The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-08-03

1
This state of things cannot last long. see no
thing to warrant it. The business of the towns. if
il were hundred times greater than it u.s. the pro-
duct of the mines, if they got it by pecks instead
of ounces, could not warrant this inflated state of
the market. tremendous crash awaits some of
these people, The dealers in dry goods and salt
provisions are already beginning to suffer. Ready
made clothing Coarse articles) are now almost as
cheap as in New York; and when the market is
overstocked as ii must be by the large shipments
which are known to be afoat for this place, dry
goods will sell cheaper here than in New York.
heard man say, who has cargo of goods on its
way 10 him at this place. that if the crew could be
saved, he hoped that the vessel might founder at
sea, his insurance money being a much larger sum
than that for which he would be able to sell his
goods The same remarks may now apply to salt
and preserved meats
Labor is so high here, and the difficulties of dis
charging cargoes so great, (it only be done on
the flood tide,) that nearly every vessel which has
arrived here has sunk her freight money in un.
loading; and even heard of one vessel which sailed
out of this harbor few days since, $500 poorer
than she was before she undertook her VOYAGE
On our arrival here we found some seventy vessels
in the harbor In thirty days the expected arrivals
will bring the number to at least one hundred and
twenty A year ago there were three miserable
little schooners lying here
CLIMATE-sEAPORTs.
This place can never be the great seaport town
Of these waters. There is a constant clustering
wind blowing here. In one part of the day we
have high winds and dust, in the other cold gusts
and fogs II is the most disagreeable, inhospitabe
climate have ever encountered in such attitudes
The thermometer to-day has been below 600 Sim
gular to say, the climate in the Interior within 80
miles of this place, is represented as being mild
and equable.
Benicia, on the straits of Carquinas, between the
bays of San Pablo and Scissor, is destined to be- in
my opinion, the commercial city of this country
Ships of the largest class can be moored close
in shore. 1t is protected from all winds; is open
to good fertile back country, and the site itself
well suited for city. This place has no such adj
vantages but, having been made the port of entry
for these waters and having been connected in the
beginning with the gold discoveries, it has acquired
such reputation and currency abroad that it will
be long time before its inconvenience as a city
can be as generally known
There will be an effort this winter to have BENZ
cia made port of entry, and hope it will sue
ceed
CHINA TRADE.
We are having arrivals here nearly every week
The last one IS days from China. believe
that this country will draw much of the China
trade from Europe; and should we ever get a rail-
road across the continent or even across the
isthmus, believe that we will be able to sell the
English their tea cheaper than they can GET it them
selves from China In view of the importance of
the East India trade to this country Immediately
and to the United States at some future day. hone
that Congress will offer encouragement to the
introduction of East India goods into our Pacific
ports. II is important, too, that discreet consul
or commissioner should be entrusted with Ameri-
can interests in the Sandwich Islands They have
for many years been the depot of our whaling ships
in the Pacific. The Americans predominant large
y over the other foreigners who have settled there
Should the trade between this country and the
East Indies become great, and, particularly, if it
should be by steam, these islands, as an enrepot,
will be of the last importance. Mr.. Ten Eyck, the
late commissioner, is now here, on his way to the
United States.
MISCELLANEOUS.
General Riley is here at present. He will return
in few days to Monterey, his head quarters.
The government depots are about being removed
to Benicia. Major Allen, A. @. NJ, will be in
charge of them at that place. Maj. vnton, @ M, is
also here, on personal tour Of inspection through
Oregon and California, for the information Of the
quartermaster general.
No ordnance officer has made his appearance in
this country since the commencement Of the war,
although there has been, and is yet, much govern
ment property in this country pertaining to that
department.