The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1849-01-16 00:00:00

On the tenth of October last we first announced to our
readers, in anticipation of all our contemporaries, the dis-
covery of a new El Dorado—a field of gold of almost
illimitable productiveness in the territory recently
wrested by the Americans from Mexico, viz., in Upper
California. At first the intelligence was received in this
country with considerable doubts of its correctness ; but
week after week fresh and authoritative statements have
poured upon us, and we have now every assurance that the
discovery in question is " a great fact," calculated to ex-
ercise an important influence upon the destinies of man-
kind.

By the last advices from America, we learn that from
four to five thousand people were engaged in the success-
ful search for gold in California ; and from the preparations
making throughout the Mexican territory, and in Europe
as well, for proceeding to this rich territory, it is not tco
much to presume that, before many months time trans-
pire, a hundred thousand people will be settled in the
locality. It may be interesting to our readers to have the
facts of this important event placed before them ; and we
have, therefore, prepared the accompanying maps—the
first giving the geographical position of the gold district,
with a view to enable the reader to understand our de-
scription of the various routes by which it can be ap-
proached ; and the second, an enlarged chart of the region
itself, taken from an Admiralty survey, showing the har-
bour of San Francisco and the principal points in which
the gold has been found.
The centre of this district thus far explored is at Sutter's
Fort, a station of the Hudson's Bay Company, at the union
of the American Pork with the Sacramento River and the
Jaachim ; and the district itself covers an area of about 600
miles. New discoveries are, however, daily taking place ;
and as the Mormons, who were the first to find the gold in
the Sacramento, have moved to more distant diggings, it is
to be presumed that considerable deposits exist elsewhere.
We have been unable, upon a map of so small a scale, to
mark all the points at which auriferous deposits have been
found. Referring, however, to larger charts, and tracing
the country northwards from San Francisco, the first
point which we have laid down, it will be found that some
10 or 12 miles from it are some ancient gold workings.
At latitude 35 degs., there appear to be several streams
producing gold, which are south of Chintache Lake—it
being observed that the tract producing gold is west of the
great basin, and being in the rivulets or streams coming
down from the mountain district, or the line of upland.
Following on the course, northward and west of the lake,
near to St. Miguel, gold appears also to have been ob-
tained ; we again proceed on to the Stanislaus river ;
from thence to the Tula marshes, the American rivers,
Sutter's Farm and the Feather river—the extreme point
being about 70 miles north of St. Francisco, or within 35
miles from Port Bodega. It is supposed also to extend
into Oregon.
The country in which thus far the deposits of the pre-
cious metals have been ascertained to exist is situated in
between 30 and 40 degrees of north latitude and 120 to
125 longitude ; and comprises an area of about 600 miles
in length by about 150 in width. The ordinary route
from England and from the eastern ports of the United
States is round Cape Horn, and would occupy from 150
to 160 days. By this route most of the vessels now load-
ing in America and in England are at present proceeding.
There is, however, another (shorter) route, by which
numbers of the American emigrants are now going, viz.,
by way of the port of Chagres, on the east side of the
Isthmus of Panama, at its narrowest and most
southern point. From this port it will be necessary
to make an overland passage of about sixty miles to the
Pacific Ocean ; and the voyage from the Pacific side of the
Isthmus extends over about thirty-five degrees of latitude,
or about 2000 miles, and will occupy from 16 to 18 days.
There are, however, serious drawbacks against this route.
The port of Chagres is an unhealthy one ; and crowded
though it is with emigrants anxious to be transported to
the gold region, there is every certainty that difficulty will
be found in securing shipping from the westward side.
There is one mode of crossing the Isthmus which we have
not yet heard mentioned, viz., by way of the Lakes of
Nicaragua and St. Leon, the passage through which is
navigable by boats, by which the adventurer will be
brought within a few miles of the port of Realijo on the
Pacific seaboard. The above routes may be thus com-

_
pared :
From England round Cape Horn
Ditto to Chagres, say
Across the Isthmus 6 „
Thence to San Francisco 16 „

160 days

62 days,

The certainty of a considerable detention by the latier
route, combined with the unhealthiness of the climate,
and the costliness of living in a small port unprovided
with the supplies requirea to support and shelter a large
additional population, render the longer route by way of
Cape Horn much preferable. The present, too, is the
commencement of the rainy season in California, during
which the mining operations cannot be carried on ; and
as this season extends over from three to five months,
parties now taking the longer route will arrive in ample
time to commence operations with the fine weather.
The following paragraph from a contemporary fortifies
our view as to the superior advantages of the longer
route:—

" Men are leaving their families to go to California, in the
hope of returning in a year or so as rich as Croesus. The
movement is like the impulse of a mania—a crusade I But
ah I we have yet to learn the results—the fatal results, it is to
be feared, to at least one-half of the gold seekers. It is proba-
ble that the greatest suffering will be encountered by those who
are anxious to reach the gold region by the shortest route, and
in the quickest time, namely, by Chagres, and across the isth-
mus of Panama. Chagres is about fourteen days' (by steam),
twenty-two to thirty days' sailing, from New York or Philadel-
phia. Then fifty-two miles by land, across the Isthmus, in the
most intense of tropical heats (say three or four days' journey
by mules), and then 3,500 miles by sea, in the Pacific, to San
Francisco. From San Francisco, five or six days inland to the
Rio de ias Plumas (Feather River), a tributary of the Sacra-
mento. The difficulty by this route will be chiefly experienced
at Panama, where there will not, cannot be for many months,
vessels enough to convey the vast number of eager emigrants
so soon expected there to assemble. Unless such adventurers
are abundantly supplied with money, they will not be able to
live in the hot desolations of the tropics, where life is but little
valued, and where death is even less regarded. And they will
It be able to go on, because they will not have means .nd

even if they had, there will not be ships enough to carry them
At our last accounts, 2,000 persons were at that place wailing
a conveyance—a prey to pestilence, and to the ' hope deferred
that maketh the heart sick.' The bones of many will whiten
the sands of Panama."

We extract the following particulars from a circular
just issued by Messrs. J. and W. Robinson, who have
chartered a vessel for San Francisco :

" The Bay of San Francisco connected with the surrounding
scenery is the most delightful place I have ever seen on the
Western Coast of America. It presents a broad sheet of water
of sufficient extent to float all the British navy without crowd-
ing; the circling grassy shores indented with convenient coves,
and the whole surrounded by a verdant blooming country,
pleasingly diversified with cultured fields and waving forests ;
meadows clothed with the richest verdure in the gift of boun-
teous May;
.pastures covered with grazing herds; hill and
dale, mountain and valley, noble rivers and gurgling brooks.
Man, enlightened civilised man, alone is wanting to complete
the picture and give a soul, a divinity, to the whole. Were
these beautiful regions, which have been so much libelled and
are so little known, the property of the United States, our go-
vernment would never permit them to remain thus neglected.
The Eastern and middle States would pour out their thousands
of emigrants, until magnificent cities would rise on the shores
of every inlet along the coast of New California, while the wil-
derness of the interior would be made to blossom like the rose.
The soil of the surrounding country is very rich, deep, and
fertile, and much of it is clothed with as fine ship-timber as

grows in the United States, and generally of the saine kinds ;
pine, spruce, and red cedar are found in abundance, and of a
size sufficient for masts of the largest ships. At some distance
in the interior are extensive plains luxuriantly covered with
clover and various kinds of grasses, on which thousands of wild
cattle and horses graze unmolested. Many animals that pro-
duce fur are found on the banks of the rivers, and a great va-
riety of fish resort to the bay in the spawning season. During
the summer season the wind generally blows in the day time
from north-north-west to west in the bay ; but never very
strong. During the winter months it blows in the day time
from south-west to south-south-east; but at night, within the
bay, it is calm nineteen-twentiethsof the year. The town of San
Francisco stands on a table land elevated about three hundred
and fifty feet above the sea, on a peninsula five miles in width
on the south side of the entrance to the bay, about two miles to
the eastward of the outer entrance, and one-fourth of a mile
from the shore. It is built in the same manner as Monterey,
but much smaller; comprising only about one hundred and
twenty houses and a church, with perhaps five hundred inha-
bitants (1825). The fort stands on a promontory on the south

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ficient to command the passage were • the works kept in any
kind of order."

S. FRANCISCO

NORTH PACIFIC

SOUTH

Bay of Pananaa-.

Amongst the first to be engaged in the search, and the
most successful, were parties of the Mormon followers of
Joe Smith, who had been driven westward from their
City of Nauvoo, to find on the other side of the Rocky
Mountains, if not the realization of the prophecies of
their fanatical prophet, at all events that of a dream
wilder than any which they would have credited from his
lips.
The following extract from an official letter, addressed
by Mr. Folsom, the American quarter-master general,
resident at San Francisco, and dated Sept. 18, will con-
vey an idea of the abundance in which the mineral is
found :
" On the most southerly tributary of the American fork, 16
miles from the main stream, I saw where Messrs. Neiliy and
Crowly.got, with six men in six days, 10i lbs of gold, avordu-
pois weight. In the bottom of a dry ravine of the same stream,
Messrs. Daly and M'Cooms removed, with a party of Indians
and white men, 17,000 dols. in two days, and within 200 yards
of the main stream. From another dry ravine, within a few
rods of the last-mentioned, it is said that 30,000 dols. were col-
lected in three days. Mr. C. S. Lyman, a clergyman, unac-
customed to labour, informs me that he got 50 dols. for about
five hours' work each day. M. Vaca, a New Mexican, who
resides about 30 miles from Sutter's, told me he, with four
other men, got 171bs. of gold, avoirdupois weight, in seven
days. I saw the gold. Major Cooper, late of Missouri, with
two men and one boy, got 1000 dols. in two days. Mr. Sinclair,
had been engaged in digging gold about five weeks, with a party
of Indians, numbering about 40, sometimes more and some-
times less. He gave his Indians meat, sugar, coffee, flour, and
rice, and they ate three times a day. They were mostly wild
Indians, and worked altogether with pans. In five weeks, after
paying all his Indians and the current expenses of the party,
he had 17,000 dols., or upwards of 90 lbs., troy weight, of gold
dust. The gold was shown. Mr. Norris and one companion
took from a dry ravine, not far from those already mentioned,
3,000 dols. in two days, and the dirt was packed on horses more
thrn 200 yards to the water. Mr. Aaron Angland got from his
own labour, in 20 consecutive days after his arrival at the mines
2,200 dols. But I might go on stating facts like these until I
should tire your patience."

PACIFIC OCEAN

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Francisco, Hay and Entrance.

race constructed; but when the water was let on the wheel, the
tail race was found to be too narrow to permit the water to
escape with sufficient rapidity. Mr. Marshall, to save labour,
let the water directly into the race with a strong current, so as
to wash it wider and deeper. He effected his purpose, and a
large bed of mud and gravel was carried to the foot of the
race. Orie day Mr. Marshall, as he was walking down the
race to this deposit of mud, observed some glittering particles
at its upper edge; he gathered a few, examined them, and be-
came satisfied of their value. He theft went to the fort, told
Captain Sutter of his discovery, and they agreed to keep it
secret until a certain grist-mill of Sutter's was finished. • It,
however, got out and spread like magic. Remarkable success
attended the labours of the first explorers, and in a few weeks
hundreds of men were drawn thither. At the time of my
visit, but little more than three months from its first discovery,
it was estimated that upwards of four thousand people were
employed.

The same officer, in a letter dated 20 days later thus des-
cribes the singular state of society which has been pro-
duced

" All law, both civil and military, is at an end.
the mines, _ and _ indeed most parts of the the

feet. It is certain that ultimately an adventurous popu-
lation will find it in its native beds. Mr. Foljam says :

"As no one, as yet, has found the gold in its native matrix,
a question often suggests itself as to its origin. I believe, the
coarse gold is found near the spots where it originally lay in its
native bed, and that much of the fine gold has been swept down
from the mountains by torrents of water. Almost all the rocks
in Upper California are imperfectly organised, being soft and
friable, and incapable of resisting the action of the weather. In
the process of time the mountains have gradually crumbled
away into fine dust, and the gold has been liberated. The
coarse gold, from its massiveness and great specific gravity,
was not removed from the mountain sides, whereas the fine
gold was swept off to the plains below."

Among
coun-

try out of 'the villages, no authority but that of the strongest
exists ; and outrages of the most disgraceful nature are con-
stantly occurring, and the offenders go unpunished. There are
now about 25 vessels in this port, and I believe there is not one
of them that has a crew to go to sea. Frequently the sailors
arm themselves, take the ships' boats and leave in the most
open manner, defying both their officers and the civil magis-
trates. These things are disgraceful to the country and the
flag ; and while vessels have to pay port charges, duties, &c.,
their owners ought to be protected. The tariff law of 1846 is
now in California."

"All sorts of labour is got at enormous rates of compensa-
tion. Common clerks and salesmen in the stores about town,
often receive as high as 2500 dols. and their board. The clerk
now in my office is a young boy, who, until a few weeks since,
was a private of volunteers, and I am now paying him 1500
dols. per annum. This will not appear high when I tell you
that I have just seen upon his table a wash bill, made out and
paid at the rate of 8 dols. per dozen, and that almost every-
thing else is at corresponding prices. Unless something is
done, I am unable to see how it is possible for officers, living
upon the salaries granted by law to military men, to support
themselves in this country.
"For some time last summer (August and July), the officers
at Monterey were entirely without servants, and the Governor
(Colonel Mason) actually took his turn in cooking for his mess.
Unless some prompt action is taken to pay both officers and
men serving in this country in proportion to the unavoidable
expenses to be incurred, the former will resign and the latter

The following is an official statement of the quality of
the gold:—

" Mint of the United States, Philadelphia, December 11th,
1848.—Sir,—On the Bth instant we received, as I have already
had the honour to inform you. the first deposit of gold from Ca-
lifornia. It was deposited by Mr. David Carter, who brought
it from San Fancisco by the Isthmus route. It weighed 1804.54
ounces troy, of which 1423.80 was from the lower surface mines,
and 380.19 from those at Feather River. On the 9th instant
another deposit was sent by the Secretary of War, which
weighed 228 ounces. The gold was of two sorts in external
character, though apparently not different as to quality. The
first, from the ' dry diggings,' was in grains, which averaged
from one to two pennyweights ; the other variety, from the
swamps or margins of the streams, being in small flat spangles,
of which, on an average, it would take six or seven to weigh
one grain. Of these, by far the larger part of the deposits was
composed. The gold was melted in six parcels, and the loss by
melting, due to the earthy and oxidable matter, which disap-
pears in this operation, averaged about 21 per cent. of the
original weight. The loss thus reported is moderate, and
shows that the gold had been carefully washed. Assays of the
melted gold were made with great care, and the results showed
a variation in fineness from 892 to 897 thousandths—the average
of the whole being 894. This is slightly below the standard
fineness, which is 900. The average value per ounce of the
bullion, before melting, is 18 dollars 5i cents. ; that of the
same in bars;after melting, is 18 dollars 50 cents. The whole
value of the gold in the two deposits was 36,492 dollars, besides
a few ounces reserved in the native state for the Secretary of
War, at his request.—Very respectfully, your faithful servant,
R. M. Patterson, Director.—Hon. R. J. Walker, Secretary of
the Treasury."

The climate in the immediate neighbourhood of San
Francisco, along by the seaboard, and in the valley of the
Sacramento River, is described as beautiful. A corre-
spondent of the Californian, who had just returned to
Fort Sacramento, from the gold region, thus describes it:
—" Our trip after leaving your city, by way of Pueblo,
San Jose, and the San Joachin River, we found very
agreeable. Passing over a lovely country, with its valleys
and hills covered with the richest verdure, intertwined
with flowers of every hue, the country from the San
Joachin River to this place is rich beyond comparison,
and will admit of a dense population." Other accounts
confirm this description ; and state that so fertile is the
soil that, with anything like the present prices of provi-
sions, it is questionable whether or not more profit is to
be derived from its cultivation than by gold digging itself.
The plains west of the Californian mountains and the
gold region are almost entirely overflowed with water
during the winter months. In the summer some incon-
venience is felt from sultriness in the ravines and plains,
which have produced some sickness amongst those who
have worked in the heat of the day, without proper pro-
tection.

will desert, and it will be impossible to maintain a military
force in California. It cannot be expected that officers will
devote their services to the government, at a rate of compen-
sation which will not enable them to employ a servant, to say
nothing of 'living in such a manner as may become their sta-
tion; and it is utterly impossible to do it in California upon
the salaries allowed by law."

There are however darker shades in the picture, and
indications that, whilst those most successfully engaged
in getting gold are congratulating themselves upon their
rapidly accumulating wealth, they are compelled to pay
heavily for every article of necessity, and may shortly find
themselves plunged into a social wilderness, in which nei-
ther wealth nor life will be safe from the attacks of law-
less marauders. The same writer, from whom we have
quoted above, informs us that :

"Sickness had broken out amongst the miners, and many
have returned prostrated with, fevers, while others have come
to avoid being so. There is now a large number of labourers

!ICI C, Ull.l 'many vi 1.110111 ICI lAZU 11/ LI y lca met, 17 aal tu
those who labour do so at exorbitant prices. The ordinary
compensation for white labourers is from 6 dols. to 10 dols. per
day. lam now paying these prices for men I am forced to
employ for repairing the government lighter, and for dis-
charging the ship Huntress, now in this port. At the same
time everything is high in proportion. Butter sells by the
barrel at 1 dol. per lb., and hams at the same price; flour is
25 dols. per borrel, and pilot bread 40c. per lb. For the last
three pairs of boots I have had I have paid, respectively, 18
dols., 14 dols., and 12 dols. Other things are at corresponding
prices in this place, but at the mines everything is much
higher. Flour and pork vary in the mines from 10 dols. to
260 dols. per barrel. Common shoes, worth in Boston
about 75 cents per pair, sell at 8 dols. or even 12 dols. per pair.
There is a kind of recklessness about these prices which would
be sought after in vain in any other part of the world."
and he continues :

The spot selected ssthe central location for by

the town of Sutterville, which is thus described by the

"It is impossible to foretell what will be the ultimate result
of this sudden developement of wealth. It is sufficiently ob-
vious, however, that the country will be prematurely filled by a
restless, exciteable, adventurous, and reckless population; and
that extended agricultural or mechanical improvements are at
an end for some years to come. Gambling and all sorts of
thoughtless profusion begin to prevail. The present excitement
will attract vast numbers of• the idle, vicious, and dissolute.
Refugees from the the United States as well as other countries,
will flock to California, among the better disposed population,
and will find shelter among the almost inaccessible fastnesses
of the mountains where such mines of wealth are now opened.
These regions are of vast extent, and are remote from the
regular settlements and the operation of the laws. In the soli-
tary recesses of the Sierra Nevada are little clusters of men
with nothing but trees for their covering, and no protection but
their own vigilance and strength. Many of these people are
known to possess very large amounts of gold (sometimes as
much as 20,000 dollars) wrapped in their blankets, where there
is no eye to see and no agent to pursue the guilty. Is it strange,
when the temptation is so great, that the robber and the
assassin should be abroad in the mountains? Many robberies
and some murders are known already to have occurred;
but little attention is excited by these facts where all men are
in the eager pursuit of wealth. No one can conjecture the ex-
tent of these outrages, for living witnesses are not at hand, and
dead men tell no tales.' The strong and firm hand of govern-
ment must be promptly extended to save the country from the
most revolting acts of violence."

"About three miles from the fort, on the east bank of the
Sacramento, the town of Suttersville is laid ont. The location
is one of the best in the country, situated in the largest and
most fertile district of California, and being the depot for the
extensive gold, silver, platina, quicksilver, and iron mines. A
hotel is now building for the accommodation of the travelline

public, who are now to impose on the kind hospitalitle;
of Capt. Sutter. A party of men who have been exploring a
route to cross the Sierra Neveda mountains, have just returned
and report that they have found a good waggon road on the
declivity ridge between the American fork and the M'Cossamy
rivers, the distance being much less than by the old route. The
road will pass through the gold district, and enter the valley
near the American fork....

A ferry is to be established at Suttersville, on the Sacra-
mento, and the road across the tularie improved soon, which
will shorten the distance from this place to Sonoma and your
city, about sixty miles."

The mode in which the gold will be remitted is thus
described :

" A very intelligent officer of the navy, who has been recently
over the entire gold region of California, for the purpose of ex-
amining the matter thoroughly, stated to-day that by the
month of March we shall be receiving from California three
millions per month in gold. This officer himself has a con-
siderable quantity of the gold, which has reached New Orleans,
and other large amounts he knows to be on the way. The
Mazatlan correspondent of Messrs. Howland and Aspinwall,
writes that 3100,000 worth of gold has been received there,
which has been assayed and proved to be 22 to 2.3 i carats fine,
which is as near as may be pure gold, too pure for coining or
mechanical purposes. This fact sets at rest the doubts about
the genuineness of the metal. Under the circumstances, the
establishment of the Pacific mail line of steam-ships, in con-
nexion with the line hence to Chagres, is a most fortunate hap-
pening,
asy
S which gold can be sent home in thirty days, and
merchandise received in return. But for this connexion the
communication with the States would only have taken place by
the tedious, uncertain and unsafe routes of Cape Horn or the
Plains to St. Louis. The gold will now come across the
Isthmus of Panama, and by steam thence to New York."
In addition to gold, it is found that the whole country
is rich in other precious ores, especially quicksilver, which
will be required for the smelting of the gold. One mine
is now in. active operation, and producing from 5 to 700
ounces per day, the price on the spot being 81 80 cents
per ounce. A quarry of very fine marble has also been
opened..
One of the most serious difficulties which will be felt in
trading to California will be that of keeping together the
crews of the vessels- sent out. In. &letter from A. Ten

The following is the account of the first discovery of
the gold given by Col. Mason, in a report addressed to
the American Government :
"As we ascended the south branch of the American fork, the
country became more broken and mountainous, and 25 miles
below the lower washings the hills rise to about 12000 feet above
the level of the Sacramento plain. Here a species of pine oc-
curs, which led to the discovery of the gold. Captain Sutter,
feeling the great want of lumber, contracted in September last
with a Mr. Marshall to build a saw-mill at that place. It was
erected in the course of the past winter and spring—a dam sad

From all the accounts received it seems tolerably cer-
tain that we have not even yet arrived at a full appreciation
of the quantity of gold existing in the country ; and that
further exploration will develope it to us in almost unap-
preciable amount. Thus far we have only seen that por-
tion of it which has been washed down from the moun-
tains and deposited in ravines and the beds of streams.
This is proved by the fact that the richest deposits have
been found close to the surface ; and that the metal is not
to be found, at all after digging, to the depth of twelve.

THE CALIFORNIAN GOLD REGION.
SKETCH OF ITS GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION, DESCRIPTION OF ITS CLIMATE, AND THE ROUTES BY WHICH IT IS ACCESSIBLE.

• Capes) ,
From New York to Chagres (by steam)
From Chagres to Panama, across tke Isthmus

From Panama to San Francisco

From New York to Chagres (by sailing vessel)

"
" The time of the voyage is as follows
From New York to Chagres
From Chagres to Panama
From Panama to San Francisco

Eyck, Esq., dated San Francisco, Sept. Ist, we find it
stated :

"A day or two ago the Flora, Captain Potter, of New Lon-
don, anchored in Whaleman's Harbour, on the opposite side of
the bay. Yesterday, the captain, fearing he would lose all his
men, weighed anchor, intending to go to sea. After getting
under weigh, the crew finding the ship was heading out, refused
to do duty, and the captain was forced to return and anchor
here. Last night nine of the crew gagged the watch, lowered
one of the boats, and rowed off. They have not been heard of
sin ed, and are now probably half way to the gold region. The
Flora is twenty-six months out, with only 750 bbls. of oil.
Every vessel that comes in here is now sure to lose her crew,
and this state of things must continue until the squadron ar-
rives, when, if the men-o'-war-men do not run off too, mer-
chant-men may retain their crews."

The ready sale of cargoes as they arrive will, however,
compensate for the losses thus experienced. We Quote
the following statement from the same letter :
"The whale ship Euphrates, of New Bedford, left here a few
weeks since, for the United States, to touch on the coast of
Chili to recruit. The Minerva, Captain Perry, of New Bed-
ford, has abandoned the whaling business, and is now on her
way hence to Valparaiso for a cargo of merchandise. Although
two large ships, four barks and eight or ten brigs and schooners
have arrived here since my return from the mineral country
about four weeks since, with large cargoes of merchandise,
their entire invoices have been sold. Vessels are daily arriving
from the islands and ports upon the coast, laden with goods
and passengers, the latter destined for the gold washings."
The following information as to the routes from Ame-
rica we quote from a pamphlet which has just been pub-
lished in New York.
" The fare on the various routes is as follows :
From New York to San Francisco (by steam, round the

12 to 15 days

From New York to San Francisco (round the Capes) 130 7,
" San Francisco is on the sea coast, twenty miles from
Sutter's Fort, where the lower mine is situated, and about
forty miles from the upper one. Gold, however, has been
found plentifully on all the streams in the region indicated in
our map, and even far higher up the valley of the Sacramento
is supposed to exist in large quantities.
"A specimen of the Californian gold has been assayed by
the United States Mint in Philadelphia, and has been officially
declared to be considerably purer than the gold of the Ameri-
can coinage, requiring about five per cent. alloy to fit it for
being converted into legal currency.

" In addition to the above route:NTa. Chagres, are two others,
which it will he proper to indicate. The first of these is from
Irr

AeW YorK to Vera Cruz, and across Mexico (five days by the
Diligencia) to Acapulco, on the Pacific. Here all the north-
ward bound vessels touch; and the route, were it not for the
danger (or rather certainty) of being robbed on the road from
Vera Cruz to Acapulco, would be preferable to any other.
The other route to the Gold Mines is the overland route, by
way of Independence and Santa Fe. Fi om Independence you
follow the regular waggon and caravan track to Santa Fe;
thence, in order to avoid the vast desert of the Rocky Moun-
tains, you make a long detour to the south, and strike the
Pacific at San Diego. and thence work unwards to San Fran-

"There, reader! If you have finished our little book, you
are ready to go to California—and may God be with you!"

The bulk of the passengers from the country, however,
will, no doubt, proceed direct from British ports ; and it
will be seen from our advertising columns that several of
our most enterprising houses, Mr. J. T. Crook, Messrs.
Hamden and Co. and Messrs. J. and W. Robinson, are
preparing a succession of first class conveyances to St.
Francisco.

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