The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-11-20
LATER FROM CALIFORNIA.

The New York Commercial Advertiser
has dates from this far-of country down to
the 18th Of August The following extract
OF letter to that paper is interesting:
If there are any more young men at home as dis
contented and unhappy as are Of this regiment
with whom have convtrsed in this country it were
we'll perhaps, If another Col. Stevenson would mar
sha them and lead them to the conquest of another
Ell Dorado, where abilities cramped and restrained at
home might find ample room for operation. Could
these men now have their liberty, those of them who
sober and industrious might do very we'll for the
chances to make money here at present are most
abundant; but 1t is quite likely, when their term of
service expires, q. e) when the war is over things
may assume different aspect.
As specimen of the charges sometimes made
here, ] may mention Captain Adams paid ~ for n
watch crystal, and WAGNER on Saturday was charg-
ed SO for two grips on his wagon worth about 81 in
Newark; and 80 cows have been charged by ply
stefan for visit Captain Fisher, whose estancia
visited in the Pueblo of San JOSE relates that some
years ago, when he went to the priest to have the
marriage ceremony performed inquiring the price,
the priest answered $780, But what will you charge
to mend my wagon2' said the priest $500 was the
reply. AT this the dgnitary demonstrated as being
exorbant; whereupon the matter was settled by the
priests saying the ceremony and the captains doing
few hours work at his wagon and striking an even
balance.
The country is well adapted to raising cattle. /
have travelled through some of the finest valleys
upon which thousands Of cattle and horses were
feeding on the rich grasses growing in luxuriant
abundance; and even on the tops Of the hills wild
cats and clover are foond IN plenty. But it may be
doubted If twill do well for agricultural purposes
n,
except in those parts which may be irrigated by the
hand of industry The soil is rich, and, except the
dryness, admirably adapted to raise most if not all,
the vegetables and fruits to be found in the New
York market; but 1t is not cultivated. With the
exception Of Captain Fishers table, have not seen
a potato since far the other side of Cape Horn.
The food of the country is beef and 1t is excellent
The country abounds in game; the waters swarm
with fish the soil will yield abundant crops ofwheat;
fruit and vegetables might be raised in plenty-but
the Spanards, or Californians, are incident The
Indians are worthless doing little else than stealing
since the downfall Of the Spanish missions; and
while some of the emgrants are industrious and
frugal, others sell rum, get drunk, and excel even
the Indians in scottish inebriation so that we can
obtain nothing but beef to eat at present.
The most fearful exhibition I have seen was yes
terday (he Sabbath) in Monterey, in front of rum
hole Just in the rear of the alcades magistate's) Of
fce-in which have preached for the last three
Sabbaths. .t -a &a
The proprietor of the establishment has a special
license to sell rum, and keeps gambling house open
on Sunday; here were congregated Calfornans and
Indians, Americans and Spaniards, volunteers and
regulars sailors, marines, squaws and horses, the
latter the most respectfully all in indscriminate con-
MISUNDERSTANDING, gambling, swearing and fighting.
4 A.. Ia Al.
noble animals they had much rather cut clover and
wld oats LOOK a. me scene: mere Is negro WIN
from the Columbus has lost $50 on IL; close at hand
three squaws and a marine stretched on the ground
lie together, hopelessy drunk; another company is
fighting until faces are bruised and Spanish knives
are cleaning in the sunlight, their owners fortunately
too drunk to draw much blood. If there was place
in Sodom that equaled this am not surprised that
righteous Lot was 'yexed with their filthy CONVERSE
tom One of them dropped dead in the billiard ro-
ON last night.
Montereyis supposed to contain 1880 inhabitants.
The houses are built of adobes e. bricks dried in
the sun, with projecting roofs to protect the walls
during the rainy season. The Spanish language is
spoken universally, except by the immigrants, Of
whom it is though there are from two to three
thousand in the country.
The Mormons are here ALSO and, as elsewhere,
pest, so far as they have any influence. A whole
ship load came outfrom New York some time siuce,
under the direction of one Brannin, the present
proprietor of the California Star, published at San
Francisco They were given to understand that this
land was theirs, had flag prepared, &c. &C., but to
their great modification the stars and stripes
floating in the breeze Their arms, of which they
had abundance had t. be laid BY and they had to
go to work like other people.
Those Of these poor fanatics who had money had
no peace the passage until 1t was given to their
leaders, and to get 1t agan is out of the question
The morals of the company are somewhat below the
scriptural standard and Normonism here and in the
States may be regarded Is one of those Satanic
rivances quite as puzzlig to civilians as to divnes
There is an English school in San Francisco in
tent, and directly in frort of the gambling house
have spoken of is hoise for public school in
course q hnrc gut h lane n to ana sa
mental and moral condia DON of the country. Web
stcrs spelling-books sell for dollar apiece, and
very few at that
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