The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-02-05 00:00:00

CALIFORNIA

The steamer Cherokee, from Chagres, arrived at New
York on the 13th ult., bringing the mails and part of the
passengers who had arrived from the gold regions at Pa-
nama on the 28th Dec. She brought advices from San
Francisco to the Ist Dec. She had on board 320,000 dol-
lars gold dust on freight, and about as much more was in
the possession of passengers, amounting to 650,000 dollars
in all. The Unicorn brought on freight to Panama about
600,000 dollars, a portion of which, however, is reported
as having come forward by the Cherokee. The news
from Alta California is to the Ist Dec. The rains had set
in, and the digging was almost suspended, in part from
the wretched condition of the roads, which rendered com-
munication with the markets for food impracticable. Pro-
visions and necessaries were very dear in the neighbour-
hood of the placer. The yield of gold continued ample;
and the prospects of next season were considered most
promising. A discovery had been made of extensive veins
of gold in the Quartz Rocks, which it was thought ex-
tended over the whole of the Sierra Novada, and were
likely to produce important results. It will be seen that
we have referred more at length to this subject in another
part of our publication.

EXAMINATION OF MASTERS AND MATES.—At a meet-
ing: of a Board of Examiners held on Saturday, Captain
William Stubbs, master of the " Maria," of Liverpool,
was found qualified for a second-class master's certificate.
Mr. Ellis, the celebrated Welsh harpist, will give an
excellent series of performances at the Concert-hall, on
Monday evening, conjointly with a youthful girl of un-
usual powers. A very rich treat may be expected.
A very valuable horse, the property of Mr. Abrahams,
of Islington, was drowned while being disembarked from
one of the ferry steamers to the landing stage, on Wed-
nesday night last. As this is not a singular case, proper
convenience should be at once provided for landing cattle.
A bov and girl were drowned in the Severn on Thurs-
day. The boy fell in the water whilst playing on the
banks of the river, and it is supposed the girl fell in whilst
endeavouring to save him.

A new writ having been moved for a representative of
the borough of Windsor, in consequence of the resigna-
tion of Lord John Hay, Air. Hatchell, the Solicitor-
General for Ireland, has issued an address to the electors
soliciting their suffrages.
SHORT TRIP TO INDIA AND BACK.—Lieut. R. Maxie
Taylor, of her Majesty's 25th regiment, embarked on
board one of the Peninsular and Oriental steamers on the
20th of October last, and, after remaining twelve days at
Madras, reached Southampton by the same steamer on
the 25th ultimo.

Loss OF THE BARQUE CANOPUS.—On the 11th Dec.
the barque Canopus, of Liverpool, and bound to that port,
was burnt at the Sandheads. The fire was caused by an
accident, the captain, while attempting to exhibit a signal
light, having dropped ignited turpentine down the com-
panion hatch upon some jute. The crew took to the
boats, one of which, with the pilot, the second mate, and
eleven of the crew, was picked up ; and a private letter
states that Captain Rowett and the rest of the crew had
arrived at False Point Light-house, where they landed
three days after the destruction of the vessel, during which
time they had lived on the pumpkins which were in the
boat.

TRANSMISSION OF THE QUEEN'S SPEECH BY TELE-
GRAPH.—On Thursday the speech from the throne was
telegraphed from the station, in Lothbury, to all the
principal towns and newspapers in the kingdom. There
was a great demand for it in the agricultural districts,
owing to its expected political allusion to the vexed ques-
tion of protection. The multiple time taken in streaming
off its contents of 954 words occupied about half an hour,
being at the rate of about 31 words in a minute. Between
Liverpool and Manchester it was transmitted by the
printing process, being at the rate of 15 words per
minute. Altogether, the speech was distributed over
2,000 miles of wire; the extreme speed attained by the
ordinary process being at the rate of 45 words per minute,
and by the newly introduced printing process, 37 words
per minute.

CONCERT-HALL.--On Saturday evening, Mr. George
Buckland made his first appearance at the Saturday
evening concert, and achieved a triumph such as is seldom
obtained. He introduced some of his most popular songs,
and, to satisfy the cravings of a delighted audience, had
frequently to sing a second time. Mr. Buckland is not
only a vocalist but an instrumentalist, and accompanies
himself upon the piano forte, with a brilliancy of playing
rarely to be met with, even in those who make this in-
strument their sole study. There was a large audience,
and the songs were received with decided approbation
throughout. The last illustration, " Mrs. Watkin's
evening party," was unanimously encored when the singer
substituted " Matrimony;" and retired, receiving not
the common applause, but a complete volley of cheers
from the working men assembled in the body of the hall.
The success was so decided, that this vocalist will never
want an audience, when he may appear at the Saturday
Evening Concerts ; and he will have reason to be satisfied
on his part with the unusual favour accorded to him.
Mr. Buckland laboured under a considerable disadvantage
from the shaking of the windows, caused by the high
wind, which spoiled many of the piano passages. Some
mode of fastening the windows should be adopted, as it
is a common thing for performances to be injured by the
rumbling noise they make.