The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-08 00:00:00

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PRICE 4d.
STAMPED sd.

this mining immigration, originally meant for Vic-
toria and Fraser River, is not only " carried" by
American means, but it is also supplied with com-
modities from Portland. Victoria and British
Columbia thus lose a portion of the trae.e and
traffic which the superiority of our own route over
that by the Columbia would entitle them to; not to
mention the claim which the gold-producing coun-
try has upon the " custom" of the miner whom
she permits to enrich himself out of the treasures
of her soil.

These are great drawbacks to young colonies
struggling to maintain themselves from their own
resources, the one (Vancouver Island) by direct tax-
ation, and the other by onerous Customs duties,
unaided by the mother country.
Besides the individual losses incurred in the man-
ner and by the means I have described, the revenue
of British Columbia suffers from a contraband trade
carried on by the Americans along her frontier,
which is too extensive to be effectually guarded.
The principal use to which her revenue is applied is
the making of roads through her pathless deserts ;
but she is deprived of a portion of the means for
carrying out this necessary improvement, while the
Americans by diverting her trade and traffic, which
they are enabled to do solely from owning the only
steamers plying to and from San Francisco, and by
evading her Customs law, are enabled to improve
their own communications, already forced into an
unnatural state of forwardness by their adventi-
tious advantage.
To return for a moment to the subject of the
postal communication. Our mails have hitherto
been carried by the American steamers gratui-
tously ; and I am happy to acknowledge our ob-
ligations to the Pacific Mail Steam-ship Company,
and to the owners of the other American steamers
for their generosity and invariable courtesy in this
respect. They not only carried our general mails,
but they conveyed special letter bags for Her Ma-
jesty's squadron, and were always very civil and
obliging in carrying parcels for the naval officers,
for which I have frequently heard these gentlemen
express their gratitude.
Unfortunately for us, we are now deprived of
these benefits, for the postal contract to carry the
mails to Oregon and to Washington Territory,
which enabled us t 3 receive our mails by the same
vessels that carried the American mails, has been
taken away from the Pacific Mail Company, and
this company has withdrawn its steamers from the
route. The mails are now carried from San Fran-
cisco to Portland, in Oregon, by land, and thence
to Washington Territory. Sometimes the English
mail is left at Olympia and sometimes at some
other town, and we are obliged to send a small
sailing vessel once a week to discover at what port
they may be lying, and to convey them to Victoria
when she finds them after a hunt. When our letters
do come to hand, after all this trouble and delay,
many of them are often so mutilated and so da-
maged by the water:as to be illegible. The overland
route from California is what the Americans call
" a hard road to travel," and it seems a miracle

that any vehicles can be kept together on such an
uneven surface.
The only other means we are to have of getting
letters henceforward is by a steamer from San
Francisco, which is to call for a few hours at Victoria
once in three weeks, and her owners may at any
moment decline to carry a mail for us unless they
are paid. This steamer does not observe any regu-
larity in her arrivals or departures, and the mer-
cantile community can neither calculate with pre-
cision upon the arrival of their advices nor upon
their opportunities for responding to them. I
ought rather to say they have no opportunity of
responding satisfactorily by return mail, on account
of the shortness of the steamer's stay.
Is it surprising that we get no addition to our
population by immigration in the present state of
steam communication with San Francisco, such as
I have described it, and that the colonists should
be despondent ? Or is it to be wondered at that
business is dull in the deranged state of our postal
communication ?
The cure for all these evils, which I have endea-
voured very imperfectly to depict, is to have an
English steamer running between San Francisco
and Victoria ; but this undertaking will require
assistance from the Imperial Government.
I know the system of subsidies has become un-

popular at home ; and I am prepared for your tel
ing us that we should help ourselves out of our di
ficulty. 'Well, we have made an effort to " help
ourselves." The citizens of Victoria and the local
Government offered to contribute a sum of £4,000
a-year to any of the steamboat owners of San Fran-
cisco who would undertake the service of carrying
our mails direct, but the offer was declined on the
ground of insufficiency. I had interviews with
these gentlemen myself, and they satisfied me that
the subsidy would not cover the loss they would
incur by abandoning the coasting trade of the way
ports. But, in point of fact, I do not believe that
the subsidy could be collected. Trade is so limited,
business so dull, and the system of direct taxa-
tion which has been adopted, to enable us to re-
tain Victoria a free port, is so very onerous, that
the people could not afford to pay the subsidy in
addition to their other burdens. So you see—at
least, I hope you will believe me when I declare
that we would if we could, but that we cannot
" help ourselves" in this case.
This grievance is not new, although we have
borne it patiently. Lord Derby's Government was
quite well informed of our wants, and had agreed
to grant us a subsidy—in fact, had granted it. The
contract was actually drawn up and approved by
the legal advisers of the Crown ; but before it was
executed the Government went out, and the present
Government refused to ratify it. I was informed
at the time that Mr. Gladstone urged the objection
that only a few letters were despatched from the
General Post-office in London for Victoria, and that
the number was so small as to justify him in declin-
ing to carry out the contract. This was a fallacy.
The letters addressed to Victoria direct were no
doubt few in number, but not because few
were
sent, but because nearly all letters for this colony—
indeed, all business letters were sent under cover to
San Francisco, to be forwarded thence, on account
of the very unsatisfactory state of our postal com-
munications, which I have described at such length.
Then, Mr. Gladstone ignored altogether in his argu-
ment the postal matter to be carried between San
Francisco and Victoria, arising out of the business
carried on between these two places, and involving
business correspondence with British Columbia and
Washington Territory and Oregon. He did not
know that, while San Francisco was the source of
supply, Victoria was the distributing point for all
British goods to this colony and to the other three
countries just named. Now, lam
happy to say,
we are receiving goods direct from England; and
it is still more satisfactory that we send these same
goods in some quantity to San Francisco, and that
hof the trade increasing.
Thee r e
facilities is
our free port in contradis-
tver
affordedy pros p ect
by
contradis-
tinction to the impediments of the American Cus-
toms Laws are producing this gratifying result.
All these accessions to business involve an increased
written correspondence, render a 'postal system
more and more necessary, and make the present
lack of one more intolerable.
If, as I have shown, the want of a direct mail
service is injurious to the com.mrcial and social in-
terests of the two colonies, it is still more humiliat-
ing to England that her Majesty's naval forces in
this part of the Pacific should be left in t
helpless position of being dependent for every
letter received or sent away from the squadron
on the courtesy or caprice of foreigners. Indeed,
the consequences may any day become disas-
trous. When we got into trouble with the Ameri-
cans the other day about the, Island of San Juan,
had either party proceeded to extremities our pos-
tal communication with the rest of the world would
have been stopped at once. We should have had

'gland ev.

letter;' to
of 25 days

:onveniunt

alternative could only be adopted on the supposition
that we had a man-of-war to spire—an improbable
supposition, because, in the event of hostilities, our
chief dependence would be on our ships. Our only
other means of communicating with England would
be by courier across the Rocky Mountains to
Canada—a journey of some months in summer and

impossible in winter. As matters look at present, if
the disturbances of the Eastern and Southern States
extend to those on -this coast, our communication
may be stopped at any moment.
It 13 to be hoped her Majesty's Government will
take the matter into their serious consideration
without delay, and grant us such assistance as in
their judgment will b© just and proper.
I don't think it can be imputed to us that we ask
much. Hitherto this calony has cost England but

very little, and now she has granted her 'Majesty a
civil list for the payment of her representative and
the other permanent officers of the Colonial Govern-
ment ; and in other respects the country defrays its

own expenses.
There are now in Esquimalt Harbour her Ma-
jesty's ship the Bacchante, carrying the flag of Ad-
miral Sir Thomas Maitland, Captain Mackenzie ;
the screw corvette Tartar, Captain Hayes; and the
gunboat Forward, Commander Robinson. The
Hecate, Captain Richards, is surveying on the
North-west coast of Vancouver's Island; and the
gunboat Grappler has gone to cruise along the
eastern side and northern end of this island, with a
view to keep the Indians of Queen Charlotte's
Island and the north coast of British Columbia in
check. These Indians, since the withdrawal of the
special licence of the Hudson's Bay Company to
trade with them, pay periodical visits to Victoria,
and commit many thefts. As they retire in their
canoes with their booty, and are expert oarsmen (or
rather paddlers), the only means the authorities
have of overhauling them are the two gunboats.
These vessels frequently render important services
in this respect, and are very useful to the colony in
various ways. The Forward followed a largo
party of Indians the other day as far north as
Point Mudge, where she found them encamped with
a great quantity of property stolen at Victoria and
a settlement on the Canal de Haro. The savages
showed fight and fired on the gunboat, so that Cap-
tain Robinson was compelled to chastise them by a
few shots, which killed and wounded a few of them
and destroyed their canoes. He also disarmed
them ; but as a hostile tribe made their appearance
at a time opportune for the destruction of the Hydahs
(the defeated tribe) when they were without the

means of defence, the captain humanely returned.
their arms to the conquered party to enable them to

defend themselves from their enemies. rie, how-
ever, carried two of the Chiefs prisoners to Vic-
toria, where they remain in gaol, awaiting their
trial before the Court of Sessions.

The Tartar proceeds to-night or to morrow morn-
ing to the Southern coast, her destination being
Callao; but on a representation from the British
Consul at San Francisco she will call at that port
on her way down, to do what she can to protect or
assist British interests.

By reason of the fear of privateering between.

San Francisco and Panama the shipments of trea-
sure from San Francisco have been greatly reduced,
and almost all that does go is sent to England.
Exchange on New York has nearly entirely ceased,
and, as a consequence, so have remittances of gold.
to the same place.
If the Tartar gets much treasure-freight she will
call at Panama to deliver it for transmission to
England, &c.
I passed the winter and spring in California, and.
had an opportunity of learning the sentiments of
the people on the, question which agitates the rest
of the republic, I should say that nine-tenths a'ze
for the Union, and that the Secessionists are so few
in number that no Secession demonstration is at all
likely to be made. The same remarks wily apply
to Oregon and to Washington Territory, They
also remain loyal to the Union.
As regards the risk of privateering in the Pacific,
I should think it very unlikely that any Southern
privateers will venture on the coast ; but it is pos-
sible that a gang of the desperadoes who infest. Cali-
fornia, and particularly Sun Francisco—the class of
vagabonds who recruited Walker's filibustering
bands for Nicaragua—may, under cover of taking
passage to Panama, attempt to take one of the
steamers with treasure, and run her into a p ort con-
venient for the purpose of plunder, and escape
somewhere on the coast of Mexico on Ler wav
down.

The mining intelligence from British Columbia is
very favourable. New, rich, and extensive diggings
have been discovered lately, and the miners; are re-
ported as earning largely.
About 125,000 dols. in value of gold dust has
come down to Victoria, besides what was carried
by miners on their persons, within the ;.:ast ten
days.

The weather, as usual in Vancouver's Island,
charming, and the crops promise well.
A new land law has been passed for this island
of a liberal character, which has induced several
parties to settle in various portions of the island of
late. I 'will give the terms of the law and explain
the system in my next letter. When that' will be
I cannot say, owing to the uncertain arrival of the
one steamer which now visits the port to carry a
mail. This letter goes to San Francisco by her
Majesty's ship Tartar.

THE GREAT
STREET. ES'IN TOOLEF

The fire at Davis's Wharf is far from being en-
irely extinguished even at this advanc(Kl period,
and the large steam float was yesterday at work
from the River Thames pumping water upon the
Awhvica of men are em-
ployed number
smoulderinghediee el
fla
mj uet.e, ni 0
nq uoefn t:iye
ssserns t.
cuupr
ilianreg
se
in removing
destroyed. It is thetohpci jute from the warehouse
firm that 800 tons weight of that article • :tan be re-
mreuavliesde aincetnhseidec
of theeswumha.
roaubrlse of a few days, which might
rtlkwlrb.iWletaadseeletieoneg
at
tf
the
superintendentsfire, fell through a skylight, and was severely cut in
the hands, and also • over one of his eyes. The
brigade._ authorities are under great obligation to
Messrs. Courage and Co., the eminent brewers, for
the services rendered at this fire, and have written
to inform them that any expense they map have in-
curred will be repaid to them. The principal steam
affixed engine of this establishment had two lengths
of hose attached, and by the aid of the steam power
threw over 8,000 gallons of water per hour upon the
fire, through an inch and a half jet, equal to three
of the brigade engines. The water had to be drawn
from a well 451 feet deep, and the pressure on the
hose must have been immense, as the water had to
pass nearly, if not *over, 500 feet before the fire
could be touched. Mr. George,Vlo3haasbecehnaregxe
extri-
cated the salvage, and engineers J. Gerrard and Tozer,
are indefatigable in their exertions in getting the,
fire cooled and in taking charge of the
hesalvage,Depot,
propertycohr ew thaniel
comprises
mb
pel
roioa submittedes
Up to yesterday an enormous amount ofproperty,
valued at many thousand pounds,
cated from Chamberlain's, Scovell's,and
over 200 casks
auction.w Hay'sei weight
tof Thegr grease, wharves,
aeew,hmito
tons of jute, about
the same quantity of rags for paper making, 25
tons of coffee, 70 tons of tallow
by the fire, 20 tons of only slightly injured
of 1,400 bags of sugar, the enormous quantity
salted hides and rice, a tremendous quantity of
A •
.merican flour
leather pieces. Over 150 tons of
removed from
the ruins,
of navy
and
have already been .
barrels and tierces
above 1,000
beef, India beef, India mess beef, navy
1 pork, India pork, and mss
pork. The quantity
of black lead saved' from Chamberlain's Wharf
appears incredible, for there are heaps lying,
irom the exploded or burnt casks, almost
as high as some dwelling-houses. A great
number of warehouses have been engaged in the
neighbourhood for storing provisions away, amongst
the number are the whole range of the extensive
cooperage of Messrs. Zurhorst, in Tooley-street. A
vast quantity of jute and hemp have been removed
to Bermondsey to be dried and sorted.
he

DIE WAKEFIELD BRIBERY CASES.—We are in-
formed that Mr. W. H. Leatham and Mr. J. C. D. Charles-
worth will be called up to receive sentem during the nest
term. With respect to the release of MI r. Fernandez from
York Castle, we believe no unnecessar, y delay took place
after the judge's recommendation had be en received at the
Home-office, and that the few days which elapsed between
the " purgation from contempt" and the discharge) was a
delay rendered necessary by the change as at the ii°l3le.
office.-31anchester Guardian,