The Sun.
London, England, 1850-12-03 00:00:00

CALIFORNIA, BY AN ENGLISH
E MIGRANT.

Ring Gold, El Dorado County, California,
Sept. 20.
My ever dear Mother,—l have postponed writing
to you until my return to San Francisco, as I told
you in my last letter to you, which I wrote from
Greenwood's Valley, dated May the 30th, and en-
closed in one to Mr. L. ; since then I wrote to Mr.
D. and to aunt P. It would be folly were Ito say I
had not time to write, for I live a very easy life. I
cannot work bard, and the climate does not agree
with me. I live in the loghouse of an American gentle-
man named Creaine, of Kentucky. He is a good man,
and I intend to stay here until he leaves, and then
go with him to the United States. I came to this
country to make a fortune, and would do so, but the
climate is intolerable. Only fancy, not a single cloud
has been in the clear blue firmament since April, no
dew has fallen, the sun shines in all its brightness.
Were you to feel how pleasant it is at sunrise, you
might say, what beautifulweather ! but after the sun is
two hours' high you would feel sick and
giddy to see everything parched, and feel the
intense heat scorching your very blood up.
Now, working in the mines under such beat is the
cause of great numbers of deaths. As soon
as the rainy season begins, people will die off in hun-
dreds and thousands from other causes, such as ex-
posure of all sorts, which brings on colds, fevers, ague,
scurvy, diarrhoea, dysentery, &c. Although at pre-
sent the days are so hot, yet the nights are bitter
cold; such sudden changes bring on in me an occa-
sional attack of rheumatism. I am now again laid
up; my left arm is swollen and in a sling, and
my right hand is the only limb at liberty. When
I am ill and kept awake all night with intense suf-
fering, then I think of home.' Last night I
made up my mind to write to you. I take great
care of myself, expose myself as little as possible
to the sun's rays; wear flannel constantly next my
skin. I live well, and work very little, and yet do
not have my health at all. If lam thus subject to
rheumatism in summer, what must I be in winter? I
have duly considered all this, and made up my mind
to go to the United States before the rainy season
commences, unless I can get an easy berth in —'s
office. As to money matters, thanks to you
in making me learn to paint, during my healthy
days I made as much and have got as much
as will take me to the States by the Isthmus
of Panama, and keep me in the States for twelve
months afterwards. Now, considering all circum-
stances—that I came here alone; alone fought my way
and have got ahead, I have done pretty well. I have
made by painting signs, &c., about 1,500 dollars since
my arrival in the country, that is about 3001. Eng-
lish ; and had it not been for my heavy expenses
through sickness, travelling, &c., I should have had
more than I have ; but at any rate, I do not intend
to start to the States with less than 1001. In my.
pocket. I never work a whole day without mak-
ing 51. or 6/., and sometimes more—that is, while
I am well; but since last July, when the overland
emigration from the States poured in its starving
thousands, all kinds of wages have come down,
men working for their board. lam afraid that
as far as regards 'wages, this country is ruined.
Miners now do not make as much as formerly. Gold
there is, and plenty of it, but few make great raises,
and the accounts of these few spreading to all parts of
the world cause the gold fever, and 99 out of every
100 who come to this country curse the day they ever
started. If any of our friends intend coming, tell
them to stay at home, or else, if they want to go
abroad, to go to the United States. No one likes this
country well enough to settle in it; that ought to be
sufficient proof that it is not fit for a white man
to live in. Since this new emigration commenced,
stealing, robbing, and pillaging have begun. Most
likely I shall start for the United States about
Christmas, and will make alongside of Bill at once.
I do not intend to turn farmer, or work hard, for
I can make more money in any country at this
work without hard work. I think I shall like the
United States better than England. I have met with
better men and more staunch friends amongst the
Western and Southern Americans (more particularly
amongst Kentuckians) than ever I did amongst my
own countrymen. However, should I not like
America, I shall come and see you for a few months,
and then put out for some other part of the globe.
Although I have travelled 20,000 miles round the
Horn, yet I still have a great desire to see other
foreign countries. There are great riots through
California, which the papers will exaggerate; but
don't be alarmed for me, I always go armed. The
Indians about here are very numerous and wicked.
A man was brought past our house yesterday
shot in two places ; so a party have started of
in pursuit, swearing to kill every Indian they
come across; for every white man killed thirty In-
dians get killed !—that's paying back with interest.
A young English friend of mine bare was attacked by
an Indian the other day ; one arrow struck his horse,
another missed, so be shot the Indian dead with a
pistol.

Some days have elapsed since I wrote the above.

I have been very ill of rheumatism. An English lady
is near here - her husband and her came from the Salt
Lake City this year, and were camped in the valley op-
posite our house, when, hearing there were some Eng-
lish in the camp, I got acquainted with them. She
called on me during my late illness, and was very kind.
Since my recovery a person, to whom I have lent
upwards of 501., has sold out, and cut, leaving me. I .
am very much depressed in spirits ; this will ma..
terially affect my leaving this country. I have
about 451. left, so I am going straight down to San
Francisco to see what I can do there. Most likely
I shall get away, if not I shall purchase timber, and
build myself a cabin to winter in, and will open a ;
sort of grocery store on a smale scale. Don't fear
for me ; lam all right. The little capital I have I
will put to a right use, and manage to get a living
without exposing myself to the sun in summer, and
the rain in winter. I wrote to Bill not td come out
to this country, and I hope he may stay where be
is ; everybody leaves here as soon as they can. If
people knew the suffering of Californians they would
not be so keen in coming out. They come here,
and work for one-tenth less than the old Cali-
fornians and are themselves causing their own suffer-
ings. I don't pity them. When first they began to
come, starving and begging, to our door, I never
refused; always shared wbat I had. By this way I
lost about 200 dolls. Now I have stopped all that ;
it won't do. I long once more to be at home. 1
think you may reckon on my being in St.
Albans on Christmas-day twelvemonth, 1851, no
!natter how the world goes. I have just heard of
Sir Robert Peel's untimely death. I expect when I
get to San Francisco to receive some letters from
noune, and newspapers. I have not seen a single
English paper since I left England. I will post this
At Sacramento city, 50 miles from here.
San Francisco, Sept. 26.
Since I wrote the above a war has taken place
between two tribes of Indians. About five hundred
whites were looking on; I was one. Several
were killed ; the tribe living about here won the
uattle, took a great may prisoners, and killed them
before our eyes. I was among some the other day.
One laid hold of my horse's bridle; I put spurs to
nim, but the fellow would not flinch, so I shot him.
The ball struck his arm, and he ran yelling away, and
I galloped oil to get clear of the rest. I have seen
the fellow since with his arm slung UD. They are the
!Float treacherous beings in the world, and impudent
and lazy to boot.

Aftei four days' hard travelling from the mines, I
arrived here. I had to sleep out in the rain all night
with only my buffalo robe on me. To-morrow lam
going upon a shootirg excursion down the Bay of
Pueblo de San Jose, and shall be away about five
days.

Ti often dream that lamin my little room. 06,
now happy to dream thus ! but how vexing when
one awakes, instead of finding the curtains above
me, to see the stars twinkling, and hear the wolves
nowling, &e. !

If T. M. or David had come out with me, we
should have made our fortune by this time ; but the
case is now altered; California is now overcrowded;
it is not the place it was when I landed. Should
either Tom or David intend coming out, tell them, if
they value their lives, to stay at home.
A large portion of this city was burnt down again
last week. It has been four times burnt since I was
here before. This place is now, without exception,
the largest port in the world.

With love to father and Elijah, I remain, my dear
mother, your ever affectionate son,

BURGLARY SURREY.--Another
A.ROTHRB. GLARY IN daring
burglary, accompanied with violence, took place on Satur-
day evening last, at the house of a Mr. Marshall, residing
as we
hol
efts
lvsoeicskt
ebeenron alone,saa Saturday
r Idt
voaays
eveningar oascertain,use aroused
I%.balyrr.
.ea
Frenchaw Common, near Farnham. The particulars, ns faron
with
ht
Marshall,Bs
loud follow
ko
knock
k at lives :—Abouthis
eigfront dour. On opening the door he found a group of seven
men standing round it, and as soon as he presented himself
one of their number inquired the road to Guildford. Mr.
Marshall was in the act of stepping out to direct them, when
he was s: ddeniy knocked down, as is suppoeed, by a life-
preserver. The men immediately entered the house, when
they were at once encountered by Miss Marshall, who, with
great presence of mind, rushed up stalls to procure a gun
which her brother always kept loaded, catling out at the
same time, " I'll fire at them." The villains caught her
upon the staircase, and presenting pistols at her, dragged
her to the front door, where they pointed out her brother
lying man insensible state on the ground,and cautioned her
to be quiet. They then ransacked the house of everything
of a valuable character it contained, taking off, amongst
other property, a number of old guineas. Before leaving
they abused bliss Marshall in good set terms for not having
more property in the house. Air. Marshall remained in an
iusensible state for nearly two hours, and is still suffering
severely from the injuries he sustained. The police are in
possession of a description of the' men, and are actively en-
gaged in endeavouring to trace them.
On Wednesday and Thursday last Skiddaw ap-
peered in its winter garb; its summit was covered with
gh9w.