The Sun.
London, England, 1850-04-08 00:00:00

CALIFORNIA.

A long letter has been received by Mr. Woo I,
George-street, Albany-road, Camberwell, front his
son, and from which we are permitted to make the
following extracts :

" Califjrnia, Jan. 29.

" I arrived here about the 7th October, and came
ashore two days afterwards. Such a scene I never
witnessed. There were about 200 sail of vessels in
the harbour, and most of them deserted. The beach
and streets were lined with goods of all descriptions,
and most of the inhabitants living in tents. I slept
on the beach the first few nights, and went to work
in the day for seven dollars a day, discharging vessels
and such like, and have been employed ever since,
until the rainy season commenced, for from seven to
ten dollars a day. 1 then bought a tent, and lived in
it until a gale of wind blew it down. I intended to
go to the mines or " diggings," as soon as I had suffi-
cient to carry me there but before that was accom-
plished the rains set in and stopped me The crew
and passengers mostly went up, but have come back
again, bringing nothing with them, for we arrived too
late in the year. I did better by staying here, but am
going up in the spring to try my chance. There is plenty
of gold, but it wants working, and it is a great deal
chance work. People come here thinking to pick up
gold by shovelfuls, and therefore spend all they have
brought from home with them at the ports they call
at on their passage, and find they are grievously mis-
taken when they arrive here, as they mostly do,
penniless, and then they are obliged to work and do
as I did, until they go to the mines. Others sell off
all their clothes and effects and go there, work a few
days, perhaps a few weeks, fall sick, and come down
dispirited and disgusted. Sailors in general make
out best, both there and here, but this is the worst
time of year, and things are very dead now. When
I came here sailors' wages were 160 ,dollars a month ;
now they are from 30 to 50. Daily wages were from
6 to 10 dollars a day, now they are from 3 to 5 ; and
as we cannot work when it rains, the wages will not
pay expenses. The heavy rains swell the rivers, and
overflow the banks, driving the miners out. Ships
come in every day laden with emigrants. Provi-
sions get up, and wages down. The rainy reason is
considered nearly over now, and as soon as fine
weather sets in things will get brisk, and the greater
part of the people will be off to the mines again,
but they will not be able to work much before
May, for as the spring advances the snow melts
from the mountains, and keeps the rivers
swollen. lam just returned from up the river Sa-
cramento, to Sacramento city. I went in a schooner
at 130 dollars a month. The city itself is mostly
under water. I hardly knew the place again when I
came back, the town increases so fast, but the streets
are horrible ; in many places it is much above the
horses' knees in mud. The pleasant retreat at Brix-
ton is not to be compared to it; and when the rains
first set in, the roads on each side being strewed with
cases, boxes, bags, &c., of merchandise, pedestrians
clambered over them, and now the paths are literally
paved with goods. I wish father was here now, for
butcheiing is a good business. Beef is Is. per lb. ;
such beef they would burn at home, but it is cheap
here. Our captain paid 2s. a pound for it by the
carcase. Potatoes are ls. per lb., onions a dollar,
salt pork half a dollar; bread has been one
dollar the 21b. loaf, butnow it is only half; and wine,
liquors, and beer all ls. per glass, and everything in
proportion. It has cost me from
.15 to 25 dollars a
week for board and lodging ever since I have been
here. I paid 30 dollars for a pair of sea-boots, which
I could have bought at home for 1/. ; and the other
day I bought a pair as good for six dollars. Why, a
wooden house with one room, 12 feet square, unfur-
nished, rents for 100 dollars a month. It is the
moneyed man that makes the money. I have more
money now than I should have had had I remained
on board the Will Watch (I understand she is to be
sold), and I hare more owing to me. I do not owe
any man a penny. When I left London the papers
stated there was a great deal of robbery and murder
going on here, and at the mines. Now, so far from
that, I never was in a country in the world where
the people are so civil, quiet, and peaceably disposed,
although all the blacklegs, gamblers, thieves, runa-
way transports, from all parts of the world, and of
almost every nation under the sun, are gathered to-
gether here ; yet a person may travel any hour of
the day or night, laden with gold and jewels, without
fear of being interrupted. I have heard of but one
case of highway robbery, and if a man at the mines
is proved guilty of theft, tried by a jury of twelve,
he is hanged on the spot. It is only the guilty who
have anything to fear. In a tent there are no locks,
bolts, or bars, but every one goes to his employment,
leaves his tent open, and perhaps his clothes out to
dry, and comes home at night, and finds nothing
touched nor missing. I have done it often, and never
lost anything yet ; but you cannot form any idea how
people live here. Picture to yourself some thousands
of people of all nations, living in tents, and for the
most part lying on the ground in the winter reason,
amid pouring ruin, and sometimes frost and snow, and
yet sickness is comparatively scarce, so that it must
be a very healthy climate.
" I would advise none to come here who have not
strong hardy constitutions, for people at home cannot
form any idea of what they will have to put up with
here, at least at present ; another year will make great
alterations and improvements. If you know of any
who are coming here tell them to bring nothing with
them but what they will absolutely require on their
passage, except money, for the markets fluctuate so
here, that an article that will fetch 400 or 500 per
cent, now, perhaps in a month will not fetch cost
price, for instance, six weeks ago flour sold at 45
dolls. a barrel, and in less than a week it was down to
13 dolls., and although clothes fetch enormous prices
by retail, I have seen them sold by auction whole-
sale at less than one-half cost price, independent of
freight, lighterage, and carriage. One of. our pas-
sengers, who missed his passage at St. Katherine's,
came herein an American ship, and arrived three weeks
before us ; he had about 301. worth of goods on board
of us, which happened to be in demand at the time,
and he sold them well : he has speculated with the
money, and is now worth 1,0001. I saw how he was
making money, and I tried too, but always lost.
Farming is about the best business here, I think, and
land can be bought at about 2s. an acre of the Govern-
ment, by becoming a citizen of the United States.
The best and most expeditious route to come here is
from England or New York to New Orleans, from
thence up the Mississippi to Chagres, and across the
Isthmus to Panama, and then to San Francisco by
the packet steam-boat; it is the most expensive, but
those who start now from home will get here just in
time to be too late for this year's work at the mines,
who come by Cape Horn. I believe there will be
more gold mines discovered, and more gold taken out
this year than there was last, and hope a portion of it
will fall to my share. If so, and I continue in good
health, I shall be home within two years, when I
hope to find you all well, hearty, and comfortable."

ST

THE FORRE, DIVORCE CASE.
The following is the substance of a communication
from Mrs. Forrest to the Legislature of Pennsylvania,
in reply to a petition for divorce by Mr. Forrest, the
American tragedian :—The communication set forth
that she, Catherine Forrest, wife of Edwin Forrest,
now residing in the city of New York, cannot even
tacitly admit charges which, if established, would ex-
clude her from all virtuous society, involve her inno-
cent sisters in shame, and bring her father's grey hairs
with sorrow to the grave. Mrs. Forrest states that
Mr. Forrest was dissatisfied with her in November,
1848, for a difference irrelevant to the present ques-
tion, and thenceforth subjected her to marks of his
displeasure. About the 17th January, 1849, Mr.
Forrest said that a lady had influenced Mrs. Forrest
against him, and for the ladys sake Mrs. Forrest re-
pudiated the charge in terms too direct and unequivo-
cal. This Mr. Forrest at once pronounced an unpar-
donable offence. He said he could not permit any man
so to address him, nor live with any woman who did
it. He immediately demanded a separation, and
Mrs. Forrest reluctantly, but implicitly, acquiesced
in his pleasure. It was thenceforth distinctly under-
stood that they should separate, and the time was
fixed, which circumstances connected with Mr. For-
rest's convenience postponed until April 29, 1849,
when they actually parted. On that day Mr. Forrest
accompanied her to Mr. Parker Godwin's, and left
her to be an inmate of that estimable gentleman's
house, and an associate of his amiable and gifted lady.
To Mr. Forrest she was indebted for her first intro-
duction to that estimable family. They are his
friends, and for them he entertained, and still enter-
tains, the highest- respect. Mr. and Mrs. Godwin
had, subsequently to the January, visited Mr. and
Mrs. Forrest's residence, on Mr. Forrest's invitation,
and were entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Forrest's
mutual cars and attention. After introducing Mrs.
Forrest into the family, Mr. Forrest visited Mrs.
Forrest on two occasions. Long after the
separation Mr. Forrest intimated to Mrs.
Forrest that • report attributed the separation
to a cause reflecting unfavourable on him, and
that he must establish the existence of another mo-
tive. He suggested a divorce, and employed counsel,
and in January, 1850, Mrs. Forrest sought similar
assistance. Their respective counsel met, and with
Mrs. Forrest's approval it was offered, that she should
not oppose any such application by Mr. Forrest, if
conducing to his happiness, provided that he did not
impeach her with 'want of virtue. The divorce was
stated to be unattainable without ouch impeachment,