The Sun.
London, England, 1851-01-27 00:00:00

STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

SAN FRANCISCO, DEC I.—ln my last letter I men-
tioned that a difference of opinion existed among the
medical profession as to the disease whic'h prevailed
being cholera. Since then nearly all the doctors have
come to the conclusion that there is cholera in San
Francisco.
The subject has been much discussed, and that I
might be able to give a correct statement, I have
made inquiries on the subject of such members of
the profession as are most competent to give
an opinion. They report that for the last two
months this place has been subject to a good
deal of abdominal disease, such as dysentery,
diarrhoea, and peritonitis, which is attributable to
the use of improper diet—eating crude, heavy food,
improperly cooked (preserved meats, often of bad
quality, have bad a share in producing these com-
plaints), as also the abuse of spirituous liquors. More
deaths have occurred from these diseases than from
cholera, and many of the deaths so occurring—parti-
cularly those from diarrhoea—have been; set down as
deaths from cholera. This latter disease has certainly
prevailed, but only to a very small extent compared
with the population. The cases, however, have been
very fatal—the illness lasting only a few hours, and
terminating in sudden death. The cases on the whole
have been fewer, but more fatal, than in any other
country we read of. The cholera first appeared in parts
of the city which were last year swamps, and which
have lately been turned up for foundations of houses,
and for street and sewer making. In these localities
malaria has been generated, which has been the chief
exciting cause of cholera, aggravated by the unusual
heat of the weather, which has been a continuation of
summer until lately. To this primary exciting cause
the doctors add imprudence in living, abuse of spirits
(" drinks," as the Americans call their spiritous com-
pounds), bad habitations, and a general deficiency of
personal comforts. The disease is aggravated by, if,
indeed, its fatality is not in a great measure owing
to, bad nursing in sickness, as well as the want
of the appliances which ought to be at the im-
mediate command of the physician when he is
prescribing in cases of cholera. These would be ex-
citing and aggravating causes in any part of the world.
There is nothing attributable to the climate. Though
disagreeable, it is quite healthy. Ten days ago, on
the occurrence of a fall of rain, the cholera entirely
disappeared; for three days no deaths occurred. The
weather has since been warm and "muggy," and the
disease has re-appeared. We are likely to have more
rain soon, a continuance of which, will, it is expected,
conquer the disease. Two of the French doctors are
of opinion that the disease is putrid fever, produced by
the malaria I have just spoken of; while the English
and American doctors are nearly unanimous in pro-
nouncing it cholera.
The existence of the disease on its first appearance
affected trade a good deal. The panic has entirely
worn off, however, from the deaths as I have said
being few compared with the number of inhabitants,
and now there is, in fact, not much thought about the
cholera. I have been thus particular in detailing
the state of the disease as exaggerated ac-
counts getting home may cause unnecessary
alarm, to the affliction of friends and relatives,
and to the detriment of business. The total
number of deaths from cholera during the month of
November has been about 106. The total number
of deaths from all causes in San Francisco in 14 days,
to the 30th of November, has been 116 ; of these 53
have been from cholera, 15 from dysentery, nine from
diarrheas, and the remainder from accidents, typhoid
fever, and the sundry diseases which all communities
are liable to. This is in a population estimated at
30,000 souls.
Now that the rainy season has set in, the usual
dulness in business may be expected. The lateness
of the winter and its expected mildness (for it seems
from the accounts of the old Californians that mild
and dry winters do occur periodically) will
have a less injurious effect upon trade than
happened last year, by shortening the period of
inactivity. Many of the merchants grumble
at the dulness of trade and the lowness of prices,
while others, again, express themselves satisfied with
both the demand and the rates. The great quantity
of goods lately arrived (120 vessels have entered
between the 14th and 29th ult.), the large supplies
already placed in the mining districts, and the cutting
up of the roads by the coming rains, will naturally
have the effect of suspending mercantile operations
until the spring.
I hear that the English merchants and manufac-
turers are at last becoming alive to the importance
of this market. Hitherto the English shipments
have been of no great value, having been chiefly
composed of ale and porter, spirits, iron-houses,
and all sorts of "odds and ends," which go to make
up what is understood in a mercantile sense by the
term "rubbish." The results of most of those ad-
ventures have been disastrous, from there having
been too much -of one class of goods sent ; from
the unsuitableness and bad quality of much, and
from the utter worthlessness of a great portion of the
goods; from the captains coming unprovided with
lipids to pay the duties ; and, finally, from the con-
signments having fallen into the hands of untrust-
worthy consignees. The results have been !oss to
the shipper, and in many cases a total sacrifice of
the vessels; the latter misfortune owing in a great
measure to the absence of an English consul. The
losses upon iron-houses alone have been very great.
Houses of iron are totally unsuitable to this climate.
In summer they become as hot as ovens, and in
winter as cold as wells. As for their being fire-proof,
after the tests our conflagrations have put them to,
the idea is laughed at. I have seen them red hot,
and tending to spread the fire more than a wooden
house would do, as they take longer to consume, and
set fire to everything surrounding them.
Now that English manufactured goods are said
to be preparing for this market with vigour, care
must be taken not to overdo the thing. It ought to
be borne in mind that the population of this country
does not exceed 300,000, and that of this number the
proportion of women and children is very small—a
mere unit. This latter fact must give a character to
the shipments to be made.
Properly-selected English goods of a great variety
of classes, provided they are of the very best quality,
will leave a good result ; but nothing of inferior
quality will, as a general rule, pay its freight and ex•
penses.
English and Irish butter and cheese sell very
well, if of prime quality and in good preservation.
English-made clothing, on the other hand, does not
do well in any great quantity, as neither the Ame-
ricans nor the foreigners in this country fancy
the style of our tailoring. It is not sufficiently
" Frenchified" for their tastes. Groat variations in
prices must also be expected in this market, for the
present at least. A merchant here seldom specu-
lates; he merely buys to supply the exigency of the
moment. This is in a great measure owing to the
high value of money ; for instance, how can a mer-
chant be expected to go into the speculation of
purchasing a cargo likely to arrive even to a rising

market when the interest of money is Y per cent. per
month ? No profit to be looked for from an advance
in price of goods can (in most cases) be expected to
equal a safe investment of capital at this rate of re-
turn in interest. Instead, therefore, of speculating,
the monied man invests upon the security of land,
and sometimes upon that of chattels. This is one
reason for the inflated value of real estate, which is
kept up by the money borrowed upon it, for the
lender helps the borrower to keep up the nominal
value of the land pledged from the most natural of
all reasons—self-interest.

Emigration continues. During the month of
November there arrived 1,407 souls, while, however,
in the same period, 4,866 departed, leaving a balance
against the arrivals of 3,459. Since August there has
been an excess of departures over arrivals of about

8,000 persons.
This is partly accounted for by the expulsion of so
many foreigners, Mexicans and Chilians, from the
mines, and by the fact that many persons leave this
place to winter in the Sandwich Islands and other
places; and, besides, our business relations with the
Atlantic States are now of so mixed and extensive

a nature as to require the periodical presence
of many of our men of business in these States, many
of whom have so arranged that they can pass the win-
ter out of California. The unusual length and se-

verity of last winter frightened a great many persons

who will not venture Co brave another.

Amongst the recent arrivals the most remarkable
have been from France. Several hundreds of French

emigrants, of both sexes, and chiefly of the la-
bouring classes, have arrived during the month in
merchant vessels, and 150 of the late " Gardes
Mobiles" were brought in the French corvette La
Serieuse, which arrived on the 28d ult., at the ex•

pense of the French Government, which favoured

their emigration. About 600 more of the same body
are on their way to this country. They are rather
a fine boly of men, all armed, and in uniform. Some
50 of them have been already sent up to Stock-
ton, at the expense of the French Government,
on their way to the southern mines. The quiet
unobtrusiveness of their manner, and their orderly
conduct, have made a favourable imprenion, and
they, as well, indeed, as all the French emi-
grants, have been well received. Their arrival is
looked upon as a benefit to the country in the present
state of the labour market. The poor " Gerdes" met
with a sad mishap in the loss of one-half their lug-
gage by the upsetting of the lighter that was bringing
it on shore. There was so much commisseration for
them that a subscription was got up to make good
seasonably to
money
their losses. The French Consul has been very at-
tentive
assistance t he m ,wahni de
h has
ousuldppc m
the other French emigrants, for they are all
wretchedly poor, and are sadly put out by not speak-
ing English.
The news from the mines continues favourable. In
w
some of the locations on the rivers the long continu•

allee Of dry weAthei ii43enabled the miners to pry-