The New York herald., 1849-05-30

~ &c
which the collector of said port levied an import
duty. Some days SINCE, the Secretary Of the
Treasury here published a decree, ordering the
return of the duties levied, stating that he was
not aware of any law authorising the levying Of
import duties en- precious metals, but directed the
collectors to enforce the payment Of export duties.
According to all accounts, an immense immigra-
tion has already arrived in California, Principally
from South America, the western States of the
republic, the Australian archipelago, and Chill, so
that at present the number of foreigners to Amer-
cans is as one to seven-that Is, seven foreigners
to one American.
The newspapers of San Francisco make very lit
tie or no mention of god STILL their advertising CO.
lumns prove prosperous trade. The newspapers
OF the Mexican Pacific ports, on the contrary, have
the most glowing descriptions of the immense guam
hy OF gold In the whole entire OF the placers have
before me LIE Apocad de Iep,c the 9th inst, stating
that in the immense extent Of the pacers there was
probably not foot of ground of which shovel full
of soil did not contain at least one pound of gold
Some of the Mexican papers speak In rather ex-
cited terms about the intention of our government
to prohibit foreigners from the exploration of the
placers.
The mail for the packet of the 18th is at the point
of closing. depart tomorrow for Acapulco, and
expect to arrive at San Francisco in the beginning
of next month, and shall keep you, by every
means, advised of all that may be of interest to
your readers. EsrArErrE.
IMPORTANT CIRCULAR.
By these arrivals also were received the follow
ing important document
HEAD QuARrrRs, PAcirIe Division,
SAE Francisco, Upper California,
The treaty concluded with Mexico, on the SOth Of
May last brought Upper California within the United
States and Of course, within the operation Of all its
laws; but the means Of enforcing OF these laws
have not been provided by Congress. Thus as the
of October last. observes Although Congress have re.
c9gnised California as part of the Union, and ls-
law Within Il. m; .n1 1T so1.od1 mot brought
rct nor hos Congress authorised the appoatment Of
any officers to collect the revenuen The laws Of the
United States in force here and consequently the
revenue and navigation laws are though at this mo-
ment some part Of the machinery necessary to their
Naw tho law declares That certain goods .h. only
enter upon having paid the duties prescribed by the
Is unable to collect duties SUCH the proper inference
Is not many to think that the goods enter
without paying duties; but that, being unable to pay
the duties here as required by law they cannot be al
As many cargoes have been shipped under the wrong
impression that they could enter and there was no
American port of entry in the Pacific to which they
could resort to comply with the law, Of extreme
hardship was presented which appeared to authorse
entered depositng the duties to await the action
Of fCongress upon the subject; and 80 far from the
want of american vessels the coast, and from the
unwngness of the few in this tofreQuent these
ports where the desert to the gold mines abso
lutte necessity of Of transportation existed
which could only be supplied by using foreign vessels
that came from the neighboring coasts. IA. l..-
But both Of these notifications Of the law be but
temporary There be no hardship in enforcing the
uhn f.rllv
and their effect and time will doubtless do away with
the scarcity of American vessels of small class here
suspension Of the strict enforcement Of the law will
cease. Even before that time the government at
Washington, thinking itself not empowered to allow Of
granted, and require strict adherence to the law,
whatever may be the Inconvenience to individuals 1
think 1t would be proper then to notify all parsons
designing to come here from your port or its neighbor-
hood that they can have right to count upon any
other than the strictest construction Of the law,
as in all other ports Of the United States both
CARDS sargoes and vessels and particularly that dus-
BILE goods cannot be entered here unless Congress
shall have made provision for appointing the necessary
officers.
1t would be WE'LL also, to inform oil adventurers COM
ing here to search for gold that respassng upon the
public lands Is punishable by hne and imprisonment
that although the position Of affairs here incident to
the change OF government, has hitherto prevented
ton under these laws yet they will be enforced ~ soon
should like to be informed of the date Of your re-
cept of this communication, to be enabled judge
claiming it.
[Signedl PERSIFER F. SMITH,
Breyet Major General Commanding Division
ADvIcEs BY TIE STEAMER AT MOBILE.
The royal mail steamer Severn, Capt. Vincent,
arrived In the bay yesterday morning, after four
days passage from Vera Cruz.
She brought over thirty-seven passengers, and
$147,O00 In specie.
eail for Pensacola in few days. Also, the brig
Neiceford, for New York, to sail on. the 18TH
These were the only American vessels in port when
the Severn left on the morning of the 18th.
PASSENGERS BY THE SEVERN.
Messrs. Kokernot, Van Ostern, Wilsman and lady,
Howe, Ledward, Claude, Echevon, Musson, JefIarche
Tinnemen, McCorry, Quiser Parrat and two ladies,
children, Messrs Hang, Hail. Strybos and two children,
Jobson Ponyaelat Purgos Alexandra, Forster Nerng,
Herschfeld Mylcher, Garcia, Foacina and child.
We are indebted to MIR. Downer, the pilot of the
steamer for Vera Cruz papers to the 10th instant.
We have also papers from the city of Mexico to
the 18th inst We find in them ne,cs from San
Francisco as late as the 9Th Of AwI. Ii confirms
cious metals The consequence was general gam
bling; and, notwithstanding the scarcity of intoxi
eating liquors, general inebriety: Provisions at the
placers were still exorbitantly high-priced.
serted by the men, who are rushing to California.
Their wives and children were left to the tender
mercies of the Indians. From Valparaiso and the
adjacent parts there was the same onward rush to
tHe SOluen ldnu. NcdIly Oil tllc HiclCHdiitS WCio
preparing to emigrate.
According to the Aita California, the magis-
trates of the principal towns about to present to
Governor Smith and Commodore Jones memo
rial OF the state OF affairs OF the provisional govern
ment, begging their assistance to carry out the
plans which they have adopted to preserve good
order, POLITICAL and commercial. Also the legsla-
tive assembly of the district of San Francisco has
prepared to lay before the Governor and Commo-
doIe statement of the means adopted foi The pro-
lection of the life, liberty and properly of lndivi
duals. 1t is also desired that on the first of Au-
gust, depuiation should meet at Monterey, to form
constitution for California, supposing that Con-
gress of the Union will Immediately erect the pro-
vince into sovereignty OF the confederation.
Commodore Jones has offered pardon to all
the deserted mariners who shall surrender them
selves.
weekly paper, called the Placer Times, is soon
TO be published at Sacramento 1t is to give accu-
rate information in relation to the mines. Sacra-
mento has grown very rapidly, and contains many
handsome houses.