The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-08-19
MO. 51SS.
Affairs In Our New Territory.

General Kearny- Colonel Fiemont-!San Fran
cisco CastOms---Reigio,t--- Cattle Produce
Press--Inhabiants, &C., &c.
Being a subscriber to and constant reader
of your invaluable paper in New York, and from
Its vast circulation, It's love of TRUTH ITS political
independence, and generally the first to give pub
LEFTY to foreign and important news, i take the
liberty Of addressing you these lines, which, if not
important to you, will be satisfactory to numbers
of your subscribers, who have friends in this far
distant cline We sailed from New York in
October, 1916, in the Thomas ii. Perkins, as one
OF the LIST regiment New York volunteers; and on
the 9th March, 1877, came to anchor In San Fran
cisco bav, For, what was called the Bay of Sir
Francis Drake IN the Pacific, in north latitude 81
Al. On arrival here, the regiment Was d.
. vided up and down the coast-two companies re-
manning here, one about co miles north, at a town
called Sonoma, three to Monterey, distant l20
miles from here, two to Santa Barbara, further
SOUTH and the residue further south STILL Puebla
de los Angeles, | being attached to one of the
companies stationed here as hospital steward,
under Assistant Surgeon Il. G. Parker, with whom
l had lived IN Centre street, New York, for some
time previous to our departure On making in
quiry after landlng we learned to our regret that
the fighting In the two Cali was over-that
there had been some we-contested skirmishes
and battles fought only few weeks previous to
our landing, between the Mexicans Cor Califor-
mans, rather) and Commodore Stockton and his
men, he having commanded personally in the
field, and reinforced by detachments under Gene
raj Keany and Fremont and from the united
bravery and skill of the officers together with the
hardness and intrepidity of the volunteers and
marines the enemy was completely defeated; and
since that time the Californias rema med tranquil
until about month since, when some of our men
has few sklrlhishes at La Paz and Puebla de los
Angeles, one OF our men, belonging to company B,
being killed, and two wounded-the enemy not
daring to encounter them In fair fed fighting, but
Eopf 1,pa or f,o1
IN the town for two days and upwards; however,
they were dispersed and scattered from their hi
ding places, their flag captured and many of them
killed and wounded, and now are again in
tranquility. To give you any account OF the war
and movements OF the army Is useless, as the
greater pant of our information is derived from
United States papers, as the communication by
MaZaan is uncertain and difficult. and BY Pana-
ma tedious; however, we learned last night
by private information, that proposal has been
made by the Mexican government to Gen. Scott,
to surrender to the Americans the CALIFORNIA;, New
Mexico, and some other places of value. on con-
dltion that be would protect the lettering govern
ment for few years, till the intestine wars and
sanguinary parties would be extrpated; which, we
understand, IS likely TO meet the appreciation of
our government in Washington, as their object is
not to annihlate the government Of Mexico, but
conquer a peace. This portion Of the globe may
IN future time become valuable in mercantile az
fairs, well as the immense wealth which COM
merce, industry, and speculation may reap from
1he mines OF gold silver, quicksilver, saltpetre,
coal &c, &c., which abound in these districts.
If the roads were in such state as to afford emf
grants the means Of travelling with facility, and
with more despatch, so as to avoid the hardshps
some encounter in travelling over snow-as has
been experienced by the unfortunate sufferers last
year, when some OF them subsisted for number
oil days on hides and yenlson ilesh-then would this
country be worth contending Tor The bay of San
Francisco is one Of the best harbors in America,
or perhgps in the WORLD the entrance is good and
saie,, and inside deep, wide bay, extending up
an excellent anchorage, and as healthy as
any port Of the Union The town of San
Francisco formerly ''YeIba Buena y had only
few shantees or camp-lllSe cabins when we
built of adobes or sun baked brick, now exhibits
rleasing prospect--upwards OF $50 houses, some
of which Vie with our American citlesfor elegance
and accommodation. Town lots which cost only
5000. Wbarves ne building, streets formed clear
over the hills. and orea, taste eylnced IN the I'm;
provements We have an pa MA S a6d
adjoining is the custom house, unu-- wy -nnstar
direction ct Captain, Fulsom. Qnarte,. os
There are two excellent xotels, billiard roo,.'s
and an extensive lumber yard Lumber is very
dear, $50 per M Tor boards, &c, on account of the
distance they are brought; but now we receive
supply from Oregon of lumber, as well as wheat
and dry goods, which, tend to lower the prices.
All kind OF merchandise were exceedingly dear
when we first landed, and until lately: but now
the place is well supplied, and instead of 300 per
cent profit, they are now content to sell at cent
per cent over New York prices current. The
brig Sabine, of Boston, Capt Vincent, is now
discharging valuable cargo from Boston, and we
have many arrivals from the Sandwich Islands,
United States. We are accumuating revenue;
goods of all kinds, lumber excepted, pays duty of
20 per cent on the valuation here. Liquor sells
dear. Brandy, gin, rum, and aguadente are sold at
s 80 per bottle and retailed at rial per lass.
Wine the same; they have some Californian
wines that they sell cheaper but II is OF rather in
fenor quality. Boots are SO to $40 per pair; shoes
SO. Black and blue cloths very dear, as well as
ready made administrations work being very
high: Tea from 81 to 81 per lb., that is, good
souchopg, green; but the inferior kind is
cheap. Butter is four mails or half dollar per h.,
no,wllhatandng the vast number ,h OF cows but
too lndolent to milk or churn. Cows are large,
and good mchers, and sell from $l2 to SIG
each. Horses are very numerous, but not very
large, few exceptions only, and sell from 50 to
and horse for So but they very skittish, and
ill broken down, difficult for Americans to catch.
The Mexicans, however, have no, difficulty, It
+ tanning wild horses. Most of our men have pur-
chased horses their saddle, bride and spurs are
all different from ours, strong and heavy; their
enormous long spurs rattle like chains, and some
have little bells attached The natives never ride
without the RATA, or raw hide rope or lasso, and
at which they are very expert they will throw
the moose ON horses head or neck, at the dis
lance OF twenty yards, at full speed, and the pun
mel OF their saddles are so fashioned as to take
turn of the rata round 1t and brngup wild horse,
cow or ox.)(The men are generally lazy, fond OF
riding, dancing and gambling. Their chief game
IS called monte it is mere game of chance, and
1t is not unusal 5000 staked the turn up OF
a single card. The women will gamble as well ;
the men The men are mostly addicted to liquor:
The women are, or may be generally considered
handsome. with dark, fascinating eyes and good
features the better kind very courteous, but, in
general, ndolent they dress rich and costly, are
addicted TO fandangong and gaantry, but not
much coquetIy; sociable, kind, and good-naured,
beautiful and extravagant, and chiefly overland !;
but OF this am no Judge. Both males and females
are not religious as the French. They are fond
Of ceremony, but the dreadful intestine feuds, and
tyranny exercised by the military commanders and
1lcernti1 rlllnrs the lower class render then,