to be
gradually sinking. We tried medical aid in vain. I
then resorted to your Pills, and to the astonishment of
all who knew her, a complete cure was effected. Being
myself, greatly afflicted, having spent five or six pounds
on medical aid in vain, I also commenced taking your
Pills, and I began to mend rapidly; and I can truly say
that I and my daughter received more benefit from
taking one small box, than from all the medicines we had
ever taken before.—Andrew Atkinson, Halton, Hol-
gate, Lincolnshire.—Observe John Kaye's coat of arms,
and a fac-simile of his signature, are on the directions
for use, wrapped round each box. Price ls. lid., 2s. 9d.,
or 4s. ad. per box; to be had of all respectable Chemists
and Medicine Venders.
EauniQuexc—The shock of the earthquake felt
on Saturday, Dec. 27, at Bois-le-Duc (Netherlands), was
equally perceptible at Oss, Geffel, :Nuland, Schyndel,
Beer wyk, Dinther, Eindhoven, and, above all, at Nisten-
roodo and Worstenbosch. In the latter commune the
shock was so strong that stones were shaken from chim-
neys, and plates and dishes fell out of cupboards. It is
remarkable that this phenomenon shortly preceded the
eensiderable change which has taken place in the wee-
%or% The 'Arnemsehe Courant informs us that this shock
':felt likewise at Arnhem. In that town it lasted for
-1611, seconds, and, caused objects hanging from the ceil-
'nqrtale houseato vibrate.—Brussels Herald.
7111 JA3SUANT DrvionNDs.—Yesterday the divi-
dends due on the sth instant, were appointed to be paid
to the public at .Abe Bank of England on Tuesday the
9th instant. The-books of transfer will re-open on the
lath and.l6th inst.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
MANSION-HOUSE.

Joseph Saysr, a person in the employ of Messrs.
Caldicott and Co., of Cheapside, Manchester-ware-
housemen, and Harriet Sayer, his wife, were brought
before the Lord Mayor, charged with having plun-
dered the premises of the prosecutors.
Mr. Hobler, who appeared for the prosecution,
stated that there was ground for believing that Messrs.
Caldicott's premises had been extensively plundered;
that the male prisoner had been concerned in the
robbery, and that the woman at the bar, who was
supposed to be his wife, had such knowledge of the
transactions as induced the prosecutors to have her
apprehended and detained until their relationship to
each other should be clearly ascertained. Part of the
stolen property had been found on the premises of the
prisoner, and the prosecutors required some days'
delay in order to make an effectual investigation
into the particulars of the charge.
Thomas Cobley, K 65, stated that in consequence
of information which he had received he went to 14,
Goodman's-yard, Goodman's-fields, where the pri-
soners lodged, and found there a rod hanging on the
bed, and asked the female prisoner how she became
possessed of it? She replied that her husband had
brought it home to her. Ile also found some articles
which it was believed were the property of Messrs.
Caldicott.

Mr. John Wilcox, a clerk in the house of Messrs.
Caldicott, identified some of the articles produced as
the property of the prosecutors.
The male prisoner declared that the woman who
was charged with him was his wife. He stated that
he had acknowledged to Mr. Caldicott his crimina-
lity with respect to one of the articles he was charged
with having stolen, and that gentleman had held out
an inducement to him to make the confession by
offering a remission of punishment.
Mr. Caldicott denied that he had uttered a word
from which his forgiveness of the offence could pos-
sibly be inferred ; on the contrary, he had cautioned
the man as to any confession he might be disposed to
make.

The prisoners were then both remanded.
The LORD MAYOR, requested that the press would
announce his grateful thanks, upon the part of the
poor, for the following sums of money :—From Mr.
Mitchell, on behalf of the drapers Company, 101. 10s.;
the Mercers' Company, " Ma. Wt.," 10/. ; through
Messrs. Hoare and Co.; anonymous, 51.; Merchant
Tailors' Company, 101. 105. ; Messrs. Williams, Dea-
con, and Co., 10/. ; " L. M. H.," 21. ; for Felix Lay-
cock's service, " H. W. P.,",55.; " W. G.," 11. ; " A
Lady," 11.55.