Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-12-30
FROM THE LONDON NEWS OF OCT. 10.

short of four thousand"
FROM THE LONDON NEWS OF OCT. 10.
AN ENGLIsHMAN UPON THE CALIFORNIA
GoLp DIscovERIEs.-We always thought
that, if the Spanish race was good for any
thing, it was for discovering gold mines and
working them. In Mexico especially, from
the time of the invasion of Cortez to the
expulsion of Rodil, gold-finding seemed the
only branch of industry to which the hidal-
go race would condescend or would apply
and yet here have the Spaniards been some
hundred years in possession of country
where gold is found TO be like /" flakes of
snow" aud they saw II not. Jonathan COW
eted California simply for its hides and for
ITS barbor of San Francisco f; but no sooner
does he get possession of il than his keen
scent soon discovers the great object of hui
man pursuit-gold.
There appears to be little doubt that con-
siderable quantities of the precious metal
have been found on the Rio Sacramento,
which empties itself into the Bay of Fran.
cisco and, as may be supposed the discov
cry has had magical effect on the popula-
ton. The habits Of this population and
their trade are no where better described
than in the graphic pages of "Two Years
before the Mast" Ii would require Dana's
pen to depict the present neutrality-suspicious..
| The coast and its towns are deserted Of their
population. Hide-curers, beef lerkers, pad
re and hidaIgo, the lazy Indian and active
Sandwich Islander--men, women, and chill
dren, have all set off for the Sacramento,
with every house utensi that could hold
water 10 serve to wash earth, for the find
ing the precious metallic sediment. Never
did pots and pans reach such price earth
en- ware is worth its weight in sIlver--a
wooden bowl is quite a fortune. revolu-
ton similar TO that which has affected the
human race in so many European capitals,
notably in Paris, Berlin, and Vienna, has
befallen California crockery /; aud, whilst
printers devils have become statesmen, and
taken to represent in the one, mugs, Jngs,
and porringers have sold and been priced as
costly plate in the other.
Indeed, the resemblance might be carried
further, the Californian revolution not hav-
ing been confined to crockery. The dscov-
cry Of gold in the Sacramento, like that of
communism on tho Seine, has produced n
confusion Of rank and a startling degree of
equality. The Governor and the Inendi-
cant, the Indian and the Don, the conquer
ing Yankee and the subject lepero, stand
side by side, up to their knees III the sands
of the river, STOPPING, pokmg, scrapIng,
washing, all intent on the one great object.
Meals are neglected, and when had, distan-
ces the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. forgotten, Dig
pity thrown aside, the comforts and the de-
cencies of life alike lost in the American
Pactolus. Even politics have disappeared,
and republicanism ceased to be preached for
the moment for two newspaper editors
J.,Ia.aI tt.e,naaIyaa xSIiHnHf fpaipfz
and have deserted pen and scissors for spade
and bowl.
We must hear more Of this FL Dorado
before we bestow upon it serious attention.
There are some textures which will not
bear many weeks washing, and the gold
mines of Sacramento may be one of them.
It may even happen that this discovery OF
gold may in the end produce poverty, not
wealth. The vessels which are weekly
crowdiDg in great numbers the harbor Of
San ranciscO will be too numerous TO ex-
port the gold, while they may no longer get
the provisions, the hide the produce which
they sought Old Spain knows well what
it is TO have population abandon the cult
walton of the soil, IN order 10 wander iorth
in search Of gold, the peninsula having not
vet recovered the effect of that manila
Population, however, will not fail IN the
Sacramento, for the American press is so
busy working the mine of wonder, that we
should not be surprised TO iind the popula-
ton Of whole States migrating over the
Rocky Mountains into the fabulous regions
Of North California.
FROM THE y. Y. COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER.
The star that presides over money dig
vers. or precious metal dIggers, ~ any such
there be, IS clearly in the Ascendant along