The Sun.
London, England, 1858-10-12 00:00:00

BRITISH COL UMBIA.

The following letter has been received from Vic-
toria, Vancouver's Island, dated Aug. 21 :
I arrived at this place from California nearly two
weeks ago. The greater portion of my time since
having been occupied in sailing on the interior
waters of the coast and of the neighbouring terri-
tory of Washington (of which I will give some ac-
count in my next letter), having only got ashore
this morning, and a steamer being about to leave
for San Francisco, I have only time to write a few
lines to catch the mail which leaves San Francisco
for Europe on the sth proximo.
The all-engrossing subject in this part of the
world is the present state and future prospects of
the new gold mines in the British territory on the
mainland. There has been no great development
as yet, owing to the high state of Fraser's River,
caused by the melting of the snow keeping the bed
of the river for the most part covered with water.
There are only a few spots—" bars" as the miners
call them—exposed, and mining operations are con-
fined to such of these spots as are above water. It
is expected that in a week or two the river will fall
sufficiently to allow of mining operations over a con:
siderable space. Wherever mining has been carried
onthe bed of the river has yielded gold in abundance,
and nearly all the miners who have worked in it
concur in the opinion that gold exists in remunerat-
ing quantities.
About a week ago some 12,000 dols, worth of
gold dust came down to ;Victoria, all from Fraser's
River, and the day before yesterday the Hudson's
Bay Company's steamer, the Otter, brought down
an amount estimated at about the value of 30,000
dols., belonging to differentminers. It is impossible
to ascertain the quantity with accuracy, but I
should think the above not an over estimate, from
the fact that upwards of £25,000 of the gold dust
was offered to the company on sale.
The following is a summary (condensed) of the
news brought by the passengers and correspondence
of the Otter from Fraser's River :
About 25,000 dols. a week could be purchased
from the miners on the river, although they are re-
luctant to sell more than suffices to supply their im-
mediate wants in provisions, &c. They ask so high
a price for their "dust" as limits the traffic in gold,
for it is found to be of a " ley" lower than Californian
gold, and worth less than the old miners have been
accustomed to sell at in the latter country. The
business is not yet properly organised. The Otter
brought down about 600 ounces from Texas Bar,
the great portion of which was obtained by sluicing.
The earnings at this place ranged from 15 to 40
dols. per man per day. On Puget Sound Bar 40
rockerk three men to each, were at work doing
well. On Sacramento Bar 15 rockers at work ;
Emory's Bar, 36 rockers, the miners earning 6 to 8
dols. each. Another account reports five companies
at work on this bar, making from 8 to 25 dols. per
day to the hand. At Hill's Bar 100 rockers and
400 men at work, averaging an ounce a day to the
hand, and some lucky " strikes" were made which
yielded as high as 30 dols. per day to the hand. At
Fort Yale Bar several companies making 15 to 20
dols. per day per man. At Pike's Bar, 80 ounces
had been got out in three days. The agent of one
of the Express Companies, who is mining at this
place, had taken out 45 dols. in one day this month
to his own share. Higher up the river the miners
had been chiefly engaged in " prospecting."
The great impediment to the development of the
mineral region is the difficulty of access to it, which
is limited to the route of the Fraser River, and

nearly all the mining is confined to this river.
This difficulty of access, however, is fast being re-
moved. The Governor has organised a gang of 500
men, and set them to work to make a "trail" or
road from Harrison's Lake, which will open a new
route to the country of the Upper Fraser and
Thompson's Rivers, and where a rich mineral region
is reported to be.
This route will ba by Harrison's river, a tri-
butary of the Fraser, emptying into the latter about
midway between Langley and Fort Hope. The
Harrison River is fed by a chain of lakes found to be
navigable by small steamers already plying on them.
A portage of 50 miles from the highest of these
lakes will strike the mineral country on Fraser's
River, about 40 miles above the junction of
the Thompson. This route is progressing rapidly,
will soon be open, and will save the dangerous navi-
gation and laborious portages of the Fraser River
at and above Fort Yale.

A "difficulty" occurred lately between the Indians
in the interior and a party of Frenchmen, which re-
sulted in the death of two men on each side. The
matter is under investigation by the Governor. The
Ilidians require a mode of management which the
Hudson's Bay Company's people can alone apply.
The chief complaint against them is their thieving.
They are incorrigible thieves. In other respects
they have hitherto behaved very well, unless when
under the influence of liquor.
The Recovery, a merchant brig which is chartered
by the Governor to do duty as a revenue vessel, is
stationed on the Fraser River. She is manned and
officered by men and officers from her Majesty's
ship Satellite, and has on board, in addition, one
or more revenue officers (civilians).,The ser-
vices of such a vessel
are indispensable, for
men of all nationalities are ready to smuggle goods
and spirits up the river, to proceed without a

licence, pass, or clearance, and to carry up miners
who have not taken out their mining hcences.
The distribution of ardent spirits among the
Indians is, very wisely and humanely, strictly pro-
hibited. If this rule is relaxed or evaded, the most
disastrous consequences will ensue, for liquor mad-
dens the Indians, and makes them most dangerous
to themselves and to all around them. So soon as
they drink the smallest quantity they lose all self-
control, and murder all who come in their way, I
may say. The supplying them with spirits is there-
fore a serious crime, and must be prevented by
every means.
By the way, I may here take occasion to men-
tion that the colony stands in urgent need of the
assistance of one or two vessels of war in its pre'
sent unexpected emergency, to assist the Governor
in maintaining authority and the due observance of
law and order among the heterogeneOus population
suddenly thrown 4into the country.
It is due to Captain Prevost, of the Satellite, and
to Captain Richards, of the Plumper, to state that
they have readily rendered such assistance as they
could, and that their services have been of consider-
able importance—have probably saved much dis-
turbance, and bloodshed; but their vessels are in
these waters on special duties—the one surveying,
and the other engaged in the service of the 'Com-
mission to settle the North-West boundary, and too
much cannot be expected from them, beyond, and
foreign to, their own special service and duties.
One or two vessels are, therefore, urgently needed,
and no delay should be allowed in sending orders
from England to the Admiral on the station to
supply so urgent a want.
The arrivals from California have lessened very
much, a few odd hundreds still arrive, and about as
many as come go away to California. The vast
crowd which was congregated in Victoria a month
ago has dispersed—some to the mines, others to
Oregon and Washington territories, and some to
California.

Victoria is progressing notwithstanding, for most
persons have an abiding faith in the richness and
extent of the mines. Since the 12th of June, ac-
cording to the returns of a local statist, 250 housees
have been built, all of timber but twe. All this
inflammable material it is hoped will be saved from
the common fate of wooden towns by means of two
fire engines procured by the Government from San
Francisco. Fortunately they have not yet been
called into requisition.
Mercantile business has been so overdone that
goods are ruinously cheap here. Land speculation
has also evaporated, and has left many speculators
to regret their rashness. Both results benefit the
poor and the industrious, and the " operators"
meet with little sympathy.
Silver has been discovered in the interior. The
ore is said to be abundant. Lead ore is also found
on the island.

Her Majesty's ship Calypso arrived in port from
Callao, with stores for the surveying vessels on the
13th. She and the Satellite are in Esquimalt Har'
hour. The Plumper is surveying off the mouth of
Fraser River. I may write more fully and be in
time to catch the same mail which will take this
letter from San Francisco.

EARL OF DERBY AND THE TREATY

WITH CHINA.

We have been requested to publish the following
correspondence :

TO THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF DERBY.

My Lord,—l am desired respectfully to direct your atten'
tion to the enclosed resolutions and placard relating to the
"Peace with China."—l have the honour to be, your lord-
ship's most obedient servant, G. CRAWSHAT.
Gateshead, Oct. 4, 1858.

Inclosures.
No. 1.
Resolved, that the acceptance of an indemnity front
China, together with treaty-stipulations respecting Chris'
tianity by men who have condemned the hostilities with
China as unjust, will be as hypocritical as it will be die'
honest.

Adopted, with other resolutions, at a meeting of the New'
castle Association for the Study of Affairs of State, on Sun'
day evening, October 3.

. 2.
Placard, headed " PeaceNo with China," signed John
Shallcross, Secretary of the Stafford Foreign Affairs Conr
mittee.

Knowsley, Oct. 8, 1858.
Sir,—l am desired by Lord Derby to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of the 4th inst., together with its en•
closures, and have the honour to be, your obedient servant,
G. Crawshay, Esq. W. P. TALBOT.

General Peel took his leave of her Majesty. oil
Saturday at Balmoral, and retires from his official residence
at Court in the Highlands. The gallant general will be
succeeded in this duty by Lord Stanley, who will remain at
Balmoral until the termination of her Majesty's stay.
The Indian telegram to-day shows no alteration in the
rate of exchange at Calcutta. Government securities, how-
ever, experienced a decline of about lor 1 per cent., both
at Ca'cute and Bombay. As regards the China exchange
the rate remains at 4s. 4d. at Hongkong, but at Shanghm
it had become about 21 per cent..less favourable for this
country, the transactions having been at ss. 11d. to 6s.
Ship mails for New York and St. John's, NeW'
foundland, were made up yesterday afternoon in the Gene-
ral Post-office, to be forwarded from Galway by the Pacific,
one of the packets of the Lever line.
THE OUTWARD BOMBAY MAIL.—The steamship
Sultan, Capt. Cook, left Southampton yesterday, with the
above mail and 61 passengers.
AMERICAN MAILS.—On Wednesday the screw
steamer Vigo will sail from Liverpool, with mails for Nos
York. The Post-office box will close at 9 a.m, with 'ate
fees at 10 a.m., and on the landing stage at the departure of
the tender, from about 10.30 to 11 a.m.
TILE AUSTRALIAN MAILS.—The Government
have accepted the tender of the Peninsular and Oriental
Steam Navigation Company for a monthly mail service
between this country and Australia, via Suez. The route
proposed by the company is by Mauritius, and the time in
which they have undertaken to convey the mails betweee
Southampton and Sydney is 55, and Melbourne 52 days,
which will be reduced to 50 and 47 days respectively by the
Marseilles route. The intervals allowed for replies to cor-
respondence from England will be seven days at Sydney, 13
at Melbourne, and 17 at Adelaide. In England there will.
be an interval of about 12 days between the arriyals and
departures of the Marseilles portions of the mails. The first
ship to be despatched to take up her station between Ade-
laide and Suez will be the Salsette, of 1,900 tons, and 400
horse-power. She will leave Southampton for Sydney on
the Ist of November, carrying mails, and be followed by
vessels of a similar class. It is reported that the only other
tender sent in was from the Royal Mail Company, and that
the terms proposed in that case were much higher. There
is little room to doubt that the service will now be effi-
ciently conducted.
SHIPWRECKS AT THURSO.—On Thursday a terrific
storm burst upon these shores, and was far more intense
thin any that has yet visited our coasts for many years.
The previous night was mild and frosty, but early in the
morning a strong breeze began to blow from E.N.E.,
gradually veering round to N., from which direction it
blew a perfect hurricane, accompanied by torrents of rain.
As the day advanced, the wind gradually shifted, and by
dusk it blew still more violently, from N.W. to W.N.W.,
and continued blowing from that direction with great vio-
lence during thewhole night. Two shipwrecks occurred near
Thurso. • One ship, the Henry Poacher, of Grangemouth, be-
gan to drag anchor about ten o'clock, and in less than half-
an-hour was driven ashore on the reef of rocks at Penny
land, opposite the Bishop's Castle. Crowds of people im-
mediately assembled opposite the spot, with throbbing
hearts for the safety of the crew. A few minutes after she
struck the main and mizen masts were cut, and went over
the vessel's side with a tremendous crash, and the scene,
amid the fury of the tempest and the dashing of the waves
right over her, with the crew clinging to her, was of a very -
touching character. At this time she was broadside on td
the shore' but in a few minutes she was driven end 'on, with
her bow to the land, and in this position she continued.
Efforts were instantly made to save the crew. After wait-
ing for an hour's further ebb, a rocket was fired with aline
attached, but was unsuccessful. A barrel with a line at-
tached was thrown from the vessel, and floated ashore, and
by this means a warp was made fast and a life preserver
constructed, by means of which the crew, numbering 16
men, were all got safely on shore, amid the cheers of the
multitude, who were almost delirious with delight at the
happy result. The kindest attention was paid to the men.
The vessel, which is insured, will become a total wreck, but
the cargo,, consising of American timber, will be almost all
saved. The captain's name was Henry Simpson, and the
vessel belongs to Mr. Henry Thomson, Grangemouth, to
whom the cargo is consigned. About the same time the
sloop Saucy Jack, of Thurso, laden with coals, was driven
from her moorings, and stranded on the sand below Scrab-
ster-house. Crew saved. It is doubtful whether she can
be got off. At a late hour on Thursday night an Isle of
Man schooner, laden with herrings, and a schooner laden
with pavement, were riding in the roads in considerable
danger ; but it was hoped they would ride out the gale.
VACANCIES, APPOINTMENTS, AND PROMOTIONS
IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.—Bank of England : A vacancy
in the cashier's department has beon caused by the death of
Mr. J. Ravenscroft Elsey, first assistant to the chief cashier.
National Debt Office : One of the agencies to the commis-
sioners has become vacant by the death of Mr. J. R. Elsey.
Copyhold Inclosure and Tithe Commission : A vacancy has
occured in this office by the death of Mr. E. ChristraaQ,
second-class clerk. Customs : A vacancy has been caused
in the buggers' department by the death of Mr. D. Pick,
inspector of g-uagers ; Mr. R. G. Cheesman, controller
at Hartlepool, has been promoted to be collector at Wey- -
mouth, vice Clague, retired; Mr. E. Pagdon, controller
at Newport, has been promoted to be controller at Hartle-
pool ; Mr. L. Phillips, controller at Limerick, has been pro-
moted to be collector at Fowey, vice Wreford, retired ;
James Foyster, collector at Ramsgate, has been promoted to
be collector at Port Glasgow, vice Wallan, retired ; Mr.
Francis Waring, collector at Faversham, has been promoted
to be collector at Ramsgate; Mr. Edmund Shell, controller at
Faversham, has been promoted to be collector at Faversl a n;
Mr. James Grieve, controller at Port Glasgow, has been
promoted to be collector at Irvine ; Mr. John Mackenzie,
collector at Carnarvon, has been promoted to be collector at
Drogheda, vice Lawson, retired; Mr. Thos. L. Stapledon,
collector at Chepstow, has been promoted to be collector at
Carnarvon; Mr. John Scarlett, controller at Chepstow, has
been promoted to be collector at Chepstow; Mr. Henry
Atkey, sub-control, r at Seaham, Sunderland, has been pro-
moted to vice Simon, retired ; Mr.
rgtm°o
uth, has been promoted to be
collector‘
Avery,
controller
at
Neli.y collector , v
at
tt y W wn'
e caoi
sterton, retired. Inland Revenue
Department : Mr. W. Stretton, first assistant of permits
and certificates, has been promoted to be first class clerk in
the warehouse department; Mr. C. H. Ellott, second assist-
ant of permits and certificates, has been promoted to be first
class clerk in the warehouse department ; Mr. J. Mitcheson,
third assistant of permits and certificates, has been pro-
moted to be second class clerk in the warehouse depart- ,
ment ; Messrs. J. Finlay, J. Ballantine, J. Duncan, T.
Welch, and W. Falshaw, examiners of permits and certifi-
cates, have been appointed clerks of stamps and taxes in
the warehouse department, Somerset-house.—Civil Service
Gazette,