The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-02-15

We are indebted to the Secretary of the Navy for
the following very interesting letter just received
Mazatlan by our consul, Mr.. Parrot, thence across
land to Vera Cruz, ard transmitted 10 Pennsacola
thence by mail to Washington Union, FEB. 49,
mo. A, FLAGSHIP Ono, San Francisco,
December %, la4e
Any letters from Nos 80 to AZ inclusive.
despatched from Monterey by Lieut. Lanman and
from this place by the Lexington, will fully inform
you Of the operations of the squadron since our de-
parture from the Gulf of California. Nothing mate
rial has occurred since my last date Desertions are
less frequent the Ohio having lost but man since
her arrival here, and think the disposition to desert
is not general but that may be owing to the in
clemency OF the season, which, for while, must
suspend the digging and washing for gold except BY
such persons as are most amply supplied with good
houses, and all the neeessdries of life requisite for
winters campaign in rigid climate, affording moth
ing for the use Of man out gold. Incredible guam
titles of gold are even yetdaily collected; and scarce
ly week elap5es without some new discovery Of
the precious metal more startling than any previous
one 1t Is said that small parry Of FIVE or six per-
sons, few days past, struck upon pocket, as they
they obtained $4,000 of pure gold
have been living on shore at San Francisco now
two weeks, and have had ample opportunity for ex-
aiming the subject, and am more than ever salts
fed that the disposal Of the gold regions in the terri
tory Of California is the best If not The only practi-
cable disposition that can be made of them In the
presen, disorgani.ed state Of society opt here,
The worst forebodings Of evil consequent upon tbs
want of certain and energetic administration of JUS
tce in this territory almost daily realized Within
the last three weeks we have certain accounts OF
fifteen murders. In one instance an entire house
hold OF ten persons-a respectable ranchero his wife
two children, and six servants. The man. whose
name Is Reed had very successful in the diggngs
during the summer, and Ind returned 10 his home,
near Santa Barbara with large amount of gold
His house was surprised by an armed party and the
whole family as above stated, were barbaronsly muir
dered, and the house rifed Of Its golden treasure
The perpetrators Of this horrid deed are still large
of the other five cases four are highway robberies
committed upon persons returning with gold from
the mines. In word, may say with truth, TINT
both persons and property are insecure in Upper Cal
ifornia Of this time; ond am sorry to add that in
10 all cases of outrage md violence, asyet discover
cd emigrnnis from the United States, dsbanded vol
unteers, runaway sailors, and desertcrs from the ar
my and navy, are believed TO be the perpetrators.
The mutnies, attended with murder to which
alluded In my letter No a. have been fully confirm.
ed and-not without good reason--has caused much
lnensiness to shippers OF gold from this coast.
To guard each and every vessel sailing hence with
large sums In gold dust would require every shin of
tho navy The best that can do is to keep the YES
sells OF This squadron at sea as much as possible ply
ing between the ports most frequenied by our iner.
camille marine Enclosed II copy Of circular
mo. 6) which have found II necessary 10 issue
and make public, In the hope that II may have some
tendency TO prevent repetition Of such acts have
recently occurred on board the English schooner
Anila and the CHILEAN barque Aicllna.
4 recent arrival from Callao reports that the AIDE.
lima had been taken into that port, and the munecrs
eight in number, promptly secured.
! had received a request from the Governor OF
Valparaiso, through Mr.. Moorhead, our counsel al
that port TO arrest and saiekeep the Adelnd shond
DO fortunate enough 10 fall In with her ON the
Mexican coast, where II was supposed tho muineers
might take her
| have the honor 10 be, your obedieni servant
THOS. AP c. JONES
commander-in-chief U. s. Naval Forces,
Pacific Ocean,
The Hon. JoHs Y. MASON
Secretary Of the Navy.
y. 8. Since the above letter was written we
have accounts Of more murders--one In the town
of sonoma, and another in shs vicinity.
December 20, leaa.